I wrote this following the passing of my uncle, the last of my dad's brothers and sisters. There are numerous instances in our family of people being known and called by names that were not actually their birth given names. It struck me that some of the people attending my uncle's funeral might not even be aware of his real name. I shared the poem with my cousin and she asked if I would read it at the service along with my uncle's favourite poem, Smile by Spike Milligan.

Friends and family mostly know

My uncle by the name of Joe

A loving Dad, a true gentleman, respectful kind fun and gracious

But did you know his name was really Derek Matthew Ignacious

Whether you called him Joe, Dad or Uncle, he will never be gone

In the family, he will live in our hearts forever, simply as THE DON