Goodbye Joe

Saturday morning we got ready for the funeral and again, had the boys stay home with a babysitter.  The funeral was a beautiful good-bye to Uncle Joe.  My brother, cousin Kerri and I were asked to read the readings during the mass and we were also pall bearers along with Jake, Jared & Kyla, and Josh & Jordan.

After we returned from the cemetery, the church ladies provided us with a wonderful luncheon.  We were able to visit with many of our extended relatives, many of whom we had not seen for several years.  “Why is it that we only get together at weddings and funerals?” was a question that was asked many times over.

Jake and Jared brought the boys to the church after we were finished eating so we could introduce them to family members who had only seen them in pictures.  At that point we also selected a few items of Joe’s to remember him by.

After a long & emotional morning/afternoon, we returned to Jared & Kyla’s for the evening.  We had dinner and sat around the table reminiscing and looking at photos.

Uncle Joe ended up having the last laugh tonight.  My cousin, Josh, had brought home a humidifier box (after the encouragement of my mom).  When he opened it at home that night, he had to drive back to Jared & Kyla’s to show us what he had found.  Apparently my mom had used the box to send Joe a care package for his birthday back in what we think must have been 2004!  The birthday card and treats inside the box were never opened!  Little Debbie cakes were hard as rocks and Hershey Kisses exploded while Hershey Miniatures disintegrated.  From what we can figure, Uncle Joe must have thought he was getting a humidifier for his birthday and didn’t even bother to open the box.  So funny & yet, not surprising 🙂