A Deceased Person

Posted by Sarahbear on August 5, 2010

I have been fortunate to have family members who live long, happy lives. I actually haven’t had to experience very many deaths in my 27 years.  There was one person, a woman who I went to church with, who died suddenly and I didn’t get to attend her funeral to say goodbye.

Mrs. Hickey,

Many of my grandmothers friends are people I developed a bond with. Some are stronger than others, but I remember all of you. I remember you because you taught us teenage girls in Acteens and you were my grandmothers Sunday School teacher for a long time. Every time I traveled home for visits I would ask my grandmother how people were doing. Then one time, I came home for a visit and asked about you and my grandmother got quiet. She told me that you had passed away a few months prior after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. I was so sad. You were so young! You had so much more life to live.

I didn’t know what to say. I wished I could have been around or that I would have known about your funeral. I know it wouldn’t have changed the outcome of things, that the cancer was too far advanced and there was nothing that anyone could do, but I just would have liked to have said goodbye to a wonderful woman. To let you know that you made an impact on my life. The patience you had with everything, in waiting so long for your husband to come to church with you. That’s right. I remember that talk with us girls, when you were tearing up as you described how it made you feel when other women’s husbands were there in church with them, their arm around their shoulder. The forgiveness and dedication you showed when you continued attending church instead of resenting everyone who shamed your teenage daughter, making an example out of her for her pregnancy. It touched me that you shared those things with us. You led us by setting a good example and showing us what determination could achieve.

I miss you,

Sarah