Passed on

[graybear]

My wife and I just spent the weekend in Southern PA (York county) Got a call from my sister that my father wasn't expected to make it. Got to York Hospital Friday afternoon and spent afternoon and evening in the room w/immediate family (15-20), 3 generations. My wife, a Methodist minister, anointed him & said a prayer. My wife and I planned to leave Saturday about 3:00 so she could do services on Sunday morning, but when we got to the hospital & talked to the Hospice nurse, the nurse said he had about 24 hours. We had probably 24 to 30 people in the room, all family. It did get a bit noisy. My wife decided to get someone to take care of the services so she went to the car to get her phone list.  I was checking the menu @ the lunch room when my wife rush back. My sister had called & said get right back. When we got back he had gone @2:55.Now I'm not asking for sympathy or anything like that ,we mourned and & have now started to celebrate his life. When my wife and I went past the chaplain's office, she stopped in to talk to him And he came up to the room, talked to us about life & death and How Dad had completed his task on earth and had now gone to his rest. After DAd passed, we all got lunch and ate in the room. We were eating, laughing and talking about Dad & things we remembered about him. I think we may have permanently scarred his associate pastor. He came to the room while we were doing this and looked a little taken aback. After awhile listening and watching us, he gave a blessing & prayer and left. So dad's got to get into heaven, anointed by a Methodist, prayed for by a Roman Catholic priest and rites by an independent pastor. That evening we had a family dinner at a restaurant, about 40 of us, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and we still didn't have everyone. Eating drinking and talking about Dad until almost 11:00. And a good time was had by all.

[Hawken50]

Prayers up for the family graybear. Awesome  that you celebrated his life  instead of death . I commend you sir.

[old salt]

Life goes on, just on another dimension. Prayers for the family.

[hotfxr]

To few take the time to celebrate a life lived, instead spend their time in sadness, bemoaning their loss. Your story brightened my day, thanks for sharing.

[Watauga]

Prayer on the way.....

[William]

Prayers up for the family graybear. Awesome  that you celebrated his life  instead of death . I commend you sir.

Ibid.  A virtual hug of condolence to you my friend.

[Hanshi]

You got it, my friend.

[padre]

Prayers going your way.

[Papa]

Graybear,
in my humble opinion, you folks got it right. I don't want to be mourned when I pass, I want to be remembered, for good and bad. Prayers go out to you and your family, follow the traditions your father left.
Mark

[beowulf]

prayers on the way ! 

[redhawk]

Greybeard, it was a fitting testament to the life your father lived.  My prayers and condolences  go up to you and your family.

[R I Jerolmon]

"Cry at my passing" but then...."Smile and remember that I have lived" My thoughts are with you and yours.