The Witnessed Cremation Ceremony for David Coady will be held on Tuesday, August 2, at 11:00 am.
Jess C. Spencer Mortuary
21228 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546 (map)
Phone: (510) 581-9133
Please arrive by 10:45 am, so we can begin at 11:00 am.
Most people will be standing outside during the ceremony, so please dress accordingly.
Ceremony
An altar will be set up in the doorway to the cremation chamber, which will be open. People will assemble outside, facing the altar and the cremation chamber, with seven people standing in the inner cremation room for the actual cremation.
We expect that people outside will be able to look through the doorway and the altar, and see into the cremation chamber. We will all chant together and be in the same location.
Just before the cremation, the container holding David will be opened so that poems, cards, or sentiments that people might like to offer can be added. These will be gathered up from the group just before the ceremony begins and taken into the inner chamber, and placed with David in the container.
We will chant the Metta Sutta and offer incense. Then, during the cremation, we will chant the Sho Sai Myo.
Chant cards and other articles will be brought from City Center. Flowers will be sent from Green Gulch Farm.
All are welcome.
If you have questions, please call the front office at City Center: 415.863.3136 (Mon – Fri 9:30 am – 12:30pm and 1:30 – 5:00 pm).
Dear Friends, Although we cannot be there in person are hearts will be there with you. And our sincerest gratitude for your love and endless kindess for our beloved son David. You all have been a constant support of love for all of us and we will never forget you. Thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts. Love, David’s Grateful Family
Dear Sangha Friends, We are just reading about your loving care of our David. I understand if it is too late to include a note from us, but if it is possible, please include this heartfelt note from us. You are in our hearts forever sweetheart and we are so proud of you. We are so very grateful for your friends at SF City Center, Tassajara and Green Gulch. They have comforted us and we will ever be grateful. Sleep well dear one and know we love you very much. Love, Mom, Dad, Mike and Family, Stephen and Jim and all your extended family. Until we meet again.
Sandra, Frank, and all of David’s family, thank you for the note. It’s with the gathering for the cremation ceremony and it will be read aloud.
Deep bows to you all.
Dear Editor of The Great Leap and all of David’s Sangha Family, Thank you and Bless you for getting my note to David’s Cremation ceremony. I feel so much better knowing it reached him through your kind hands. With much gratitude, David’s Mom for His Family too.
We were very happy to make this happen. Many hands helped your message on its way.
David’s friend Tanya read your message from the family out loud at the cremation ceremony. It was an important and moving moment. After that, it was gathered and included as a handwritten note with other materials that went into the box with David’s body.
Thank you for braving the blog to contribute and for entrusting us with your message. Our sincere condolences for your loss and deep bows from us all.
Thank you and bless you all for your continued kindness. We are so very grateful and please know how very much you have consoled David’s family here at home. Without the love of his Sangha family we could not bear his loss. We will think of you all always and thank you in our hearts. We hope and do plan to come at some point in time to say thank you in person. It may not be for awhile, but we will come. Love, David’s other family