Grandfather's Eulogy

July 30, 2007 at 4:44 AM

This morning I recieved a phone call from my father. My grandfather had slipped into a coma that morning and wasn't expected to make it through the night. A little while later, I recieved an e-mail from my sister. My grandfather and uncle were doing their morning routine, and my grandfather was singing a silly song... "my name Johansen, I come from Winconson..." It was something he started doing in the hospital when the nurse asked him his name each and every time before giving him his medications, food, and any other check-ups througout the day. He had gotten tired of the sterile hospital routine, and would sing this little song instead. This morning he sang this song before breakfast as usual, after he finished the song he slipped into a coma.

Several hours later, I recieved another call. He had just passed away. Tomorrow I head to Texas to be with the family and then attend his funeral and play his eulogy.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on July 30, 2007 at 4:51 AM

OH I am so sorry for your loss!

From Neil Cameron
Posted on July 30, 2007 at 10:16 AM

My condolences on your loss Mendy.

Neil

From Tom Holzman
Posted on July 30, 2007 at 12:57 PM

Sorry to hear about your loss. How wonderful that you can play his eulogy. I always thought that if I had been able to play my father's eulogy (he loved music and it was our closest connection), I might have been more eloquent than in the spoken eulogy I gave.

From jennifer steinfeldt warren
Posted on July 30, 2007 at 11:26 PM

I'm sorry, Mendy. What are you going to play? When my father had his car accident and passed away a few days later, I flew up to Canada and played his violin...the Bach Partita no.2 Allemande. It was a piece I knew I could play under duress and one I felt fitting.

Everyone has some different kind of music they associate with a person close to them.

I know that playing his violin at his funeral was the best that I could have given the people there. Words wouldn't have worked. Music did.

I hope you can find some solace in this time of grief, maybe through your instrument, maybe not.

Condolences...
Jennifer

From Scott 68
Posted on July 31, 2007 at 1:46 AM

i was going to say something like i sing stuff like that when im not on medication

thats so sad, my condolances on your loss
:(

From Robert Berentz
Posted on July 31, 2007 at 2:39 PM

Let us know how things turned out. What a good approach to life and a peaceful ending. We had a Celebration of Life service for my Dad. Everyone got up and told a favorite memory of being with him.

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Grandfather's Eulogy

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