How does a family condense the lifetime of a man into sixty minutes?
Somehow, with over 200 seated in the ice area of the curling club, we found a way to capture the essence of my Dad, Ron Sanders.  From singing one of his favourite hymns, "How Great Thou Art" as we, the family entered, to sharing stories and remembrances of his 72 short years, we laughed and cried.  From the display table containing memorabilia of Dad's interests and passions, to the last picture taken for the Tartan Curling Club after Dad had retired as manager, we smiled and remembered.
I think the greatest tribute to a man's life is the gathering of family and friends who knew him.
I don't believe anyone came to the memorial service out of duty or obligation.
Everyone who greeted me and gave their condolences were genuinely sorry for our loss - and their own.  Dad's smile and friendly banter will be missed around the curling club.  His laughter and silly jokes will be noticeably absent from our family reunions and events.
His knowledge of sports and especially curling strategy and technique will be echoing in the memories of our children and many others.
His chair at home will be empty.
His seat at our dining table will not be the same, no matter who takes that spot.
It will take a while before we can play cards without mentioning what "Ron" would say or do with such a lousy hand!
So no matter what he accomplished in 72 years of living, he will be missed for the man he was with all his flaws and endearing qualities.
Appropriately, a bagpipe player piped Dad and the family out of the ice area at the end of the service. As we the family filed out, my brother Scott carried the oak box containing Dad's remains and we gathered at the door to his old manager's office.  One last time in the place he spent many hours before we laid him to rest.
Sixty minutes was not enough time, nor could the ten sheet of ice contain the influence of one man's life and being.
But I think we honoured Ron Sanders as well as we could.
And I know Dad would have enjoyed his memorial service because he could have laughed and shared with the people he loved.