On Good Friday, the first day of Spring, Aunt Dee peacefully lost her battle with cancer. The wake was held on Tuesday and the funeral was Wednesday. The Wife and I flew in early Tuesday and joined the family that had gathered at Dee's home. Everyone was there. We went out to eat before attending the wake. After the wake the Wife and I joined the Matron of Honor (Dee's daughter), the Best man, the GodSon, and the Altar Boy and this wife. We talked about Dee, religion, politics, and all the other things we talk about when we get together. I usually sit back and just soak it in contributing little but appreciating a lot.
The next day was the funeral. The funeral mass was beautiful. Dee would've loved it. After the funeral we all went to Dee's home to celebrate the life of a wonderful soul.
The 36 hours from the wake to the gathering after the funeral were a roller coaster of emotions. There was unending reminiscing on Dee's life accompanied by raucous laughter ... followed by the free flow of tears. This all reached a crescendo after the family returned to Dee's home after the funeral. Jim Beam, referred to as "Arnold" in honor of Dee's father, was toasted over and over until most of the Family were toasted themselves. Old Family party traditions were continued - drinking beer out of someone's shoe (Aunt Dee's in this occasion), singing the Schnitzelbank, hiding empty beer cans and bottles all over her house (a tradition started after her surprise 75th Birthday party - she was finding them six months after the party), and telling Family stories. New traditions were started - Bailey's Irish Cream will forever be known as "Dee". Dee would've enjoyed the whole thing. I'm sure she was looking down on all of us and just laughing at it all. She will be missed.
Valentine's Day, 1931 - Good Friday, 1st Day of Spring, 2008
Well said!
ReplyDeleteOkay, thanks for making me cry. I agree with Godson, well said. Thanks so much for your post. It means the world to all who loved Dee. Yes, she would be proud of all of us to carry on the family traditions as well as coming up with new ones. You and the wife are the most amazing people I know.
ReplyDeleteNow that? That's the way to be remembered. She got to change the world by touching so many peoples lives.
ReplyDeleteShoe drinking? I like, well love, my shoes but I have no plans to ever drink out of one.
Sorry to read about your wife's aunt - but it was wonderful to read about the family. It sounds like a family of love and happiness. I love my in-laws. They're wonderful. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteA wonderfully written post, simple and sincere about the events and feelings involved. May your next reunion with the family be under happier circumstances.
ReplyDeleteMH: Thank you
ReplyDeleteMoH: You're welcome. You know, when we were in the back seat of you car, you and the Best man sounded just like us. Therefore, you are equally amazing.
JaG: I agree. The farewell was perfectly suited for her. Don't knock the drinking out of the shoe until you're too drunk to care :-)
Norm: Your welcome. The in-laws are a wonderful bunch of people.
GH: Thank you. I always feel that I'm leaving something out when I post but this time I think I got it right. I was composing it in my head all last week.