RIP, good friends

A friend who knew the plane-crash family took me to the memorial service. This is the prayer the rabbi said at the end:

    God full of mercy who dwells on high
    Grant perfect rest on the wings of Your Divine Presence
    In the lofty heights of the holy and pure
    who shine as the brightness of the heavens
    to the soul of [Name].

    who has gone to his eternal rest
    as all his family and friends
    pray for the elevation of his soul.
    His resting place shall be in the Garden of Eden.
    Therefore, the Master of mercy will care for him
    under the protection of His wings for all time
    And bind his soul in the bond of everlasting life.
    God is his inheritance and he will rest in peace
    and let us say Amen.  

I am unable to sit shiva with the family, both because it's in another state and because I will not be here this weekend. I leave on Saturday to deliver Dancer to her month-long summer program with American Ballet Theatre.