Celebrate Life!

Hi dear friends. Sorry I've been away.

My aunt and uncle (my dad's brother) both passed away this week. My aunt was in hospice care for terminal (non-cancerous) illness and she died in the wee hours this morning, and my uncle has been so heartbroken he had a massive heart attack Monday evening and died, too. Their daughter and son are devastated to lose both of them at the same time. My dad and his brother were very close as were my mom and my uncle's wife. It's been quite a blow for us all. We were expecting my aunt to pass for quite awhile, but not them both.

The bright side of the story - Yes, there is a bright side. They were Christians and they are both gone to be with the Lord. My uncle has cared for my aunt for many years - she had lots of health problems and many surgeries, but she always had a great attitude and was an outgoing and jovial person. They both loved laughing. My uncle devoted his life to her care. When she went to hospice, he told us all many times that he didn't know how he would make it without her and shed many tears. They were always so crazy about each other.

My theory - I believe the hand of God was working in their lives. My aunt had suffered so much physical pain and anguish over the years for the BOTH of them, that the Good Lord in all His love and grace and mercy took my uncle home in the blink of an eye with no suffering and he was waiting there for my aunt to join him.

It was decided to go ahead and tell my aunt about his death - as she still was cognizant of all that was going on around her - thinking that if she knew, then possibly she would quit fighting and go on to be with the Lord. She was in so much pain. When my cousin told her about his death, my aunt seemed as if she already knew and was peaceful about it. Her daughter told her in the wee hours this morning that it was OK to go, that she was so thankful for their lives and them being her parents and that "daddy's waiting for you, mom". My aunt could not talk, but tears slipped out of her eyes. We know she heard. A couple of hours later, she was gone.

The Hand of God has been working mightily here this week in our neck of the woods. He has worked in the big things and in the little things - the logistics of getting things in order, the details of getting family & friends here, the wonderful little church they had, planning the double memorial for them on Saturday - it's going to be a Celebration of their lives.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Jean would have wanted things to work out this way. It's been a comfort to know and see how God has worked this week, even tho things will be very hard on their kids and grandkids and extended family for a long time. Thanks for listening and thanks for your prayers for our families.