Dearest Dad

In case you are wondering why I have not posted anything for so long here is the reason.

Denis Ernest Victor Shaw

1919-2008

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice; and be kindhearted one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Ephesians 4: 31-32

Tributes from Memorial Service July 23, 2008 held at Amberglen, Howick, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

When we were going through the photographs of my Dad on Monday we found a picture that reminded us of something we had almost forgotten in the recent sad times – that Dad had a great sense of humour and enjoyed a good laugh. On Saturday, we caught a glimpse of this, when he was sitting up in bed making a big effort to be sociable. He indicated that Mum and I were chattering too much and managed to clearly get out the words “Buzz off!” even though he could barely whisper. He wanted us to go out and enjoy the sunshine instead of sitting with him in his sad state.

What “Father” means to us is a man of great wisdom, endless patience, loving kindness, forgiveness, persistence, consistence, self-sacrifice and tolerance. A man of great principle and discipline. An industrious man who served his community, God, his family and his employers faithfully and devotedly.

What a role model! And all this without the example of his birth father … but of course, taking his life cues from his adored mother and his respected stepfather, who set the example for many of the qualities that ensured his success in the business world and his ability to always provide well for his family, in turn ensuring their success.

Aged 13 during the Great Depression, he had to leave school with only Standard Six behind him and go out to work to help provide for the family, continuing his schooling at night. Work colleagues at the Radio station in Durban where he started work recognized in the wages clerk, a person of potential and gave him the encouragement that allowed him to build his skills, and move on to his next challenge.

In his last days, he remembered Marjorie Regnard, my godmother, who was so kind to him.At the bank where he was next employed as a teller, he quickly rose to head teller and it was there that he was “headhunted” as we say today, by Andre Droz, a customer who recognized his potential and took him on as a bookkeeper and business manager for his jewellery and watchmaking business. Almost everything our father knew about jewellery and watchmaking he learned himself, painstakingly on the job or studying at night … and eventually he had learned enough about business and the trade to give him the confidence to purchase the business. Dad was the public face of Droz Brothers and widely respected in the business as a man of knowledge and expertise. Early on he recognized the importance of technology and mastered the use of spectrometry to ensure the accuracy of the valuations he was so excellent at. And after he sold the business that has provided for his family and now in my parents’ retirement, he continued applying this expertise and knowledge for Randall Brothers, working until his mid seventies until problems with his eyes forced him to retire finally.

Through all these years he was a devoted member of the congregation of St Columbas Church in Greenwood Park, first as a choir boy. He was there at the laying of the foundation stone, he was a long-serving Parish council member, faithfully attending services not only on Sunday and also serving as a lay minister for many years.

But he still made plenty of time for his family and all of us remember picnics on the beach, holidays in the Drakensberg and Pretoria and the Kruger National Park, and visits to family.

Since before Donald was born, the Lewis family has been part of our extended family and we of theirs. So it is very sad that they are too far away to be with us today but we know they are here in spirit … as we know is Anne, Rhonda, Tracy, Justin, Tammi, Richard, Jean Droz, Ellen Shenker, Jackie and Paul Sinek and many other family and friends who could not make the journey at such short notice.

I have left the best till last and that is to recognize the most important person in his life without whom none of this would have been possible … Mum. For more than 64 years she has been a devoted and faithful partner, friend, lover and caregiver.

To the last she gave him the support and encouragement that smoothed his path in the world and allowed him to be who he was. She has been his rock … and our rock and we love her dearly.

So let’s take time to be truly joyful today and celebrate a long life and a good one. And to celebrate their long and happy marriage and their love that we know will endure forever.

Donald's tribute

I thank the Lord for blessing me with a great Dad who loved Mum, his children and grandchildren dearly. He genuinely cared about most people – although he had a problem with world leaders and politicians. I am really grateful for the amount of quality time I had the privilege of spending with him. Dad was a perfectionist and took much pride in all that he did. Just last week when signing a general power of attorney, I signed as witness to his signature not sure that there might be a problem. I had to ask him to re-sign it and he looked at me and said, "No more mistakes!"

Mum will agree with me that his greatest asset was his love for Jesus and his confidence in the power of prayer. Although I will miss all those special times I spent with him, I live with the comfort that he is home with Dad and will never shed a tear of ever know any pain. Love you Dad.

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Dad's choice was to have a Memorial Service at Amberglen and we are sorry that many family and friends could not be there with us but with family living abroad we had little choice of dates.

The Memorial Service to honour the memory, testimony and ministry of Denis Shaw born 13 April 1919 and home with his Lord 20 July 2008 was held at Amberglen, Karkloof Road, Howick on 23 July 2008 at 11.15am, conducted by the Rev. Tom Fawdry.

Here is the order of service:

Welcome and opening prayer: Rev. Tom Fawdry

Hymn

O LORD MY GOD! when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;

And when I think that God His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die—I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home—what joy shall fill my heart!

Then shall I bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Psalm 145: 8-21 (We found his bookmark in his bible on his bedside table at this page and this Psalm had a tick next to it)

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O Lord, and all thy saints shall bless thee!

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell me of thy power, to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of thy kingdom.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and thy dominion endures throughout all generations.The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to thee and thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thy hand, thou satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

He fulfils the desire of all who fear him, he also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord preserves all who love him; but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Tributes: Donald Shaw, Meryl David, Raymond Christison

Message: Rev. Tom Fawdry

Hymn

BLESSÈD ASSURANCE, Jesus is mine:

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God;

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blessed;

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Closing prayer: Scott Wheeler

Our thanks to all those who have sent messages of support, love and comfort, flowers, cards and other thoughtful gifts. It helped us get through a difficult week knowing how many people cared for our family.

The Shaw family