Dearest Grandfather
2005-02-17 @ 12:14 p.m.
It has been one long and hard week.
The planning for the funeral was on Saturday, Sunday was spent moping about and sleeping, Monday was the emotional funeral.
My sister Dana flew in my sister Nikki from Pennsylvania, and she stayed with Dana on Sunday night until Monday. Everyone came to the funeral, it was beautiful. My biggest fear was that my grandfather would still be locked in the contorted position his body was on Friday night, but he looked much better on Monday. I was able to look at him and be okay, well, as okay as can be expected. My grandmother was afraid to come in, she was scared that he would look the same way too. He looked more like my wonderful grandfather though.
We stood in the church lobby from nine to eleven for the viewing. So many people came to see my grandpa. All of his children were there, grandchildren(all of my cousins..it was amazing to have us all in one place), and almost all of his great-grand children. His living sister, my Great Aunt Lou came, and my grandmother, with shaking hands gave her a picture my grandpa kept on his dresser for sixty years. The picture was of his father and they both teared up and hugged tightly.
There were many people that I didn't know, as my grandmother was one of ten children and has numerous nieces and nephews. They were all friendly and smiled and it was breaking my heart. When my grandma walked into the church she ran to my grandfather's casket and cried into his stilled chest. She repeated many of the words she spoke the night he passed away.
Before we went into the service I touched my grandpa's hand and told him that I loved him, I will always love him. He didn't look like the vibrant man that he always was, and it hit me hard.
I sat in the second pew with my older sister Dana and nephew Christoper on one side of me, and my brother DJ and sister Lizzy on my other side. My sister Nikki sat behind us with my sister Dana's daughter Miranda. My mother, Uncle John, Aunt Sherri, and grandma sat in front us us.
The service was pretty standard, and they accidentally called my name to read instead of Liz's name, but that's okay.
When my sister Nikki went in, more tears rushed to my eyes. She read a passage from the bible and then spoke some very true and valuable words about my grandfather. She talked about the garden he loved so much, and how he was always really kind to us kids. Dana and I started bawling then. She gave a lovely and positive speech and it was honest. I wish I had the strength to do that.
I've put writing in here off for a long time now...I'd write more but I haven't slept in a week and I'm going to try to get a bit in. Try being the keyword here. :-(
I'll finish up later if I can.
-SaM
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