Journal entry by Heather Kramer —
It was a rainy morning. It seems ironic that it was snowing when Rose came home to pass with us and now it is raining when we bury her. Angels sent kisses down from Heaven when we welcomed her home and tears of joy when we bid her farewell. It was ever so bittersweet. You can never really prepare for all of this. Saying hello and goodbye to a child all in a short period of time. As I reflect I don’t think that I would have had it any other way.
I think that for most of our family, saying goodbye during her passing at home was the epitome of our grief. On the day of the burial, Lydia, one of my older daughters, made a comment that there were not many more tears left for her as they were all cried out already. I think this was so true. At the burial and Mass I didn’t have many tears to shed, nothing like the previous days. I feel that I have already moved on to acceptance of things. Definitely, Roy and I had entered the stages of grief prior to her death.
The burial was like closure to it all. We said our final goodbyes and put her earthly body to rest. We had the burial first as there was no need to have her body present at the Mass. Rose is already a saint in Heaven and we don’t need to pray for her soul. The Mass was to pray for all of us here remaining on Earth. It was a Mass of celebration. Nothing like what we normally think of for a funeral. No black vestments for the priest but white or gold.
The Mass was beautiful. Father Alex Navarro was presiding and our dear friend, Kristi Bennett, chanted and sang the hymns. Our family typically attends a traditional Latin Mass on the weekends so we opted for a traditional Latin Mass for our votive Mass as well. Some of our boys and our friends’ boys served the Mass with Father. The sermon that Father gave was spot on and touched many hearts. The Mass couldn’t have ended better and the last hymn sent many into tears. It was a fitting conclusion.
“Bless the Lord my soul, and bless His holy Name,
Bless the Lord my soul, He rescues me from death.”
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