Losing Louie

We sadly lost my grandpa Louie last night rather suddenly.  My mom had called me in the afternoon to tell me that he'd taken a sudden turn.  He was having signs of internal bleeding and his blood pressure had dropped way too low.  My step-father (his eldest son and like my mom, a nurse) was able to get to his side, but didn't think he'd be able to pull through like he'd done in the past.  And then by evening, he was gone. 

He'd been declining for some time, so I guess we can take some comfort in knowing that he wasn't suffering for long and was made comfortable and had his wife, sister, pastor, and his four dear sons nearby.  I'm so glad that I was able to visit with him and see him for what I didn't imagine would be the last time, just a few weeks ago, when I was up for my cousin's bridal shower.  He seemed like he was doing quite well then.  He was frail, but he recognized me right away, was very chatty and played cards with the guys while the ladies "showered".

I leave for Vegas in a few hours and am scheduled to return on the Wednesday red eye.  It looks like the funeral will likely be Wednesday morning, so we'll be leaving right from O'Hare to head to WI.  S will be a pallbearer, along with the other eldest grandsons and husband's of eldest granddaughters.  We will miss the visitation on Tuesday, but there is a viewing on Wednesday morning as well.

I understand there is nothing upside down in the universe when a man passes who has lived so fully all of his 80 plus years, leaving a wonderful family of four boys (and their wives), twelve grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. But he was the father (and the father of the man) who taught me how fathers should be.  Much like my late father-in-law as well.  Men who were good and honest and true, and embraced the responsibilities and joys of fatherhood, and lived for the simple love of their families.  Another beloved soul who will never share in the joy of our future children, and someone they would have been truly blessed to have in their lives.  A greater charge to us to live in their ways so that their love and the honor with which they lived will live on in the family we are working so very hard to build.

Amidst all the tears, I thank God again that he and the family that he and my grandmother created were linked (and enthusiastically embraced) with mine over 25 years ago in a unlikely pairing of my bachelor step-father and my young divorcee mother, who came with us four girls.

We love you Grandpa and we miss and love you dearly.