How do you even begin to thank or describe the man who gave you life and formed the person you are?
Well it’s best to go back about 55 years, to when you were a baby and then a little girl and he would faithfully kneel at your bed every night and say prayers to "Dear Jesus” with you. Those memories don’t fade. They only make a bigger and bigger impact on your life over time.
So you can imagine what a priviledge it became to be the one standing at his side, praying with him in his later years, making sure his spiritual needs were being met, once our mother was gone. Jenny brought him communion, Cille read him special bible passages at the very end. His nieces Myra and Leia said the rosary with him on the last night. The list goes on.
Putting dad In Lanark Lodge was the hardest thing we ever had to do in our lives. The nursing home experience was new to our family. Well, let me just say, it was an eye opener! My siblings and I would exclaim " It is like a free for all in there”.
At first, going to the home was so sad. It took all our strength and courage not to cry, seeing so many people hunched over, seemingly void of life or personality.
But slowly, our eyes started opening to the beauty at Lanark Lodge. We got to know the nurses, the cleaning staff and dad’s friends. Sweet Nora who ate at dad’s table and insisted on calling him Ernie no matter how many times you told her his name was Bernie. Lovely Evelyn who was one of 17 children, a twin of one of the 3 sets in her family. Carole, always smiley and happy to see you. It is so ironic and humbling to learn that she used to be a nurse at Lanark Lodge, the very place she was now a resident of. Just shows how life’s circumstances change.
Slowly God became present to us also at Lanark Lodge. We saw Him and felt Him through the LOVE. The love of disabled people helping disabled people, Herb in his wheelchair pushing others in wheelchairs to the diningroom every single day. It was like a train coming down the hall. Our Dad laying his hand on Connie’s forehead and ministering to her in a very special way, the loving way the residents are spoken to and the dignity with which they are treated. God was ever so present during mass in the Chapel. Although sometimes you would ask yourself why these people were still here, you knew God had not deserted them. He was still very much with them in their suffering!
We will miss our dad so much. Every visit, every minute spent with him has been a priviledge and that is the only way to describe it.
Dad, thank you for everything you gave us. You were a trooper when you had to go live at Lanark Lodge and you were a real brave soldier these last few days too as you lay dying. I only hope I can be as strong when my time comes. I think I will be though, because you taught me well!
Love Cathy
