In Honor

Last Friday began the drastic spiral downward for my grandfather. In the beginning of August he was hospitalized for what they thought was just pneumonia, when soon to find out he had a list of 11 things wrong with him not including his Alzheimer's. After pulling through everything they sent him off to rehab before heading home. He was doing so well there, racing up and down the hallways in his wheelchair and beginning to get strength back to walk. When Sunday, August 23, late in the evening he fell and fractured his hip which put him back into the hospital. We thought that he would just get better and head back to rehab. When Friday, August 28th, rolled around that didn't seem to be the case. I received a phone call that morning saying it wasn't looking good for him and they gave him anywhere to a couple days to a couple weeks. My family had decided that the best thing for him was to just make him as comfortable as possible and take him home to be with everyone there.

I stayed with him from Friday til the time he passed Sunday early afternoon. No matter how much people were telling me to just go home and get rest, I didn't want to leave his side. I knew that these were his last days and wanted to spend them with him.

Him as well as my Grandmother both were thoughtful enough to wait until after my birthday that Saturday to pass. Both of them passed on August 30th, one 2006 and the other 2009.

He was a great man as well as a wonderful grandfather. I have so many wonderful memories of him that I will cherish and hold dear and one day be able to tell Sydney as well as our future children. He was also a wonderful Great Grandfather to Sydney and cherished her so much! It pained me to know that this next baby will never get to know him even if it would have been for a short period like Sydney did.

This whole experience was difficult to try to explain to Sydney. We basically explained that God took Great Grandpa to be with him in Heaven and we wouldn't be able to see him anymore. She did attend the funeral and burial at the cemetery. We just explained that it was a goodbye party we were having for him. We were sad that he won't be with us, but happy that he is with God. We kept it as basic as possible. She didn't know that he was in the coffin~because that would have been way too confusing for her.

I was able to get some special pictures at the cemetery. My grandfather served in the Navy and was honored for that!

The American Flag covering his coffin

They took the flag off to fold it and then present it to my father~he was the oldest son.
My dad being presented with the flag.

We honored him for all he did for our country!

Sydney blowing him one last kiss =(

We love you and will miss you Grandpa/Great Grandpa!!!