Goodbye, Old Friend
March 22nd, 2005
As Terah wrote, my grandfather passed away on Saturday. He had been sick for awhile, so this was no surprise, but it’s still been hard.
Sunday was the Palm Sunday service at church. Normally a happy service, but this year, it was different for us.
After church, we sat down with the pastor to start thinking about the memorial service and the meal following it. Let me tell you a bit about the meal.
First of all, the food store in my home town (of course there is only one such place) sells a product that is labeled, and rings up as, “funeral cheese”. Most of the rest of the world knows it as Colby cheese. But around here, it’s funeral cheese, and is served often (not just at funerals). But it is fairly common at funerals.
Later that afternoon, we went to Miller Funeral Home to start making arrangements.
I have to say a few words about Miller Funeral Home. The relatives from “The Big City” were not looking forward to going there, since they were afraid of high-pressure salesmen. Ivan Miller, director of Miller Funeral Home, is not a high-pressure salesman.
Just to set the stage a little: Ivan received a plaque honoring him for 50 years as director of the Home… and he got that plaque a few years ago. He warned us several times that it would cost 13 cents extra to list some more names in one of the area newspapers. It became almost a running joke for the rest of the day.
He showed us each of the coffin choices, the price on each, then left us to discuss and find him if we had questions.
Today was the viewing. The viewing was from 1 to 8, and it was announced that the family would be there from 6 to 8.
The funeral home was *packed*. Family laughing and talking everywhere, meeting old friends, remembering birthday parties 30 years ago. It was mostly a happy time. My aunt said “it’s exactly what he would have wanted” and she was right. Several people remarked at how different these events are from family to family. With some families, it’s a somber or tense occasion. With the Goerzens, it was so loud that it was hard to hear, and the room was terribly hot, despite the howling wind and 36 degree temperatures outside.
I also got my last look ever at Grandpa, and it was hard to leave, knowing I would never see him again.
I’ve been asked to share a few memories at the memorial service on behalf of my brothers and Terah. I’ve written up my remarks, but I’m nervous about it — and that’s somewhat unusual for me. I’ve never been a speaker at a funeral before.
Sorry for the rambling post. I’ll post my remarks here sometime tomorrow or so.
Thank you to everyone that has posted comments, sent e-mails, etc. It is great to have to many caring people around us.
Categories: General
Last year, I wrote about a small town funeral home.
Today it’s time to write about small town banks.
So last Saturday, Terah and I went to the bank in the town we’re going to be closest to (population 590, compared population 3500 town we live close
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Alvin Willard Goerzen, born 06/17/1922. Died 03/19/2005. You mentioned elsewhere that it was formerly the Janzen Farm. I have two uncles who were raised in the Canton area. Do you remember anything? I wish you had posted more “ramblings’ about your grandfather. I lost my paternal grandfather at the age of 15, but he was the third most important person in my growing up years. There is no such thing as ‘rambling’ when it comes to one so important in your life. I am sure Alvin was a rock, just as Abraham was to me.
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