Posted on 07/08/2006 8:53:03 PM PDT by lightman
FRiends:
At 5:07 PM this afternoon, in the presence of me, my wife, his Pastor, and our wonderful volunteer nurse/caregiver my eighty-one year old father entered Life Everlasting.
His final hours were not at all easy, but upon hearing me read a card which had arrived today from a elderly couple who had been his closest friends he was finally able to close his eyes and rest in peace.
He will be cremated. His Memorial Service with Holy Eucharist will take place next Saturday at the wonderful congregation which I have served as Pastor for nearly seventeen years and which has supported us magnificently through this struggle (we have not had to cook for two weeks, we have had a steady supply of "Dad sitters" most of the month of June).
The service will conclude with internment in the Church Cemetery; my mother's cremated remains will at long last be committed as well into the same plot. Dad never could bring himself to have the committal so now, six years and three and a half months later, all shall be completed. As a US Navy Veteran of World War II, he will receive the Full Military Honors befitting his service.
His service was as a junior officer of the U.S.S. Arided and U.S.S. Uranus, two of the Liberty ships of the type immortalized by first the novel, then the movie “Mr. Roberts” as sailing “between tedium and apathy”; or, more precisely in the case of the Arided, Guadelcanal and New Caledonia.
His public service continued after the war with over three decades of teaching in less than ideal conditions. Dad will be remembered by nearly two generations as a patient and capable teacher of mathematics at an inner city High School for 33 years. His time in public education included those tense years in the late 1960’s when racially motivated riots spilled over into the hallways and stairwells of the schools.
I have had other teachers, as well.
This congregation has taught me well how to commend a loved one to Almighty God. Last September a bereaved family asked that in lieu of flowers, those attending the Memorial should bring a donation of non perishable food which will in turn be given to a local food pantry. We shall do the same.
In May of this year another bereaved family asked that the cremated remains, at Committal in the cemetery, actually be placed into the ground, and then, beginning with the immediate family, any attending who wished to participate took turns filling in the burial spot with spades of earth. Again, we shall do the same.
Your prayers and other expressions of caring have been so greatly appreciated. Thanks especially to Freepers Salvation, Rebel Banker, and trussell.
Now, all that remains is to join our voices with William How, who over a century ago penned these lyrics:
"The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!"
God be with you through this valley.
Prayers for your father's soul and for your family.
I'm so sorry, Lightman. Prayers on the way for you and your family.
Just reading the comments, prayers, poems, etc. on this thread has given me a feeling of peace and joy. May it do the same for you. Prayers for the repose of your father's soul.
Prayers for you and your father.
Prayers and condolences...
Condolances and prayers for you and your family.
Prayers from Missouri.
So sorry to hear of your loss, may your dad rest in peace, prayers raised for strength and comfort for family and friends.
"Well done good and faithful servant."
G-D bless your dad and many thanks for his service to this country.
(My dad, he should live long, is another WW2 Navy vet)
I lost my dad on 06-24-2006 and he too was a U S Navy veteran of WW II. He served on the USS Belleau Wood one of the small aircraft carriers that came out at the end of the war. God Bless all the remaining WW II veterans, they saved the world
My condolences on your loss. Your family is in my prayers today.
My condolences to you and your family. Take comfort in the fact that your father served society well and now he and your mother are together again. God bless all of you.
my dear father lives on, although not vigorously, and he was a Navy WW2 vet as well....he served in the Pacific on several ships, including the Battann and the Essex.....
even today, I woke up missing my mom....although not touchy-feely close, we had this philosophical bond that I dearly miss.....I consider myself almost an orphan and my life is sadder now, lesser now.....
I can say honestly that I have feared losing my parents since I was a little girl....now, in my fifties, that fear has come true and its a burden.....
but on the other hand, we can't expect to live forever, we will all lose our parents, and we certainly don't want them to suffer with disease, as my mom did....
the lesson to be learned is ,once your loved ones are gone, their gone.....so take time all of us, to appreciate our elders that are still here....to love and respect them....
I think all of us middle-agers will agree....we grew up in the 50's and early 60's in wonderful times....I recall a care-free and happy childhood, thanks to my parents....
the drugged up hippies and yuppies of the 60's and 70's and to this day have ruined life in America, to be sure...
so to finish my little pity party, I'll just say, God Bless your father, and God bless all our dear beloved parents, the ones that saw us thru the Depression and ww2, and that handed to us all the promises of America on a silver platter......GOD BLESS THEM ALL.....
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