A Small Request

If you would, spare a moment in your day to think a good thought for my mother-in-law Dora, whose own mother (Krissy’s grandmother, Athena’s great-grandmother) passed away early yesterday evening. This was not unexpected — Dora’s mom had been ill for a long while and it was clear this last week that it was time — but losing a parent is always rough. So if you would keep Dora in your thoughts today, I’d thank you for it.

59 Comments on “A Small Request”

  1. John,
    I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. You and your family are in my prayers. If it is allright with yall, I will add her name to the prayers of the people part of the mass tomorrow at church. I attend St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Again, please accept my deepest condolences for your family’s loss.

  2. I’m sorry for your family’s loss- no matter how “expected” it is, it’s always painful.

  3. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences. 2009 has been a year of loss for us all, and as Jen commented it hurts no matter how expected it is. I lost my last living grandparent this year, and two of my friends lost their mothers. We’ll all be happy to see the end of this year.

  4. Sorry for your family’s loss, John. You’re all in my thoughts today. May her story live on in the hearts of the people who knew her.

  5. Saying “When it’s time… it’s time” and “We all lose people who are near and dear to us, and eventually will be lost to others” doesn’t do much good, and I’m not sure prayers, wishes, and condolences from strangers do significantly more than that, but all this won’t prevent me from lighting a candle, planting a few seeds (of flowers & vegetables), meditating on life, loss, & death, and hoping that everyone can manage to cope reasonably well.

  6. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers.

  7. So sorry for your loss. I can definitely relate, we lost my Grandmother last week to a heart-attack. She was 94, and like your Wife’s Grandmother, it was not unexpected. Still, expected, unexpected, or anything in between, it is not easy losing an integral piece of your family. My thoughts will be with your family today.

  8. I am sorry for your loss. It’s been said earlier in the thread, but no matter how much you expect it, the death of a loved one is always a shock when it happens.

  9. Sorry for your loss. It doesn’t matter if it is expected or not. Death is never easy to deal with. I recently lost a nephew and my family is still trying to figure out how to dral with it.

    My thoughts are with your family.

  10. My own great grandmother was one of the dearest, closest people to me as I was growing up. She was one of the first people to expose me to art, and she taught me my first lessons in respect and what it means to love another person without reservation. My thoughts are with your family during this time. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

  11. Condolences. Lost my grandfather (he was a huge figure in our extended family) around this time of year as well. It seemed at the time like it was going to be a pretty bleak Christmas, but I think it turned out that it was much easier for everyone being around for that time of the year anyway. Athena is lucky to actually have had a great grandmother in her lifetime. I hope she got a chance to know her. Those are good memories to have.

  12. Sorry to hear that, and condolences. I lost my dad back in February to cancer. He’d been ill for awhile as well so it wasn’t unexpected but that still didn’t make it any easier. All the best wishes to your family.

  13. My sympathy to Dora, Krissy, Athena, and you, John. A family loss affects so many people.

  14. Sorry for your loss. It’s never easy, even when someone’s lived a long and joyous life. Lucky Athena, to have known her great-grandmother, though!

  15. I’m sorry to hear that John and I certainly will keep her in my thoughts. It’s doubly tough to lose someone close to the holidays.

  16. I’m very sorry to hear this (particularly as I just made a pilgrimage to my home state to see my grandmother for what might be the last time) and extend my condolences to Krissy and Athena and Dora and you. After you’ve mourned and praised her life, I hope you all find a measure of peace in your memories.

  17. My condolences to you and your family. These things are never easy to bear. As other’s have said, Athena is fortunate to have had some time with her great grandmother. You and your family will be in my thoughts.

  18. Certainly, because it *is* rough. It is hard to get past losing your mother no matter when it happens. She has my sympathy.

  19. Absolutely. Today marks the 32nd anniversary of my Dad’s death — I hear you. You and yours will be in my thoughts and prayers.

  20. I can’t pray for you, but I will hold Dora and your family in my thoughts. I am sorry for the loss your family has suffered. “Knowing it was coming” can be terribly little consolation, but I hope it brings everyone as much comfort as it can.

  21. [[Dora]]

    [[Krissy]]

    [[Athena]]

    [[John]]

    After the losses my family has endured we’ve learned that sometimes words are too much, yet still not enough. But [[hugs]] spread the burden like nothing else can.

    My deepest sympathy to all of you.

  22. My wife lost her mother just over a month ago, so I can definitely identify. May Dora rest in peace and may Krissy, Athena and you eventually come to feel the joy of her life more often than the grief of her loss. It’s such a hard thing, and my prayers are with you all.

  23. I’m not a christian and I don’t pray but my sympathies go out to your family. From my own experiences I know as well as anyone else that, even when it’s “expected”, the death of a loved one is never an easy thing to deal with.

  24. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
    As Mike says @48 it’s always hard, even when the death is not unexpected.

  25. My deepest, heartfelt condolences to you and your family. As others have stated, expected loss hurts, too.

    The blessing in this is Athena got to know her great grandmother and know more about her family. It won’t make grief easier now, but (from personal experience) it is a blessing.

  26. Sorry I’m late to this. I’m sorry for your loss, and will keep your family in my thoughts in the coming days.

    Special thoughts to Dora. Yesterday (Sunday, 6 December) was the first anniversary of my mother’s passing, so I’m especially aware of how difficult it is to lose a mother, even when it is not unexpected.

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