Time is a cruel master at times!!!!

One of my oldest friends was buried today. She was the same age as my first wife and I. She was born right to the north of my home farm. All of us played together, went to school together and raise our kids together. Lots of things where all lived through together. She was the happiest person I have ever met. She never had a down day and I do mean ever. On the day she came home from being told her leukemia was back and that they could not do anything more she joked about finally winning something???? She was talking about her life insurance. Made us all laugh.

She left behind four wonderful kids and twelve grand kids. Her husband is just totally lost. We all have known she was going but when it finally happen we never where fully prepared for it.

She was the third wheel on many of my wife's and my dates. She was a good friend and we just enjoyed her being along.

Her family was very poor. She never had very much in the way of material things in her childhood. For our high school prom my wife bought her a new dress. It was the first new one she had ever had. I bought her a cameo brooch so she would have some jewelery to wear with her fancy dress to the prom. Actually my idea but my wife did the picking. LOL. She went and had the time of her life. Her date was a setup by my wife. My wife must have set them up well. They later married and they where able to enjoy their fortieth wedding anniversary this year.

I was taking it pretty well until the visitation last night. She looked just like she could have gotten up an been with us again. The thing that really tore me up was that she was wearing that prom dress and her cameo brooch. It just brought back loosing my wife all over again. So it was kind of like morning them both.

Her oldest daughter came to me today after the funeral. She told me her Mom wanted to be buried in that dress and her brooch. She said her mother always told her that wearing that outfit was the first time she felt like she was pretty.

I did not know what to say. I have been emotional all day since we got home. Not sure how to react to this. My feeling are all over the place.

I really do not like living to see my friends leave this world. There is getting to be fewer each year it seems.

Just add a minute to your prayers. May God receive her into his house where she can be with my wife again.

sorry for your loss.dont know what else to say,but I hope youre feeling better soon

One thing this shows to me is the importance of sharing, you can feel good you and your wife made her life better. It's a real tragedy when people hoard and don't share what they get, then die and leave it behind without knowing the joy of sharing.

I have a tear in my eye and I don't know what to say. You not only lost a good friend but this also brought back the pain of your wife's passing.

I've come to compare the loss of a very close loved one to a bad physical injury. We eventually get back on our feet and walk again but that area is always tender and easy to re-injure. Our emotions are injured in the same way after we go through the greiving of someone we have shared our life and soul with. God bless. Jim

Great words . I must remember these.

i join you in your sorrow. my sister will be burried sat. wally

So sorry for your loss! Brought a tear to my eye.

My thoughts are with you today. You have done something most of us will never do: changed a life for the better.

Larry

My first wife was only 34 We had only been together for 13.5 years one little girl 7 years old that we had just had a long talk about momma finally being well enough to play and do things around the house. They wheeled her off to surgery and I went with her as far they would let me and stood there looking down the hall they got about half way when she made them stop and turn the gurney so she could see me and she said "I love You". Those were the last words she ever said to me. The heart transplant went bad and we buried her on December 24,1993.
Ron

JDSeller, I believe you have given us a great example of "How would we be remembered, if we died tomorrow?" Obviously, this woman remembered your kindness and treasured your friendship to have kept the dress and broche over fourty years.
We never know how our acts will be received by others and what creates a positive moment in their lives to be filed away in their hearts.

I really don't know what to say, other than my condolences to you during this difficult time. I wish there were more people like you and your wife in this world. It would sure make life more enjoyable.

Very sorry for your loss,my wife never gets involed with the site here,but I asked her to please read your post,she is starting to realize this is way more than a tractor site,she was touched by your story,

I can"t imagine how difficult a loss it must be. Living your life in a close circle with friends and family and then watching them die. It is a blessing to be able to enjoy a close relationship with the important people in your life. Many don"t have the opportunity to do that these days and feel disconnected when the loss happens. Prayers go out for you and your family/friends.

She was special to you and others their are other words to describe it. I never gave it much thought till I was asked to describe my wife in one word.... I then set out to describe what was special about her with out using that word...
It then became obvious to me why she was loved by everyone she came into contact with...

You lost a Angel you could touch but gained many more...

By Their good deeds You will Know Them... They are their may god bless Y'all thru these times....

sorry for your loss. may God Bless You for being a giver in a world of takers.

JD.......I'm right there with you. I had to bury my baby sister this week Wednesday. She too had Leukemia.

MEN....cry. I know.

You and your wife were two very special people in this woman's life. What a wonderful tribute she paid to the two of you and your friendship. This is a very touching story and should be a lesson for us all. that being, that we never know how we touch other people's lives.

So sorry for the loss of your friend. You shared with her and your wife some very wonderful memories. You gave her something that made her feel special and she never forgot that. You cannot have anything more special than the love of a true friend who never forgets you. The wound is deep in your loss,..but time will heal it so that you will be able to keep all those times you shared as her friend.
You and your wife's kidness towards this special lady gave you her unconditional friendship which will last long after the hurt is gone. God Bless you and your wife and your friend.

I am so sorry for your loss. Your story bless's me. It is so good to hear stories of people loving and caring about one another in these harsh times we live in. A life without such friend ships would be very empty.

I have a theory about life, i simply believe everyone lives a lifetime,for some its a hundred years and for some its minutes or less. how you live that life and how you touch the people around you in its always too short span determines how it was lived.makes no difference if your wealthy or poor, strong or weak. sounds to me like this fine lady led a really rich life..

My wife is 87 and getting weaker by the day. She wil start dinner and I will have to Finnish it for her. But she tries and that keeps her going. I dred the day that is comming I sure hope it's not as bad as I think it will be. We have been together for over 40 years now both on our second married but the best one. My wife took her savings and bought a very large headstone actually they call it a monument. It is 48 in. Tall and 56 in. Wide should be here by the end of the Month. Sorry this is making me cry now. Anyway JD I hope all goes well for you in the future.
Walt

Jd,Thank you for the heart warming story.It's obvious you loved her very much,and she you.Thats the kind of stuff that makes life worth liveing.So sorry for the loss.You will be in our thoughts and prayers.We will remember this for a long time.God bless.Steven & Susan

Thanks for sharing that story, and I'm so sorry for your loss.

Your characterization of her always being "up" reminded me of a friend of mine, whose funeral was a couple of weeks ago. It was a happy affair, because he passed at the ripe age of 93, and was ready to "go home". He was always optimistic, too, and never met a stranger.

His grandson, in his 40's, eulogized him by recalling how he (grandson) had been down in the dumps about something when he was a teenager. Chuck told him, "You know, you can control how you react to things. I decided long ago that I was going to live a happy life, and that's how I approach everything. Eventually, it just gets to be a habit."

I think your friend and Chuck would have gotten along famously. RIP, Chuck Osborne.

Perhaps that latter part of Job 1:21 is appropriate.

JD, I don't know you,but you have a way with words. Sometimes just being able to acknowledge a situation allows us others to pause a momment and do a check off in our own life happenings. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your grieving on many levels.

Sorry to hear of your loss....life has some rough times doesn't it? You sound to me like you're one heck of a good man, may God Bless You and see you through these difficult times.

Sorry for your loss. Know what you mean by not liking how many are gone. Only advice I can offer is to focus on the ones still here, especially the ones also missing your friend. Don't just share your well-written memorial with strangers here-write more and share them with her friends and family. I'll bet you'll be surprised by how good it makes them (and you) feel.

Sorry for your loss, sounds ike she was a wonderful person and will be missed by many.

Sorry to hear of the passing of your dear friend.Thank you for giving us a glimpse into her life.

Vito

Read with tearful eyes !

It happens. I was pall bearer for a friend earlier this week. He died of cancer at 45, his youngest son and mine are very close friends - both are age 10.

God Bless you for being that good a friend. She sounds like she was a wonderful person. Time will heal your woes. I've asked myself several times when good friends, or close relatives passed, "Why did I live this long?" God has the plans, we just "ride" along.

Almost 27 years ago, my son was born and died about 40 hrs later. When I read stories like yours, I am happy for you, that you had such wonder times together and for as long as you had.
SDE

JDSeller, as you stated, we are never really prepared for the inevitable. You and the ladies family have my sympathy. It sounds like her husband is going to need a lot of support. Her asking to be buried in the gown and brooch that you and your wife bought her, and what she said about them, I would take that as the ultimate compliment.