Hello Friends and Family,
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
We wanted to let you know that our father, Bruno Kersten, died early in the morning of Wednesday November 9th of complications of metastatic Ampulla of Vater cancer. He was diagnosed in the spring of 2015. He successfully recovered from a complicated Whipple procedure with flying colors. He recovered in record time and was doing amazing things over the past 9 months...However, his health deteriorated recently as the cancer began to spread and rear its ugly head.
Bruno recovered from surgery to take care of my mother, Nancy., who had simultaneously recovered from hip surgery. They moved into the condominium in Swarthmore and kicked out the home health aides thier children had asked to come. When our mother died this past February my father was a blur of activity. He made jewelry from Nancy's bracelet for his daughter, the sister in laws, and grandchildren. Bruno also began cooking food for himself, making jams and applesauce. He even made meals for the homeless, even though he had not make a casserole before. Bruno visited with old friends such as the Woodman's and Thomans frequently. Then, he spent the summer in Maine with his children. He redid the steps outside the cabin and took daily walks where he named every wild flower in the region. In between trips he was constantly in his car visiting his children and grandchildren in Virginia, Pennsylvania, upstate New York and Vermont. More than once he would drive to see multiple children in the same day. We felt lucky to spend time with him and help him check something off his bucket list; seeing marching bands, seeing a high school musical, going up in the City Hall Tower, and, of course, seeing grandchildren. He returned home just last month from his longest trip; he drove to Vermont to see Michel and close family friends the Loucheims and Stoners. He had an amazing time and was rejuvenated.
Bruno started chemotherapy about 4 weeks ago and had trouble from the beginning. He did not tolerate the chemotherapy well. He was disoriented and tired. The doses were changed and he seemed to respond. However, his weakness persisted and it was clear he was affected by the chemotherapy. However, the cancer did not respond to the chemotherapy and it was determined he could not tolerate any further treatments. With continued weakness this he entered hospice care at David's house in West Grove, PA. We were so fortunate that David and his wife Alex wanted to have Bruno in their home with hospice care. As a result, Bruno was surrounded by all of us children and his grandchildren in a comfortable and familiar setting. He was tired, but in good spirits. Another great Kersten family gathering. He felt the love and support of his family. However, he grew more and more tired and weak over the next few days and died early Wednesday morning with family at his bedside.
November 9th was a sad day, but we have many memories and friends to be thankful for. Bruno, and Nancy for that matter, live on with all of our fantastic friends and memories.
Bruno and Nancy Kersten have supported the Meals for Homeless program for over 20 years with the Media Monthly Meeting. A few months ago Bruno said "I am making a casserole for the homeless", even though he had never made a casserole before. He stated that we should not worry because he had seen Nancy do it enough times that he could figure it out. What better way to honor Bruno then to carry on his actions. Christians, Jews and Muslim groups make and provide the meals that are served. They have served over 15,000 meals to the homeless. The funds raised here will help the Media Monthly Meeting to continue to feed the homeless at the Life Center in Upper Darby.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to support the Meals for Homeless Program:
https://pages.giveforward.com/remembrance/page-lz5gbs4/Finally, please join us to celebrate Bruno's life at 11 am on Saturday December 10th, 2016 at the Media Meeting House, 125 W.
3rd St., Media, PA 19063.
Love,
Michel, Hans, Sean, Peter and David Kersten
