A week of closeness

After our uncle's death, we prepared ourselves for a very long week ahead.

I thank God that I knew exactly how to proceed to ease my aunt's burden just a little.

I sure hope I don't have to spring into action again too soon....after this loss. Please, a little reprieve.

Though we just had a death in the family, everyone remained upbeat and remembered the good times, the fun, the laughter, and my uncle's great jokes!

Normal drill: funeral home, Alesci's, flowers, plan the liturgy and pick the music, CD's for the funeral home, box of Puffs, water/pop for the family at the funeral home, get the pall bearers and readers, and decide where to eat after the service...among so many other things.

It was such a treat going through my aunt's old pictures in order to make picture displays at the funeral.

My niece, aunt and I went through boxes of pictures.

What a walk down memory lane.

I found the picture of me and my aunt 'going down Niagra Falls.'

A great memory for me!


My niece got a charge out of the old pictures, and how everyone looked so long ago.

I admit, she made fun of yours truly in a picture where I must have been about a year or so being held by my uncle --she said I looked like "Super Mario!" Very funny!


I felt like my niece was a private eye. She pulled out her new fangled phone and was taking pictures of all the pictures as if she was an investigator.


My aunt mustered up courage and was so strong all weekend long. She was cute telling everyone how she asked for courage and got it!

She was quite touched by the great turnout and how many people loved my uncle and love my aunt.


We were all holding it together until my aunt's little neighbor Rosa showed up after school and ran into my aunt's arms sobbing. Pulled out the Puffs and just let the faucets flow for a little...


My uncle looked wonderful. I must admit, there was more celebration and remembering rather than tears.

In between viewings, we went for the early bird special down the street and had a wonderful Italian dinner.

Funeral day--a mixture of laughter and tears. My uncle fed the birds and all of God's creatures. After the funeral mass, there was a little squirrel who did not want to vacate my uncle's hearse which made everyone burst into tears--we know he was there for our uncle.

And my sister was convinced that Uncle Bill took her earring, which she left on her night stand when she went to sleep but it was missing the next morning? Hmmm???

Proceeding from the funeral home to church, a man walking his dog made the sign of the cross as the hearse passed. Mom used to always do that too. A very touching moment, at least for me.

I thank my stars above that I was able to hold it together to sing my uncle's funeral Mass with the assistance of my friend and choir director, David.

Another wonderful bonding experience after mass at lunch with at least 40 of my aunt's dearest friends and relatives. A nice sign to her that she DOES have support and will forever.

And then on the way home, believe it or not, we buzzed through Lakeview Cemetery to view their Daffodil Hill. I was not sure how that would go over with my aunt who had just lost her husband but the vision so tremendous, it was well worth it.

Sunday: it's time to gamble and start living again. My aunt and uncle had not been able to go gambling in recent months so the family hopped in two cars and headed to Presque Isle to let it ride! Now, this was such a wonderful time for all involved. Logical way for my family to honor my uncle and spend quality time together! A day I will never ever forget and cherish forever.


It's true, tragedy pulls people together. I hope that once we get through this weekend, the closeness remains.

Doing the right thing

(Picture courtesy Gloria's family)

I've said this before and truly believe it. When you do the right thing, unexpected miracles happen.

A parishioner and the sister of one of Mom's dearest friends passed away--Gloria Karpinski Battisti. She was a tremendous person in her own right; however, well known as well for being the wife of Judge Battisti. Click here to read a longer version of a story I wrote depicting her life.

So our choir wanted to sing Gloria's Funeral Mass. Now, if you have been reading previous entries, you know that I have been a bit under the weather. Mercedes and Diane, Gloria's sisters, asked my Choir Director if I could sing a few songs. God was with me. My speaking voice sounded awful but my singing voice came out like an angel. I'm not patting myself on the back. I felt like those singers from other countries who speak with an accent but sound 'American' when they sing. It was the funniest thing!

Mercedes and Mom would debate after Mass WHO I was singing to and for. Mercedes proclaimed it was for her, and of course, my Mother said hands down it was for her!


During the funeral, I recognized one of the funeral directors.

Talk about a small world and one of the strangest things I could ever imagine.

One of the funeral directors also works at Progressive Field during baseball season. When we would go to the games and Mom was tired, we'd often get a wheelchair at the gate. Well, time and again, this man got to know us and before we even requested a chair, had one waiting at the gate for Mom. He'd wheel her to the top of our row and come back at the end of the game.

We've met so many special people along our journey who were strangers and became dear friends.

Well, this was one of God's angels we met along the way.

And to see him again where I least expected to meet him was mind blowing.

Afterward, I went up and spoke with him. I happened to have one of Mom's letters and passed it along to him. He was very sorry for my loss yet his face lit up when he spoke of Mom. He gave me his business card and said to keep in touch and that he'd see me at "Jacob's Field" come April!

Then we were all invited to lunch after the funeral. I must say, I was a bit apprehensive because I really do not like doing things by myself. But, sometimes you have to do something that makes you uncomfortable to help others. And am I glad I did! Not only did I dine with Mercedes and Diane but while we waited for them to get to the restaurant from the cemetery, I met the wife of one of my contacts...the friend of someone I used to work with AND saw a fellow high school mate and her mother.

I had a wonderful afternoon and it all started with sweaty palms and heart palpitations because I was afraid to venture into the unknown.

Where God is involved and when you are doing something to help someone else, never be afraid!