(The following translation is mainly based on Google Translate. I only did a few edits.)
In the past, when people reached the end of their lives, family members usually mourn the death of their loved ones in the form of funerals and memorials. However, more and more people do not like the farewell atmosphere of the funeral. Instead, they choose the Celebration of Life to commemorate their loved ones and let all those who participated have a happy time.
Today I participated in the commemoration of the figure skating coach Grete Borgen Castaneda. Grete won two Norwegian national championships in the 1950s and represented Norway in many major international competitions. Later she came to the United States to participate in skating tours and served as a skating coach at the Dublin Iceland for more than 40 years. She never liked the funeral. Her children used the celebration of life to commemorate her 76 years of beautiful life.
Because it is a celebration, the scene is similar to a happy event reception, flowers adorning the dining table, and the memorial room displays photographs of various periods of Grete. Friends and relatives from all over the world tasted food and wine, and remembered Grete's beautiful moments in their lives with laughter and humor.
I have known Grete for more than 10 years. Although she was not my daughter's coach, she was very friendly to us. I used to see her every morning at six o'clock. She was full of energy and her hair was always combed into a beautiful bun. Even though she had various health issues, she never complained to anyone about her poor health. She was coaching at the ice rink the day she passed away. It can be said that she has been doing her favorite things all her life up to the last minute. All three of her children used humorous stories to cherish their mother’s love for figure skating. The cousin who came from Norway said in his speech that Grete had fulfilled most of her dreams and had helped her students achieve their dreams and made every effort for their success. The first and last student she coached and went to the national competition also participated in today’s celebration. The students all said that Grete was like their second mother. I want to say, Grete, an ordinary and extraordinary woman!
In addition to cherishing the memories of Grete, guests also spent time visiting and chatting with friends, coaches, and students. Many of them had not seen each other for years. While sighing at how time flies, people expressed their gratitude and appreciation to friends and relatives for enriching their lives.
