This is what I said at Chris' funeral...
To sum up Chris French would be nearly impossible. I'm not sure how he would describe himself, or what he would say about all of this, I hope he can see it all and see love-- The love we have for him and the love he showed each of us.
Who would have ever thought that this funny, vivacious man would be leaving us so soon? Chris lived in the moment. He went full speed and did things on a whim. If the thought crossed his mind that he wanted to go to out of town-- he went. What an example to live by. Leave regrets behind and just live for the day—it's all we really have.
Chris was just Chris a simple but complex man. I don't think any one of us knew the same exact Chris. He was something different to each of us, but something special to all of us. He had the amazing talent to be just what I needed when I needed it. As one of his friends said "life is not about who we are-- but the great works that we perform while we are here. Chris did a lot of great work on this earth. He helped a lot of people get their lives on track-- that was his calling in life." And that was his calling in life. With Chris you were who you were. Nothing more- nothing less.
Chris was a safety net and rock for so many of us, and I couldn't help but think while writing this… "I'll call Chris—he'll know what to say". I will miss calling him whenever I need something or just want to say hi.
Chris was an amazing friend! Many of us here today have lost our best friend.
We are here today to remember Chris, to mourn his death, but also to celebrate his life and the blessing it was! We remember all the fond memories, the funny times, the crazy and irritating times he made us all laugh. We remember the times when he rescued us, and times when we could have wrung his neck!
We remember his honesty.
He was loving and passionate, generous and kind, funny and talkative, charming and loveable. I wish he could have seen all of us here and know he led a life to be proud of-a life worth remembering
Just a few short years ago I sat in one of these front pews and listened as a charming, composed man told of the beauty, strength and grace of his mother. Today, I stand in place of that man and he in place of his mother. I hope you leave here with the image of Chris "large and in charge". Can you even imagine the uproar he caused in Heaven Sunday?
And as he once told me- hold your head up, put your shoulders back and go make an entrance. So today we will hold our heads high, pull our shoulders back and make an entrance into life with only memories of Chris. We will take with us the lessons he taught us—Play hard, Pray hard, keep your loved ones close, and never leave the house in a mismatched outfit!
Who would have ever thought that this funny, vivacious man would be leaving us so soon? Chris lived in the moment. He went full speed and did things on a whim. If the thought crossed his mind that he wanted to go to out of town-- he went. What an example to live by. Leave regrets behind and just live for the day—it's all we really have.
Chris was just Chris a simple but complex man. I don't think any one of us knew the same exact Chris. He was something different to each of us, but something special to all of us. He had the amazing talent to be just what I needed when I needed it. As one of his friends said "life is not about who we are-- but the great works that we perform while we are here. Chris did a lot of great work on this earth. He helped a lot of people get their lives on track-- that was his calling in life." And that was his calling in life. With Chris you were who you were. Nothing more- nothing less.
Chris was a safety net and rock for so many of us, and I couldn't help but think while writing this… "I'll call Chris—he'll know what to say". I will miss calling him whenever I need something or just want to say hi.
Chris was an amazing friend! Many of us here today have lost our best friend.
We are here today to remember Chris, to mourn his death, but also to celebrate his life and the blessing it was! We remember all the fond memories, the funny times, the crazy and irritating times he made us all laugh. We remember the times when he rescued us, and times when we could have wrung his neck!
We remember his honesty.
He was loving and passionate, generous and kind, funny and talkative, charming and loveable. I wish he could have seen all of us here and know he led a life to be proud of-a life worth remembering
Just a few short years ago I sat in one of these front pews and listened as a charming, composed man told of the beauty, strength and grace of his mother. Today, I stand in place of that man and he in place of his mother. I hope you leave here with the image of Chris "large and in charge". Can you even imagine the uproar he caused in Heaven Sunday?
And as he once told me- hold your head up, put your shoulders back and go make an entrance. So today we will hold our heads high, pull our shoulders back and make an entrance into life with only memories of Chris. We will take with us the lessons he taught us—Play hard, Pray hard, keep your loved ones close, and never leave the house in a mismatched outfit!
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