Last night, the evening of Mothers day, at around 11:00p.m. I got a phone call from my parents.
My great-grandmother passed away. She was 96 years old.
I couldn’t believe it. She has been sick for awhile. It was as if she lost her will to live. It was heartbreaking to slowly see her body shut down. During the last months of her life, she mainly sat in her chair or laid in bed.
I knew she wouldn’t get better, but I never thought it would seem so sudden.
I got out of bed, still in shock over the news and walked to Gerard’s room. I knocking, figuring that the sound of the phone ringing had woken him up. He opened the door within seconds. I guess he knew something was wrong.
“Who called?” He asked as he rubbed his eyes.
“My parents, they called to let me know…” I suddenly had felt a knot building in my throat. “…that my great-grandmother just passed away.”
In one quick motion Gerry stepped out of his room and embraced me in a hug. As soon as he did that I started crying. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry to hear that.” He kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back.
“I..” I wiped my tears away with my bathrobe sleeve. “I have to go say good-bye. They are sending her body back to her hometown tomorrow morning so she can be buried with my great-grandfather.”
“Give me five minutes to put some cloths on and brush my teeth. I’ll come with you. I’ll drive.”
Small details…He didn’t ask if I wanted him to come. He offered. He said he’d come. He wanted to be there for me.
We got dressed and drove the 30 minute drive to my great-grandmother’s home. I’m not sure I would have been able to do it on my own.
One of my biggest wishes was that she would see me get married. I am so grateful that she did. I see it as a blessing that she was well enough to come to my wedding and stay at the reception a while. She was also so blessed to have been able to see three great-great-grandchildren on behalf of my cousin. I couldn’t ask for more. She got to see me walk down the aisle to a wonderful man she adored when she first met him. It was selfish on my behalf to wish she could see my first child.
The drive over was silent. Gerry drove the car with one hand and held my hand with the other. When we got there it seemed like my whole family was inside. We shared tearful hugs and condolences. My great-aunt and grandmother fussed with the paperwork that was necessary to call the funerary. I walked into the bedroom. The doctor was there and had he body covered with a white sheet. It was like an eerie scene from a movie. She looked so tiny and fragile. Gerry stood behind me and put his arms around me. (Later he told me he did that because he said I looked so pale he was afraid I was going to fall.) As he hugged me, tears kept rolling down my cheeks. Time seemed to stop. I sat down next to the bed and reached out to touch the sheet covering her hand, but I stopped. I didn’t want to touch her cold skin. I didn’t want to see the woman beneath the sheet. I didn’t want to remember her like that. I wanted to remember her as happy and vivid as I’d seen her during my whole life.
It took another hour before the funerary people came and took her body away. I am so thankful to have had Gerry there with me. He didn’t say much, but his presence and support really helped me. I know my family felt the huge loss and we could support each other. But having my husband next to me was comforting.
Once the body was taken away and the arraignments were done we headed home. It was close to 4:00 in the morning. I couldn’t sleep. Even though I had to work in the morning. I went into the kitchen and made some tea. Gerry joined me and we sat on the couch and reminisced about my great-grandmother.
Eventually the emotional exhaustion and late hour tired us out and we feel asleep on the couch. We woke up a couple hours later to the smell of food. Bryce had gotten up and made us waffles and cut up fruit for us.
Needless to say the day seemed gloomy for me and tiring for Gerry. We both came home and took a nap. I woke up a little bit ago finish some random chores around the house. Now I’m just typing about my day and getting ready for a new day.
My great-grandmother was a wonderful woman. She was always smiley and giving. I’ll miss her. I’ll miss her stories. But she’ll always be present in our hearts.
Let your family members know you love them. Every time you see them. Tell them that you appreciate them.
xoxo
Desirae
