Dear Ones,
Today, October 10th, 2010 (10-10-10), would have been my Father’s 93rd birthday. He passed away 14 years ago and we miss him still. I thought today would be a fitting day to send you an update on the events of the past week.
My precious Mother, Adele Stevens, passed away on Sept. 30th. On Oct. 4th, there was a viewing at the Rybicki Funeral Home…..Seeing my Mom in repose was very traumatic…our loving family members all clung to each other as we felt each other’s pain and loss. The room was filled with floral arrangements…..at least 75 gorgeous displays sent from loved ones to express their concern and care. From 2 to 4 PM and from 7 to 9 PM, a parade of mourners came to support each of us during this difficult time….hundreds came through, and it was so comforting to feel the love of so many. People whose lives have been touched by my Mother, and friends who may not have even known my Mom, but knew family members, filed by with words of sympathy and warm embraces. Friends from all phases of our lives and hers, came through. The nurses and staff at the Villa St. Joseph, where Mom resided, came to pay their respects and we shared lots of tears. And you can imagine how deeply moved we were to see Richard Stephens and Tony Martinez, and Clay and Mary Ellen Beattie, dear friends from Key West…overwhelming! How wonderful to have my dear dear friend, Bruce Moore, fly in to show his love and support!
Tuesday, Oct. 5th, was Funeral Day. At 10:15 AM people attending the Funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, gathered at the Funeral Home. There, two beautiful eulogies were delivered by our niece, Sally Stevens (daughter of brother Ed) and our nephew, Fred Stevens Jr. (son of brother Fred). How proud we all were of them…..their Grandmother had to be smiling down from her heavenly realm.
The worst part came when Mom’s children and grandchildren said our final farewells and the casket was closed. Mom’s casket bearers were her four grandsons, Fred, Ed, Rob and Joey, plus husbands of granddaughters, Sally and Jennifer, Robert and Peter. When that lid was lowered, it was a realization of all the pain and sadness mom experienced these past months…and that we will no longer see her in this physical world.
The funeral processed to St. Stanislaus Church while outdoors, it rained continuously, a reflection of the sadness in all of our hearts. This church is truly magnificent! It rivals any church you may see in Europe. I do believe it was the most beautiful Mass I have ever attended. All family members, including nieces, Jennifer and Julianna, nephews, Joe, and Brady and my wonderful husband, Bob, participated, doing the readings, petitions, carrying up the gifts, etc. And when Bruce Moore filled this wonderful church with his spectacular voice, there was not a dry eye in the church. He sang Amazing Grace and Ave Maria, and it was a beautiful gift and tribute to my Mother….whom Bruce always called, Swell Adele. At the end of the service, my brother Ed Stevens gave a wonderful talk, and after him, I went up to deliver mine. Please note that I have included the talk in the attachment above. If you want to read what I said, please feel free to read.
After the Mass, we went to All Saint’s Cemetery where Mom was laid to rest beside my father….and then back to the Funeral Home for a luncheon reception.
And that is that. I find it all very surreal and hard to comprehend. I continue to think of Mom constantly and to review the events of this past week and the preceeding times when Mom was struggling to hang on to life, over and over. I find comfort to know that Mom is no longer in pain….no longer suffering….that she is at peace and that her love will surround us always. She was a wonderful mother…..I will miss her always.
Thanks to each of you for your wonderful e-mail messages, cards, flowers, donations to the Villa St. Joseph Nursing Staff, the phone calls, visits, and all your expressions of love and support. I will be sending proper thank you’s when we return to Key West…..we are planning to begin our second return Home to KW in a matter of two weeks, beginning tomorrow. If all goes as planned, we will be back on Wednesday, Oct. 13th.
This has been a challenging journey….and I thank each one of you for sharing it with me.
My love always,
Lynda
Dear Lynda,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I subscribe to your RSS feed, and view daily. I noticed a lapse in postings and you were missed. God Bless you and your family. My deepest sympathy.
Sincerely,
Yvonnie Anetin-CastroYvonnie Ametin-Castro