Finding Courage

My husband died six months after his sister Rose. It was sad for his two other sisters. They lost a sister and brother within six months. My son-in-law, Mario, had lost his father six months earlier. He put his arm around me and cried, “I lost my father six months ago and now I lost my second father and a friend.”

My oldest grandchildren slept at my place for a week after my husband was buried. They each took turns until I got enough courage to stay alone. Two weeks after my husband died, Louise came to stay with me for one week. She helped clean the house and listened to me and gave me advice on different affairs. I appreciated her staying. Louise could not believe her brother had died so suddenly. She had seen him the Tuesday of that same week.

Several weeks after my husband passed away, a priest called and asked if he could come to visit me. His name was Father Tony. I gave him coffee and cake. He talked to me and consoled me. He made me understand that God did not leave me on the earth to cry and feel sorry for myself. He told me when I want to cry because I lost my husband, I should instead get the Rosary beads and say a Rosary that my husband's soul would rest in peace. That is what I'm trying to do.

Carmela and Rosemarie sent out the thank you notes for all the mass cards we had received and to the people that helped. I wrote a thank you note with a donation to the policemen, ambulance corps and Father Grey. I have about five masses a year said for my husband.

At first I found it very hard to cook for one person and eat alone. I missed my husband so much. I hurt when I realized that I would never see him again. We were together a lot during our married life. We had breakfast, lunch and supper together. Then all of a sudden I was left alone. I thank God for our 48½ years of being together. In 1½ years it would have been our 50th anniversary. I thank God for our five wonderful children and their partners. I'm full of love all around me with our 23 grandchildren.