Submitted by Fred on

Heirlooms

Categories
Lifestyle

Joanne's dad passed away last week at the venerable age of 93.

Putting aside that he was the father I never had, it was not about me.

Joanne's sister Ginny came in from Colorado to share the grief and help out in the untangling of a life's possessions and related arrangements. The sisters were never more in harmony and that was a very good thing.

We made a number of trips to his apartment and during the last I found a solitary little marble tucked away in a nook. I imagined he carried it through his life, during World War II in the Army Air Corp, young married life in an original Levitt house down to his end.

I took the treasured (I can only dream) and gave it to his great grandson Jackson as our most treasured heirloom.

Dream!


Comments

Submitted by Erik_Scheibe on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 15:36

Permalink
Erik Scheibe

Condolences to all of your family. It is always easy to say when you're not directly involved, but 93 years is a very good life. I think we'd all sign on to that right now. He must have been proud of all the greatness he was responsible for adding to the world.

Submitted by Liz_Saldana on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 22:18

Permalink
Liz Saldana

Fred, I'm very sorry for your and Joanne's loss. Her (and your) Dad will live in your hearts and memories; and the marble is a really lovely way to keep his memory alive for future generations.

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 23:07

Permalink
Judy Mauer

beautiful story - my warm thoughts go out to Joanne

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 23:48

Permalink

I'm thinking, how wonderful to have had so many happy years to share with Joanne's dad. Thanks for sharing your story. Condolences and best wishes to your whole family.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 00:39

Permalink

I am sorry for your loss although at 93 no one can be complaining if his QAL was good. As for the marble, its good to think of it that way. You could be right about it,

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 00:52

Permalink

I knocked at the front door on Barberry Lane hundreds of times. He always answered with a smile. And a buzz cut...I never knew his Army Air Corps history. Fill me in. Anyway....A huge loss. I'm sorry. We watched Alan Shepard go into orbit for the first time in that house. Passages. Whew !

Hollander Sends
Jane Jacobs

My mother, who died almost 30 years ago, had a "touchstone". It's a flat, egg shaped piece of stone with an indent for your thumb. She kept it in her purse and when she came across it, she'd rub her thumb in the indentation.

I have it now and do the same.

Submitted by Fred on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 01:36

In reply to by NULL (not verified)

Permalink
Fred Klein

I wish I knew who you are?
Dana Charlton

Having a memento that a loved one cared about is always very special. I'm glad you found the marble, Fred. Great family photo!
Donald Bernstein

Very nice tribute, and condolences to Joanne and your family. When my father died I gave his gold chain to my son. I decided it should skip generations.
Nancy Schess

Great picture and great story. He will live on in all of your memories.
Rona Gura

I am so sorry for your families' loss. After I lost my mom, I realized how little I wanted of her "stuff." All I took was her wedding band (which I wear everyday)and a white cardigan she took everywhere with her. As for my Dad, I have his wallet and everything that was inside of it the day he died. I keep it in my drawer and look at it every so often when I need to smile.

Submitted by Lucas_Meyer on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 04:14

Permalink
Lucas Meyer

I am saddened to hear of your father-in-law's death. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with your family at this sad time.

Add new comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.