In Memoriam

Even though I didn't ask (what child does?)..... today I'm not sharing my own words, but my Dad's:

Eulogy for Jeanne – April 2, 2014

I am sure DiDi (Minister present) has said many times, the Lord does not give you more burden than you can carry – but He does push the limit!  On behalf of Jeanne’s family, we want to thank you for the love, hugs, stories, support, and food you have given us.  More importantly, on behalf of Jeanne’s family, we wish to thank you for the love and support you provided Jeanne over the years.

Do you believe in fairy tales?

On June 7, 1968, a little princess named Jeanne was born in Fremont, Michigan.  Fremont is the home of Gerber Baby Food – what a great place to begin life.  She had two parents who loved her very much.  They watched her grow into a little girl who enjoyed fairy tales – listening to Snow White, Cinderella, and Humpty Dumpty.  Everything was good and right.

Those two parents and a loving aunt and uncle got up one cold November morning to stand outside for hours to help Santa buy a Cabbage Patch doll so a little girl would not be disappointed with Christmas and everything would be good and right.  If only life could remain so simple, we would stand out in the cold for days to make everything good and right.

The little girl was joined by two sisters and grew to be a teen.  Like her sisters, she was pretty, smart, and popular.  In high school she was Homecoming Queen, President of the Senior Class, and graduated near the top of her class to go on to complete a rigorous college degree in Engineering.

When the teen grew into a woman, her family expanded to include a step mother and two step sisters. Jeanne became a mother, bearing two sons who are handsome and smart.  She loved them very much and she was loved very much by her parents, sisters, and family. Everything was good and right.

But like Humpty Dumpty she had a great fall.  All the kings’ horses and all the king’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

So, as with ourselves, let’s draw her faults in the sand and chisel her virtues in stone.  This woman’s stone will contain a very long list of virtues.   Yes, we still believe in fairy tales.

Parents are not supposed to lose children, but we have gained some solace from the Serenity Prayer:

God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Grant me patience with the changes that take time, an appreciation for all that I have, tolerance for those with different struggles, and the strength to get up and try again, one day at a time.