For many years Andy sat at the back of the church every Sunday morning; he joined in the refreshments afterwards and came to many of our gatherings. Here is a video of his mass of thanksgiving on15th June 2024 and below are published the three eulogies given by Jill Pirdas, Richard Challoner and Margi MacDuffie.
From Jill
In France Andy was known as an SDF, sans domicile fixe – with no fixed abode. This was a classification; it was putting Andy into a “box.” But although Andy lived on the streets and did not have a home, he did not fit into this box, and the way he did this was to remain faithful to the church and show respect to all, asking for nothing. Gradually people realised that the real Andy was not this rather unkempt person who trailed around with a heavy bag over his shoulder, but a gentle trustworthy man, educated and well-travelled with a fine sense of humour. Andy was a typical example of how looks can deceive and how we all too easily discriminate because of a person’s wrapping as it were!
Andy’s motto was “respect”. “You have to show respect” he would often say. Of course, Andy drank! (If I was living on the streets I would drink!) He maintained that it relieved the stress of the type of life he was leading.
Street life is highly dangerous, and once he was mistaken by a gang for someone else who they were looking to kill. He was attacked with a brick and nearly lost his life. Andy said from then on, he never slept in a sleeping bag, “You can’t run away when you’re in a bag” he explained.
Andy was fun and those close to him had some good laughs. Andy had to go for a colonoscopy – as you know you need to empty your “innards” for this - and when you leave the clinic, you are given photos of the interior of your colon. Andy proudly showed us the photos and said, “Now I have these I don’t need to get a new photo for my passport.”
I’d like to thank all those who gave Andy their unconditional friendship and you are many. Special thanks to Margi and Richard who did so much in the way of practical help, also to Jonas Wedin who served as our go between and who spent a long time talking with Andy’s family in Sweden on the phone. Adrian, Linda and some friends from St Hugh’s church who helped with certain expenses, such as medicines and tram fares. Also, Roxana, the priest in Marseille who looked after Andy when he went to Paris to renew his passport. We would also like to thank he manager of the Halte de Nuit (shelter) where Andy slept at night and who is with us today: Mr Lassaad who wrote “Andy taught me to wear a lasting smile in spite of the harshness and frustrations of life.” Also thanks go to the various social services that helped Andy, Solidarity 06 and CARRUD, an association that help people who suffer from addictions, and all those who looked after Andy with his medical problems. All showed great compassion and respect; respect with which Andy himself set great store by. Lastly Andy’s family wish to say an immense thank you for all the kindness and help we have given Andy. They will be having a memorial service in Sweden of course, and one day they will visit Nice and are very keen to see the church which gave Andy so much comfort and to meet with us and Fr. Jeremy.
I think what we can learn here is, that not only did we help Andy, but that Andy also helped us. He gave us an insight into his way of life and how he coped with it. A rare privilege, so a big thank you Andy from all of us.
From Richard
When I met Andy about ten years ago I was impressed from the first by his warmth, humility and sense of humour. Those qualities, along with the respect he always had for others, were the mark of the man and made it easy to be his friend. Andy never burdened anyone with his problems and never asked for anything, even though he knew he had friends who would be there to listen and to help if he needed. So many people were kind to Andy, including staff in shops, cafes' and restaurants who would give him food, clothes and other items, which in itself shows how much he was liked.
An ongoing problem on the streets was theft and what upset Andy most was the loss of his mobile phone or pocket radio as he loved to listen to the radio, usually the news or the sports, but most often a station called 'Nostalgie' which played classic songs from the 60s to 80s and which helped him to sleep. Unsurprisingly sleep was not easy for Andy, especially in the winter, so we always made sure he could listen to the radio in one way or another and also that he had a watch. Often in the evenings I would accompany Andy to his sleeping spot, helping him with his bags. A favourite spot was in the doorway of Flying Tiger across the way in Rue de France. The staff there were terribly kind to him as they were in the Tourist Office on the Promenade des Anglais, in which doorway Andy also liked to kip. I always felt heavy hearted leaving him as he prepared to huddle down for the night.
Sport was of great importance to Andy, both in his earlier life and in his life here in Nice and particularly football. As a junior powerlifter Andy set a Swedish record which has never been beaten. Andy once played professionally for a Swedish Second Division team and his favourite English team was Ipswich Town, who he first began to follow in the Bobby Robson era. For a time he also had a season ticket for Brentford FC. We would often talk about the football results and how his teams and mine were doing (usually not well in my case). “Well next season” Andy would say to me after another one ended in disappointment for me and he always managed to cheer me up. Sometimes we would watch football matches together and on one memorable and exciting occasion we saw Liverpool give Man Utd a 7-0 thumping, much to our mutual pleasure.
Andy even managed the seemingly impossible by getting me to watch some cycling, a sport I have never really taken to. When he was in the Hopital Pasteur after his accident I would visit him and usually find him watching a sports programme. Often it was cycling and Andy told me that much of the coverage was not of the cyclists, but of the scenery and locations which they were passing through and he found that interesting. He was right of course and much to my surprise I ended up watching a great deal with him.
Andy loved participating in church events, including lunches, our gatherings on the beach and Film Night and his company on these occasions was a pleasure. Andy was always generous in bringing things to share and little gifts for people. I recall one occasion when, because of windy weather and the consequent flooding, our usual meeting place on the beach had been closed off and a decision had been made to adjourn to a nearby bar. Neither Andy or I had received the message, so we ended up having an impromptu and fun picnic on the grass outside the Jardin Albert 1er, before Andy headed off to MacDonalds for a warm drink and to listen to the news on the radio. I shall treasure such memories.
Andy's kindness and cheerfulness, despite the hardships he faced, are what I will remember remember most about him. He always said that we were his family and that I know, is how we all felt about him.
From Margi
So many of you had noticed how Andy had gained confidence, strength and optimism over the last several months of his life. This is largely due to the attention and encouragement many of you had given him over the years; and not least ,and perhaps most surprisingly, to the warmth and friendliness shown by his medical team.
His physical therapist Tony saw Andy 3-4 times a week over the past two months and after treating him for 30 minutes would let him spend an extra 30 minutes on his own in the fitness room, working on the machines to strengthen his muscles which he had been wanting and needing for a long time and which he loved! His balance therapist Julien, who in his jovial and encouraging way helped Andy improve his balance by having him stand on a moving platform with his eyes closed, in the dark. His neurologist Dr. Lazdunski, who navigated Andy in and out of his realm, sending him to test after test to figure out why his balance was poor, ruling out each as the results came in. And Andy's gastroenterologist Dr. Stef who had the foresight to kindly and discreetly sign him up for the clinic an entire day before his colonoscopy to make it more comfortable to go through the necessary preparations normally done at home. All of these acts of pure kindness and empathy and professionalism were moving for Jill and me to witness, and Andy's confidence seemed to grow with each friendly encounter. Upon learning of his death, all of these same people were shocked and saddened, reiterating how well he had been doing, how his morale seemed to have been boosted over the course of treatments and how compliant and reliable and punctual he had been; and they all emphasized his cheerful and polite manner.
I would also like to mention here the people at the shelter near the port where Andy had been served dinner and provided a bed and shower every night since February. To be able to sleep 8 hours a night there as opposed to 3-4 hours a night sleeping outdoors, which he had done for years and which he described as "so stressful", was like being "in heaven"! He was treated with respect there, and he emphasized that it was because he treated them with respect. We are so grateful to them, especially to Lassaad, one of the directors who is here among us today, who kindly told me the whole story of Andy's death, showed me his bed where he had died, and his habitual spot at the table, and who said Andy was like a "breath of fresh air". I think all of us and all of you can find some comfort in knowing that over the last few months of his life, Andy had not only felt better physically but had gained a bit of the self-dignity he had lost and which every human being should have.
To end, I'd like to quote a line from one of Gerard's recent messages to me: "despite the sadness of losing him while life seemed to be full of hope for the future, I also give thanks for the fact that we lost him only once he had shown us this hope." Rest in peace, Andy. We will miss you.
A small plaque has been placed on 'his' bench at the back of the church. It reads - To the memory of our friend Lars Anders 'Andy' Larsson 1965-2024. "For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me". Matthew 25:35-40 .
Here are a few photos from the reception that took place after the service, and where we shared many fond memories of Andy.
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