Families are Forever

This past month has been a particularly trying month. I feel like we are handling things well; it helps that we are a little family now. Jared's nan, Edith, has been in the hospital. When she was first taken to hospital they found out that she had cancer. As she was 96 and very frail, doctors new surgery would be too much for her. When finding out of her struggle, we knew she wouldn't be around long. Jared and I decided a trip to say goodbye was in order. So the first weekend in September we made our trek up to Chesterfield to visit her.

When we arrived she was so tiny and looked very weak. She didn't wake either times we visited that day, but she made it known that she knew we were there. I had not met his nan before, but I could tell that this was not the same lady that Jared talked so lovingly about.

In the past few years as her health had declined Pam and David, Jared's parents, became her caretakers. She only lived down the road so they could easily see to her. I know from what Jared has expressed it became a big burden particularly on David, her son.

Over the course of the month she would have up and down days, but mostly down. After a few weeks of this she finally consented to allow David to give her a blessing. Its David's feeling that this gave her the needed peace to allow herself to stop fighting.

Jared was one of the first to know, at first when he found out I was very surprised at how well he was taking things.  It was later when I was cooking and he was no where to be seen that I knew this was going to be a hard one.

I have not seen him grieve, I am usually the crier in the family. He has so many fond memories of Nan. She was always around for Sunday dinner, and this always ended with a game of cards. My favourite story I heard was of their jigsaw puzzle days. They often sat around a table and did a jigsaw together. Jared knew that the moment he left to go to school Nan would finish it and he wouldn't be able to do the last piece. So when he would come home from school the puzzle would always be nearly done, but he always kept that last piece in his pocket. (such a sneaky devil!)

The funeral was on Monday, nearly a month after she first went into hospital. It was organized by David's only sibling, Irene, it was a lovely occasion. It was there we heard stories of her life and met all the relatives, many whom Jared had never met...nor David, or at least not to his memory.
To see all of Jared's grief freely flow was a bit hard for the wife. I ended up sobbing myself!

The wonderful thing about the whole experience, is the amazing feeling I knowledge that we have. She is with her husband in heaven, she is happy! One day we will all be together in heaven, sealed forever!

Hopefully they have a pack of playing cards!

Nan with her husband Ted and two children David and Irene