Journal entry by Lindsay Devries Smelser —
It was a crisp, beautiful weekend in Kingston, Canada where my Dad is finally at home and with his parents.
We had a Dutch minister perform the service with many of his favorite bible verses and songs, the headstone was designed to look like his grandfather’s who he was named after and admired, and we had the chance to see so many dear friends and family after the Canadian border has been closed for over a year and a half.
In some Canadian history, Kingston is the original capital of Canada before it was moved to Ottawa so the first prime minister of Canada, Sir John A McDonald - the equivalent of George Washington, happens to be Dad’s direct neighbor (the black gate behind him).
Fittingly, the flower my son chose to lay to rest with him was the same salmon color of Dad’s favorite shirt he sported so often. It gave us all a laugh!
It’s been a long 7 months but we know he would be proud and satisfied with the outcome.
Now it’s time to rest.