More Sadness to bear

In Victorian times, strangers would be hired to attend funerals if the family felt there would not be enough mourners to impress other people. I am beginning to feel like one of those professional mourners.

Since my brother passed away December 1st, I have attended 4 funerals. First my brother's, then the two past Governors of our Moose family center. on March 20th someone very close to me passed away at the age of 81. He was the husband of a very close friend who passed away in 1993. I promised her on her deathbed that I would make sure "C" always had a place to live and for the past 15 years, he had a room wherever I lived. "C" was not in the best of health the past 5 years. He had spent too many years smoking and his lungs were in bad shape. He was having trouble adapting to this weakened state plus the loss of dignity in having to use a walker and I think he finally decided that this way of living, was just not worth it. He was taken to the hospital but refused any treatment, and within a few hours he passed away. His memorial service was at our Moose Family Center last Saturday.

This weekend, one of my co-workers passed away. "S" and I had worked at another company for 8 years before this company, and we had an excellent working relationship. He was not a well man, but still there is the shock of his passing. Arrangements are still being made even as I write this.

With each one the past 4 months, I keep hoping it will be the last for a very long time, but, unfortunately, the losses continue. I will again pray that this will be the last for a while.