Amma Sandy

Amma Sandy's grave.

She had wanted a jazz band, champagne and smoked salmon.

Some words from Tara

My thoughts and prayers are with you at his time.

Auntie Sandie was a wonderful ,vibrant lady with a kind heart and a fantastic humour. my memories of her are very special.

" For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16Almighty Father, We commend to your care , our beloved Sandra. Grant her a share in your eternal kingdom. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
May the Holy Spirit comfort,strenghten and sustain Tony,David and Kieron.
Please grant them peace and knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

God Bless

Some words from Julia

To all of Sandra’s dear friends & family, I am Sandra’s sister, Julia, and would like to tell you how remarkable and unforgettable she was to me. Where have our lives gone! It has traveled in many different directions from one side of the world to the other. Even when we were small, for one reason or another, each time we were separated we always managed to overcome adversity. Amongst all the happy and sad times our love always held strong. She not only was my sister, she was a dear friend and more like a mother to me. Sandy & I were alike in so many ways. For instance, one weekend prior to visiting her in Manchester, I went shopping and purchased 3 dresses. When I arrived wearing one of the dresses, she began to laugh hysterically and proceeded to show me the EXACT same 3 dresses that I had purchased. We both looked at each other in amazement and laughed for hours of how we could have bought the same dresses. Sandra bestowed much wisdom- she had class, loyalty, integrity and most of all a passion for life. She had a drive for perfection in every respect with her business, her family and her home. All of you here today, know very well what an extravagant dinner party she could give, from the food to the presentation. What an art she had to arrange such an exquisite setting, even after a few bottles of her favorite wine!A time I will never forget is when I had been in the states for some time and I made my first trip home, Tony and Sandy put on this fantastic ensemble. They had tents in the garden, a magnificent band and food for a queen and of course it lasted all weekend. Sandra wouldn’t have had it any other way! She always welcomed people with open arms and everything done to the hilt. Her love for the outdoors and especially her beautiful garden, her daily walks and love for yoga were all part of her daily life. But the most important part of her life were her children (David & Kieron) and all their outstanding accomplishments. She was so proud of both of you! Not to mention her grandchildren whom she loved so much. I will miss her phone calls in the middle of the night-when she would say, “Ju-It’s Sandy, Did I wake you? I can never get the damn time right!” We would both just laugh and I would say, “I’ve only been here 40 yrs!” and she would reply “Oh Well, Is it your day off? I will miss her dearly & have decided that God needs her to redesign his garden and it’s going to take awhile. We know that you love us dearly and to not shed a tear because you are spending Christmas with Jesus this year!

Sandy's Life Story

Sandy Ann Lynch was born 29 August, 1935 in Morcombe, Lancashire, to Reginald Law Greenhalgh, vetinary surgeon, and Margery Guinan. Reginald was of an established Lancashire family; farmers who became mill owners. Margery was one of seven siblings from a Liverpool family who were prosperous beer and wine shippers. The family business supplied the passenger boats going out of Liverpool, and it may well be that their supplies refreshed many a hopeful soul on their way to the "New countries".

Sandra was the oldest of three sisters, Julia and Angela.

The three girls attended Birkdale convent in Southport, Lancashire. Margery always wanted Sandra to go to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Sandra took dancing classes and drama from an early age, becoming something of a little star. She was in Ralph Readers Gang-show when it was in Blackpool!


Her mother, Margery, died when Sandy was 16. Sandy came home to nurse her mother before she died and looked after her younger sisters.

Sandy finished her “A” levels and decided, however, that she wanted to get into personnel management: finding employment with Marks and Spenser’s Department Stores in 1955. Sandy had become the leading light in the young peoples’ organisations of her time, these being the Young Conservatives and the Young Farmers Club.

Sandra was posted to Wigan in 1956, where she met another Marks and Spenser prodigy, Francis Anthony Lynch. The two had known each other from Young Farmers and Young Conservatives clubs. Their romance started on Wigan train station over a glass of Bass Carrington’s beer during their daily commute, in different directions, home to Manchester and Liverpool.

Sandy soon moved into Wigan and lived, unconventionally, in a caravan in an orchard. She moved around the country, also with caravan, in various assignments for Marks and Spencer and they both managed to stay in travelling distance of each other.

Sandy became engaged to Tony in Easter 1959 and they were married in the June of the same year. They honeymooned in Yugoslavia, an unusual choice for those days.

In 1960, they were to be found in Kingston, when their first son, David Dominic, was born. Kieron John was born 18 months later. Sandra gave up work and they moved to Manchester, and then to Lemington Spa and then to Luton. The constant travelling became less attractive.

In 1968, they decided to buy a rundown pub in a very old village opposite an old church in Ashwell, Hertfordshire. The pub was called the “Bushel and Strike”. Within 25 years they had built it into thriving business, serving good beer, exotic food and drawing customers from far and wide.

In the Bushel, Sandy ruled the kitchen, always with a "hands on" approach, and sometimes with the hands around the neck of an unfortunate sous-chef. There was a team of 8 people working in the kitchen under Sandy. She was committed to perfection and performance. In fact, Sandy used to wear a long dress to cook in with an apron over the top, so that at the end of service, she could whip off the apron and zoom out front to check on the customers.

There was blood sweat and tears, but also plenty of fun. It is impossible to forget the Christmas Carol singing and brilliant New Years Eve parties. The “Bushel”, as it was known, became the social centre of the universe.

What Sandy really loved to do was to travel, and travel she did; all over the world and particularly to countries that were off the beaten track and where the sun shone brightly. Our family photo albums bear witness to that.

In 1974, the family moved out from the Bushel and into Cheyney Water Farmhouse, a quintessential English country farmhouse. Cheyney Water’s garden transformed under Sandy’s Stewardship. The roses came out especially well. And it wasn’t long before Cheyney Waters became the social centre of the Universe, receiving long and short stay visitors from all over the world and being THE place for Dinner parties, with Sandy in the middle of it all.

In 1993 Sandy and Tony retired from the Bushel after 25 years of hard work. During their visit for Kieron and Caroline’s wedding in 1994 the idea to move to New Zealand came up. “One last great adventure” was Sandy’s phrase and the deal was sealed over a decent meal in a Queenstown restaurant. KJ and C were kept in the dark about it at the time, but they did quietly discuss with Yo Robinson, who said she could always find Sandy a job working for her.

Sandy had almost too much life force for the equal and opposite force of illness
with which she wrestled in life (High blood pressure, heart problems and minor stroke). Cancer became her companion for awhile until surgery, in 1999, separated one from the other.

The immigration processes took time and effort, but with help from family and friends the application package came together and they moved in 2001. Initially, they lived with Kieron and Caroline, and then in Clevedon in rented accommodation. It took sometime but then Priscilla Wilson Mc Gregor helped find the house which was the home of Jim and Gaylene Wilson in Ararimu.

She was never happier than here.

Sandy’s vitality took control of the scene, the garden was transformed and the social centre of the Universe shifted to 2 Sinclair Road, receiving long and short stay visitors from all over the world and becoming THE place for Yoga practice.

Here, Sandy grew a circle of friends who shared her liking for retail therapy, and from here Sandy enjoyed her grand children Rebekka Sigrun, Eirikur Anthony, Sandra Kristin and Stella Marcel.

Sandy’s life was typified by vitality and lust for life. She had a free and forward looking spirit which was tempered by a tremendous capacity for hard work, service and self depreciating humour.

Sandy died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of November 8, 2006.

Requiem Mass for Sandra Lynch, Wednesday 15 November 2006

St Mary's Catholic Church, Papakura, New Zealand

Organist: Paul Gibbes : Singer: Damian Robertson

The Lord’s My Shepherd

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green, He leadeth me
The quiet waters by

My soul He doth restore again
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness
E’en for His own name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale
Yet will I fear not ill,
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes,
My head Thou doest with oil anoint
And my cup overflows

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me,
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.


Story of Sandy’s Life - David Lynch

Proverbs 31, 10-31 “The Woman of Worth” - David Lynch

A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.

She is like the ships of the merchant,
She brings her food from far away.

She rises while it is still night
And provides food for her household
And tasks for her servant-girls.

She considers a field and buys it;
With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,
And makes her arms strong.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her hand to the poor,
And reaches out her hands to the needy.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Her children rise up and call her happy;
Her husband too, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently,
But you surpass them all.”


Psalm 130 - Congregation

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee,

O LordLord Hear My Voice
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning
I say, more than they that watch for the morning
Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy,
And with him is plenteous redemption
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities

Reading John 4:7-12,17 - Rebekka Lynch

Let us love one another, for love is from God: everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgement.

This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go.” “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.

Prayers of Intercession - Ann Benson

Loving God, we give thanks for our mother, Sandy, for the blessings in her life, for her generous love of her husband and family.

Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us

Dear Lord, keep close to your bosom all of the members of our extended family, those both close and far.

Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us

Lord, You watch over our lives. Keep us safe in our work, in our travels and help us trust in your loving providence.

Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us

Dear Lord. Our hearts go out to all those in this world who are less fortunate than us, to those who are scarred by disease and war. May your grace shine in the world as a sign of hope for all who struggle, and as a beacon that reminds us that, even in a broken world, change is possible.

Lord hear us: Lord, graciously hear us

Celebration of the Eucharist

Morning Has Broken - Communion Hymn

Morning has broken, like the first morning;
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the world.

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness, of the wet garden,
Sprung from completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight; mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation, of the new day.


Tributes to Sandy

David Lynch, Rebekka Lynch, Kieron Lynch, Caroline Lynch

read tributes from,

Julia Cabeza and family

Angela Clay and Family

Carol Lynch

Rory, Camilla, and Paul Lynch

Tara Lynch

Jane Greenhalgh and Family

Sandra Kristin Lynch

Therese Handley

Kieron Lynch

Caroline Lynch


“Receive her soul and present her to God the Most High.”


Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through may danger, toils and snares
We have already come,
‘Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home.

Sandra Ann Lynch

Let her Rest in Peace, and may perpetual light shine upon her, Amen.

2 Sinclair Road
Ararimu
RD3 Drury
Auckland 2579
New Zealand

+ 64 (0) 9 292 4459

Flight plan

OUTBOUND

Thursday 9. nóvember 2006

Reykjavík, -London, Bretland - Heathrow, Terminal 1 Icelandair 450
Depart: Thu 9 Nov 2006, 09:00
Arrive: Thu 9 Nov 2006, 12:00

Heathrow (London) Terminal 1 - Hong Kong, Flight: BA0027
Depart: Thu 9 Nov 2006, 21:55
Arrive: Fri 10 Nov 2006, 17:50

Hong Kong - Auckland, Flight: BA4551
Depart: Fri 10 Nov 2006, 21:05
Arrive: Sat 11 Nov 2006, 13:05

IN BOUND

Auckland - Hong Kong, Flight: BA4550
Depart: Sun 26 Nov 2006, 14:20
Arrive: Sun 26 Nov 2006, 20:45

Hong Kong - Heathrow (London) Terminal 1, Flight: BA0032
To: Heathrow (London) Terminal 1
Depart: Sun 26 Nov 2006, 23:45
Arrive: Mon 27 Nov 2006, 05:00

London, Bretland - Heathrow, Terminal 1 - Reykjavík, Icelandair 451
Depart: Mon 27 Nov 2006, 13:00
Arrive: Mon 27 Nov 2006, 16:00

In Jerusalem, and then in Ramallah, West Bank.

After work and in the evening, I went for a walk in Ramallah town, which was coming to life after the evening prayers. There was dark and chill wind and a crescent moon in a cloudless sky.
Ramallah, unfortunately looks poor and bears the marks of the current difficult times. I got brave and went into a coffee shop, old style…. men only. There was coffee in glasses, cards, shesh-besh and arghila, the water pipes. I took a pipe and a coffee. The men were friendly and wanted to talk. A good coffee in the warm and a traditional atmosphere. I got more adventurous and I brought some bread and fruit on the way home, using the basic words that are now coming back to me.