John’s Story

Site created on June 24, 2020

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.

Newest Update

Journal entry by John Nolen

Oh, how we miss him! It's been an entire year since we had to say goodbye to John... our dad, husband, son, brother, nephew, cousin, in-law, doctor, and friend! He was special and lives like his are not forgotten! I feel like my life's mission is to keep his memory alive but really he did that for himself. He loved people really well and I'm not so much worried about him being forgotten! You've shown me that he won't be! It's been a year of heartbreak and thankfulness all rolled up together! So sad that he isn't here but so thankful for his life and that he was a part of all of us, everyone of us! I'm thankful that John was a writer and I have his words forever at my fingertips! I know how much he loves me, I know how beautifully he viewed this life and I know almost what he would say in any given scenario.... mainly because he wrote it or told me! I have survived on his words this year, even though he wasn't here to speak them. 

John is grinning ear to ear in Heaven at the way you have loved and taken care of us! It truly is mind blowing that we have never felt alone in our grief or in all the things we have had to do this year (many for the first time in my life)! There is always someone offering to help me, to lighten our load, to let me grieve this amazing man! We are both so thankful, me here and John just on the other side of the veil. Not far. So close I can almost feel him. He's there! He's looking out for and waiting for all of us! 

John's (and my 😊)headstone arrived a few weeks ago. He wasn't much for one, just wanted his ashes scattered at his favorite places, but it was important to the kids to have a place to honor him! And I love that they wanted that! 

His headstone has the words "Love Always" in his own handwriting at the bottom. It's the way he signed all his letters. I think it also best describes him! Because he did love people... ALWAYS! No matter what! He saw the bigger picture on everything and really didn't sweat the small stuff! I think that is his legacy, just to love people really, really well, always! I know that me and the kids and his family have survived this year because we do in fact know how very much he loved us! I hope you know that too.... How much his family, friends and patients meant to him! He loves us ALWAYS! 

 

 

 

Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help John Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like John's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Comments Hide comments

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top