Category: Being Catholic

Was trying to get back to blogging now that the hand is really getting better, but life again happened. We lost the husband’s sister, February 12th. It was not expected but she had a good life and I’m sure she’s in heaven. It was challenging for me to go to the funeral and burial as she was buried where our son, Sean Patrick is and it’s getting close to that anniversary. Always a hard anniversary.

The music for today is from, “Les Miserables” the movie w/Hugh Grant. Seems an appropriate song for this post. I don’t know what will seem longer, the movie or reading this blog post. It’s kind of long and wordy too, but hey it’s my blog and my hand is working again !!!! Y A Y for a healed hand.

Oh and by the this has to be one of my favorite musical’s of all time !!! The first time I saw it, well are just no words for how much I fell in love with this musical. The movie is good too, but the live musical is amazing. If you ever get a chance to see Les Miserables, trust me take it you won’t be disappointed …

One of my sister’s said to me that funeral’s seem to bring family together. For some maybe but not so much for me. I can remember when my grandmama died. I come from a large Italian/Irish catholic clan. Not even really sure the number of cousin’s I have, but it’s a lot.

When my grandmama passed, our family came together in Wisconsin. There were a lot of us, well because she had 7 kids…6 son’s and my mom the only girl. It was back in the 70’s when it seemed as wake’s and funeral’s went on for days. All of my sister’s were there along with all of the cousin’s. Definitely like a family Reunion.

That was my Italian grandmama sitting down in front w/grandpapa. Actually that was not even all of my cousin’s as some weren’t even born yet.

Anyhow back to the funeral yesterday. I definitely was a bit hesitant about attending b/c I know it’s getting close to our son’s passing and I always have a hard time w/that anniversary. Thankfully our daughter the nurse told me she will come with us and everything will be fine. She did and it was.

In fact it was really good for me as it brought back many good memories of times past. We were both making jokes and acting totally inappropriate for a funeral, but I guess that’s just how you get through the sadness of losing someone.

My daughter has the same name as one of my sister’s who I was very close to a lifetime ago. I remember at my grandmama’s funeral when we were at the wake, she arrived after me. When she walked in we were both wearing the exact same outfit. We both started laughing and that’s how we carried on for the rest of the services.

When we were out at the cemetery for grandmama’s burial, we were scoping out the flower’s we were going to grab. We whispered into each other’s ear, “Hands off, it’s mine 🙂 !!!” I can remember Uncle Tim, (mom’s youngest brother) giving us both the stink eye 😉 the entire time.

FF to yesterday, my daughter and me were totally misbehaving and it so reminded me of how it use to be. I looked up out at the cemetery and said, “Thank You” for the daughter who is now my friend … She made it easy and I was so grateful for the memories of past funerals. Family is really everything even if it doesn’t look like you hoped it would. I am grateful for how it is…

My husband now is the last one of his immediate family still living. I told him that’s not a bad thing as he’s the youngest so he should be the last one alive. I’m the youngest of 4 sister’s and I hope I’m the last one to go. Heck I hope I’m around forever.

Our daughter came to the funeral with us. I was very thankful for her. I’m not a fan of funerals but if you have faith and believe in God it can make dying and funerals easier.

I know I went on forever but it’s my blog and there are no rules here and if there are I make the rules 🙂 … Hope you enjoyed the story. Have a great weekend.