Farewell

My Grandpa Ben's funeral was wonderful.  It was tougher and a lot more emotional than I was ready for though!  I think anytime someone passes, it's almost more difficult to watch loved ones left behind than it is to say goodbye.  It was special to watch my mom, her sisters & Theresa stand together and say goodbye to their father & husband.  Closing the casket was emotional as well.  It was a different sort of emotion than it was at my Uncle's funeral a few months ago.  But nonetheless, it was still a sad goodbye. 

The Five of us.

The funeral was beautiful.  My cousin Jeff read a compilation of all of the grandkids' memories of Ben.  My sister Michelle played a beautiful piano solo.  Ben's life was remembered.  He was in the Navy, so all of the men sang "For Those At Peril On The Sea", a song sung at the Naval Academy.  My brother Bill also attended the Naval Academy.  He & Ben were particularly close.  It was touching to watch him sing that through his tears.  Nate was a pall bearer, and I was so proud as I watched him help my cousins & brothers carry my grandpa's casket.  I love Nate.  I married a good, good man.

At the graveside service, there were some military men there who reverently & respectfully folded the American flag that had been atop Ben's casket and presented it to Theresa.  She held it close to her, and there wasn't a dry eye.  That was something that I will never forget. 

Families are forever.  Eternal covenants are real.  Death is not the end.  Attending the funeral for someone who lived such a good, honorable life was a wake-up call for me.  What will be said at my funeral?  Something to think about. 

Last night, we all sat around the table with Theresa and listened to her talk about how she & Ben met and fell in love.  It was so sweet.  They were like little giddy newlyweds everytime I saw them.  They were only married for 6 short years, but every moment was spent serving each other.  Constantly asking each other what they needed.  Theresa had never been married before, so Ben spent these years showering her with affection and asking her nonstop what she wanted to go do and see and experience.  What a beautiful example to follow.  I love them so much.

I love my family.  And I love my babies more than I can express.