SAYING GOODBYE

Today we said goodbye (at least for awhile) to Joe's sister Theresa.

She was a lovely lady with a kind heart.  Even the weather cried for her.  We got more snow.

Anniversary

Time flies.  It's hard to imagine, but today is the one year anniversary of the death of Joe's dad and the six year anniversary of the death of his mom.  I remember what a terrible time it was a year ago.  All of the fighting.  All of the tears.  All of the name calling and hard feelings.  (Take a look back at last year's entries if you don't know what I am talking about.)  At that time I thought it would never end. That it would always be bad.  But time heals a lot of things.  Even so, it was a sad day.  And a hard one.

I had such a nice long sleep last night.  I really needed it after having almost nothing the night before.  I felt so good when I got up this morning, but I missed the sunrise.  Oh well.  By the way, here is the sunrise I wanted to show you yesterday.  I found my camera in my bed.  How did it get there?

I went into work late today because I took Joe to the doctor's for his regular visit.  With all his ailments he has to see several specialists on a regular basis.  Sometimes someone else will take him, but other times I just want to be the one to go with him.  It's according which doctor he is seeing.  But I especially wanted to be with him today.


His appointment was for 11:00 a.m. but the doctor was running late and he didn't get in until 11:30.  The doctor took a lot of time with him, so we didn't get out until noon.  Then we had to get something to eat.  So I didn't get in to work until 2:00 p.m.  I worked until 5:00 p.m. so I had a 3 hour day.  I could get used to 3 hour days.  Ha, ha.  

Because Diane had been on the front desk for four hours, I took the next two hours and then Marquita came in for the last hour.  Even so, I got an awful lot accomplished.  I finally finished the filing that I've been doing for the last 6 months, ever since I took over Donna's job.  I can actually see my desk now!  I still have some more sorting to do of some paperwork, but the worst is over with.  Hooray!


We went food shopping tonight.  We were out of everything so it was a little expensive.  But we haven't been in three weeks, so I guess it's not that bad.  Joe had gone to Bible Study.  I picked him up at 8:30 p.m. and we headed to the store.  I was surprised.  The parking lot was pretty empty and we were able to park pretty close to the front door.  The store was pretty empty too.  And there were no lines to check out.  We even got a bagger.  So we have decided to go every Wednesday night after Joe's study.


Enough of my ramblings for tonight.  More tomorrow.

FUNERAL

We went to Jerry's funeral this morning.  There weren't many people there.  I guess most people had to work today and so went to the viewing last night.

Almost all of the nieces and nephews and their spouses were there, along with Joe's two sisters, some of Jerry's friends and people from his church.  I had never been to a Latter Day Saints funeral before, but it was very much like any other Protestant funeral to which I have been.

Before the service I had called Human Resources to find out if I could use funeral leave for a few hours or if I had to take the whole day.  They didn't know because the person I needed to speak to was out of the office.  I called back after the service and was told I could take an entire day as funeral leave, or I could take four hours of vacation time.  (I have only a week of vacation time left, which I am taking next week.)  I told Susan at Human Resources we were short handed and she said that wasn't my fault and the branch should call for coverage assistance if they needed it.  

Joe's sister, Maria, also works for the city and, in fact, is in the same union I am.  She got upset about how my boss was treating me and firmly told me I was entitled to a funeral leave day.  (She and I had both gotten notes from the funeral director that we were there for our brother-in-law's funeral.)  That I shouldn't give up my vacation time and have to take leave without pay next week.  Then Joe told me he was going to the luncheon afterwards and I needed to show up with him.  So I ended up calling work and telling the children's librarian (my boss is on vacation this week) that I needed to take the day off.   

Now I am concerned about going in to work tomorrow and the feed back.  But I feel that as a Christian wife if my husband was that adamant about me being with him, then that was where I should be.  He never asks anything of me.  This was unusual.  I have to leave it in God's hands and stop worrying about it.  But that is hard for me to do.

It turns out that my mother-in-law needed a ride to the restaurant and then home so it helped her out too that I stuck around.  Well, we will see what tomorrow brings.

THE DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN

My husband Joe's brother-in-law Jerry passed away today.  He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.  I liked him a lot.

Jerry was orphaned young in life.  He was fortunate enough to be brought up and educated at Girard College in Philadelphia.  This is a school started by millionaire Stephen Girard to board and educate underprivileged orphaned boys for grades 1-12.

After Jerry graduated he went on to Temple University and got a degree in secondary education.  He taught for many years and loved his job.  Just a year ago the Catholic high school he taught at closed and he decided to retire.

He had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks with heart problems and passed quietly this morning.  Everyone who knew him liked him.  We will all miss him.

Jerry (on the right) with his wife, Theresa (Joe's sister) and his son Jerry, Jr.

IT'S OVER

Everything is finally over for our sad weekend.  The viewing last night was very long.  Joe's family was OK except for a few people, but we just avoided them.  The two people he supposedly hurt were fine with him, said he made a mistake posting on facebook, but who doesn't and everything was cool.  Joe got to see his aunt and lots of his cousins which was very nice for him.  Most of the time I just sat there by myself.  The Marine League and the American Legion were there and each had a military ceremony for him.  Dad was a two-time recipient of the purple heart plus many other medals for his work in Viet Nam.  The ceremonies were very nice and very moving.

We were told last night to go directly to the church today instead of the funeral home, which we did.  Two of our closest friends from our church were there for us and we sat toward the back of the church with them.  We didn't know that the entire family had met at the funeral home, came in with the coffin and sat together at the front of the church.  Oh well.  We didn't want to sit with them anyway.  The service was very hard to sit through, but  we got through it.  Everyone was invited back to Joe's nephew's house, but we didn't go.  Instead we took our friends to lunch and then went home and took naps.

Dad is being cremated and the actual interment is happening on Tuesday.  Joe says we are not going to that.  Tuesday is also the day I have an appointment to see my surgeon for my second check-up and hopefully will get the OK to return to work.  He says that is more important and his dad would feel the same way.  He is right.  His dad was always looking out for me and was very concerned that I recover from this surgery.  He used to call me even from the hospital to see how I was feeling.

We are exhausted both physically and emotionally.  We thank you all for surrounding us with your prayers.  We couldn't have made it through otherwise.  We want this all to be over and to start living our lives again without a lot of turmoil.

JOE'S DAD

Joe's dad went to be with the Lord last night.  Around 10 p.m. he sat up, said, "I've had enough of this", took off his breathing mask, took 3 breaths and died.  Some of his family (including his wife) were with him.  At least he is not suffering any more.

Joe's sister-in-law called to tell us.  Joe was naturally upset and posted it on his facebook page so his prayer partners would know.  We suddenly get a phone call from his sister-in-law screaming and cursing at him because he had done this.  Not all of the family knew and some of the kids had found out on facebook that their granddad had died.  She ended up hanging up on him.  I called her back and tried to smooth things out, said he didn't do it to have them find out that way, etc. and she cursed and hung up on me.  Families are so wonderful.  Especially when they are upset.  We need to pray for them because no one in his family is saved.  They think we are the weird ones and need mental help because we believe there is a God and that Jesus died for our sins.  So sad that they don't believe.  Hopefully things will calm down and we will be able to attend the funeral.  Right now I believe we are not invited to show up.

Please keep Joe in your prayers.  He is putting on a good face, but I know from losing my dad how torn up he must be.  At least he was able to have alone time with his dad and have a good conversation with him the day before he died.

Strange thing:  Joe's mom also died on January 25th, 5 years ago.

Joe's son D.J., Joe Jr., and Joe Sr. taken last May.

I'll miss you Dad.