Val Edwards urges a devoted wife to fulfil hubby’s cheeky last wishes

A NORTH Sydney man’s last wish was to have his family scatter his ashes over his favourite sporting field. But his widow is not sure she can go through with it.

A North Sydney woman is wrestling with her late husband’s final wishes.

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Dear Val,

My husband recently passed away after a short illness. He had a wonderful, long life and wanted his big family and many friends to celebrate that, rather than mourn his death. But I’m in a rather tricky situation. One of his last requests was that we scatter his ashes over his favourite sporting venue, a place where he both enjoyed playing and watching his favourite game. My sons want to turn this into a clandestine operation, to break into the ground in the dead of night and hold a private ceremony with some candles and a bottle of his favourite red. But I’m afraid we’ll get caught and face the law, which would have made my husband laugh but will leave me red-faced. What should I do?

Bereaved, North Sydney

Advice columnist Val Edwards

Dear Bereaved,

As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round, goes the quote from the famous Golfer Ben Hogan.

What a colourful picture you have painted of your late husband and his last wish to have his ashes scattered over his beloved sporting venue.

Your husband has most likely pushed the boundaries throughout his life and consequently your sons are following in his footsteps.

It is very generous of your sons and many friends to want to honour his wishes.

It would be a significant tribute, to light some candles and enjoy a bottle of his best red for the final send off.

Red-faced you may well be if your sons execute this clandestine operation, in secrecy in the middle of the night, to hold a private ceremony at their father’s much loved sporting ground.

Our reader’s late husband does not want to be stored in an urn.

They may need the help of a superhero who could break into the ground and be prepared to offer the eleventh commandment: ‘Thou shall not get caught’

It would certainly be a little tricky if those suggestions did not meet the consensus. Most sport and hospitality venues can in fact be hired for special events.

I am sure the local council would be sympathetic in terms of a fee given the occasion and the association with that oval. I don’t think it would be necessary to mention the ashes or the small amount of liquor that may be present. In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Val Edwards is the owner of the sydneymodelagency.com and sydneyetiquettecollege.com.au. Do you have a problem that Val can solve? Email us at [e-mail]