EULOGY FOR MY BROTHER - (OUR PETER)

3^RD August 1938 – 4^th September 2010

Happy memories of my irreverent, loveable, larrikin brother, Peter,

You were most certainly at the front of the line in the Maher family when artistic

gifts were handed out!

All my life, I was in awe of your many talents; your capacity to reduce everyone to tears of laughter when you got started with your jokes & jibes.

I recall being very much the 16 year old ‘kid sister’ in England, seeing you spend hours perfecting the guitar.  You begged me to ‘take in’ the inside seams of your new pants to make them into ‘drainpipe’ trousers so you could ‘fit in’ as  a ‘Teddy Boy’ at  the ‘CASBAH’ where the Beatles got their start in 1959!

Your talent for singing; when the mood moved you, you’d lead the crowd in a 'sing song’. I still love ‘THE WILD ROVER’ song. (Trust someone sings it at your wake).

You made things; I remember the copper clocks, we all got one! When you got hooked (pardon the pun) on fishing, the many very beautiful ‘flys’.  Also, the almost ‘patented’ fishing lure. As I recall you lost patience with greedy patent lawyers, told them all to ‘get stuffed’ and gave the lure to your mates!

Your drawing talent; the cartoons. I have a framed 1990 cartoon featuring the Canadian Prime Minister paying for a home delivered PIZZA entitled ‘Extra Large with the works, $15.00 plus GST and related costs, $200.00 Even’! I love it.

Your talent for writing poetry; In March 1997 you sent me 8 poems along with related cartoons to match, I was so happy to receive this gift at a difficult time in my life, I treasure them.

Not only did you have artistic gifts; you were a loving, doting father, demonstrating great patience in guiding your son through life’s journey. You were always there for him and in return he adored you, it was so obvious. Somehow, you discovered within yourself the gift to nurture, a very special gift indeed and this, without benefit of having our own Fathers influence. This would surely be one the most important achievements in your Life’s Work.

I was so proud of you, your ability to focus, concentrate and be single minded about the task at hand.

These are but a few of many happy recollections and memories of a talented, gifted, quick witted, charming, very special brother, Peter.

You’ll always hold a very special place in my heart.

Now your mind and body are at peace. I loved our Peter.

MARY