A Shining Light Gone Too Soon
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday December 13, 2008
GREG McCann paid loving tribute to his wife Kerryn at her funeral service yesterday, recounting the final minutes of her life
Struggling to put his feelings into words, Mr McCann said it was important he shared the experience, as his wife's passing was both emotional and surreal."Someone got a frangipani and put it behind her ear ... She looked gorgeous, absolutely beautiful," he said of her final moments.Almost 1000 mourners attended Figtree's Church of Christ for the funeral that followed McCann's death from cancer on Sunday night at the age of 41.Mr McCann entered the church with 15-month-old son Cooper in his arms. His children Benny, 11, and Josie, 5, followed with family members including McCann's parents John and Judy Hindmarsh, sister Jenny Gillard, mother Colleen McCann and siblings.He placed McCann's favourite pair of joggers on her lilac-coloured coffin that was covered in pink and white roses.Mr McCann described his wife of 17 years, a dual Commonwealth gold medallist, as "just so vibrant, so sweet".He said she was coming to the end of her running career when they had Cooper."She would have run forever ... Coop came along and for a short time there, we had everything. We couldn't have wanted any more," he said.He said when the cancer diagnosis was made, she was afraid for herself and her baby."I remember laying with her one night, early on in the piece, we were just shattered. I told her I loved her and her answer was simple; she said, 'I know'. It just made me feel so calm and so much stronger."It was always the simple things that she longed for. She'd rather be putting a prawn or fish on the barbecue at Lake Conjola, having a cup of tea and watching the kids than sightseeing in Europe. That wasn't her thing."Over time, a year-and-a-half, we said all the things we needed to say. There was nothing really left to be said. She knew how I felt. I always told her I loved her."We always held hands. I always grabbed her from behind and cuddled her and squeezed her and nibbled on her ear and grabbed her on the bum, and she'd say, 'Go away Greg, get lost, go and have a surf'. I'd go in and see her in the mornings, particularly of late. She was so tired and exhausted. I'd say 'How are you feeling?' and she'd say, 'Good'."She did this on Friday morning, she said 'Good' and I just started to cry. She just reached up and cupped my face in her hands and just pulled me together. She knew what was going to happen. On Sunday, December 7, just before 11.20 at night, she said goodbye. She was so exhausted. She fought so hard and she never gave in ... By Sunday afternoon she was so ill, she couldn't communicate, couldn't eat."Late that evening she was very hoarse and seemed to be in pain and it was quite unbearable."I knelt by her side ... I just caressed her throat. She had been breathing so heavily for a couple of hours and then, after five or 10 seconds she stopped, stopped the straining and (there were) just short, shallow, relaxed little breaths and I just nuzzled against her cheek and whispered in her ear the things I always told her."I told her everything good that I had, had come from her. I said we'd be okay and it was time to let go and in about 10 seconds she did. So, it was a special thing. Her big heart stopped beating."Mr McCann spoke of how grateful he was for the support of family and friends."I will do my best, with help ... There's three kids in my life and we'll get there, we've got this far with your help," he said.Benny McCann did his mother proud, reading from a yellow notebook as he described her as "the best mum in the world"."I already miss my mum and it will get harder ... but I'll still always remember her."It's sad Cooper will never know her, but I'll tell him all about her and how great she was and all the things she achieved, like being the first woman to get the key to the city."I'm sure Josie will remember her, but if she forgets I'll tell her what she did and how she loved her."She was happy all the time and was most happy when I had a try at something because she only wanted me to try."Josie, dressed in a white and pink spotted dress with a frangipani in her hair, entered the church with a green Tinkerbell suitcase.When Cooper became unsettled, she produced first a bottle and then a banana and quickly paced back and forth, offering her brother the inducements in her efforts to calm him.Finally Pop Hindmarsh took him for a walk and the mourners became briefly captivated as the toddler attempted to reach a Christmas tree at the front of the church.Running partner of 27 years Murray Smith gave the eulogy, speaking of McCann's inability to refuse a good cause, especially when it involved a child."... Josie is definitely a mini-you. Pretty and petite in stature, seemingly soft and quiet but fiery on the inside," he said.Officiating at the ceremony was Christian surfer Brett Davis who said McCann was "so available. So willing. So normal. So uncelebrity".A testimonial was provided by Krishna Stanton, who shared the podium with McCann at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Readings were provided by friends Wendy Potts, Kim Bennett and Gill Davis.Benny and his dad were among the pallbearers as McCann's coffin was carried from the church to Waltzing Matilda.A guard of honour was formed for the cortege by members of the Coledale Fire Brigade.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
