October and November have been lonely and difficult.  My husband, Peter, of 57 years,  passed away suddenly without warning during the evening of October 17th. When it became obvious that he needed medical intervention, even though he was adamant about not calling 911, I did just that. The emergency services arrived quickly and transported him to the hospital. Our grandson and I arrived at the hospital emergency department shortly after my husband. We were told his prognosis was not good. That was the first time I realized that he might die.  Our grandson has a suite in our basement. He has been and continues to be a tremendous help and emotional support. My daughter and her partner arrived at the hospital after her father died. They spent the weekend with me and helped with arrangements at the Funeral Home. Our son arrived from Seattle a few days after his dad’s death and spent two weeks with me. He is coming back next week and plans to stay for 14 days. I do not know how people can plan a funeral or a memorial a few days after a sudden death. As a family and with the support of the funeral home staff, we decided to have a Memorial in the spring.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, grief involves coping with loss. It’s important to remember that grief doesn’t fit into neat boxes or timelines. Everyone experiences grief in their own way. Also, there’s never a time when you’re “done” with grief. Your connection with a loved one who’s passed becomes integrated into your ongoing life story.  It’s forever a part of who you are.

Words are not adequate to express how much we miss Peter. We are heartbroken, and our grief is constant. We can be certain, however, that we will meet again in a place where sorrow and heartbreak do not exist.

My sister Nadene’s husband passed away several years ago.  She wrote a tribute to 
Peter to be read at the memorial service.  She included the following poem because it had brought her comfort.

My sister Sheila read the following poem at Peter’s memorial service..  Peter had always dreamt of taking flying lessons.  I was able to make this possible for him when we moved back home in 1995.

  High Flight
By John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.