Kedric received a beautiful farewell one week ago today. The support and love displayed at Kedric's funeral was heartfelt by his family, if not a bit overwhelming. We owe so many thanks to:
- All of our family and friends who came to pay their respects - it was wonderful seeing you, getting hugs, and hearing your stories about Kedric
- Those who traveled a great distance to do so
- Pastor Nicole, who officiated a personal, memorable, and gracious funeral service
- Kathy, Gina, Ann, the UMW, and all Willow Hill staff/members who assisted in making the day run smoothly
- Those who sent flowers and plants to the church and to our home - their beauty is uplifting
- Everyone who made memorial donations to charitable organizations in Kedric's honor (see more on this below)
- All who sent cards, gifts, online messages, phone calls, gift cards, and food
- Our bosses and co-workers who covered us during bereavement so that we could focus on grieving
- Our pet sitters 🐶🐶🐶🐶😾
- Your never-ending love, demonstrated through hugs, tears, memories, and kind, encouraging words
- Your continuous support throughout Kedric's long journey
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.💖
We miss Kedric every day, but we are all doing OK and trying to get on with our "new normal". I find myself thinking, "Oh, wait until I tell Kedric that!" - my aunt tells me it's OK to continue to talk to Kedric, and I do! I like to think of Kedric watching us through his reflecting pool in Heaven, just as he envisioned.
I had many people ask me what was next for ME. I am staying in our home in MN for the foreseeable future - I have never lived alone before, and it's taking some getting used to. I LOVE my job with the University of Minnesota as a program coordinator for ecology-focused teacher professional development workshops, and I've got a few years left in me before retirement! I will travel more to visit family and friends. COVID and then Kedric's illness prevented travel since our last vacation together to FL in January 2020 (other than visiting family, which was also very limited).
Please keep in touch! My address is 1291 Dunbar Way, Mahtomedi, MN 55115, and you can message me through Facebook. If you need the kids' addresses, please message me.
PICS: Kedric's funeral at Willow Hill United Methodist Church was beautiful; my personal shrine to Kedric at home, including my "keepsake" urn. Each of the kids have one too.
Regarding DONATIONS:
Many, many thanks for your generous donations to Kedric's three charitable organizations! I am so proud to have these deserving organization (Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation (ACPMP), Metamora Park Foundation, or Minnesota DNR Trek Chairs) supported in Kedric's memory! I have requested the donors' names who made online memorial contributions and am waiting for that information from them. If you donated online and do not receive a thank you note from me within the next 2 weeks, please contact me to let me know of your donation.
I hate to end on a sour note, but I wanted to let you all know that there continues to be evidence of mail tampering - pretty much every card I have received in the mail at the least has a corner torn open. I received 3 cards on April 30 that were postmarked April 12 in Peoria that had been totally slit open and then taped back shut. If you sent a memorial donation in a card through the mail, I most likely have not received it. Please check with your bank to see if your check has been cashed (I have not yet submitted the checks I have received to the organizations). If you mailed a check to me and you do not receive a thank you note from me within the next week, please contact me. (I have contacted the post office twice, and an investigation has been opened).
