MAY THE SAINTS WALK WITH YOU

I was wandering around Ocean Job Lot in Cape Cod in October of 2006. This was more for nostalgia than for shopping. My husband liked to shop there for bargains after he retired.

It was Sunday and I had just attended Mass. My husband had passed away just two months before and Sundays for some reason were the saddest day of the week for me. I would see so many older couples in Church together and think, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE US. Silent tears were ever present.

So off I went after Mass on Sunday to his favorite spots. Crab creek where he spent many hours catching crabs for dinner, Christmas tree shop and Ocean Job Lot to pick up a bargain that we did not need.

The week prior when I entered Ocean Job Lot, the song that was played at my husband's viewing filled the air. That really caught my attention since that is not what I expected to hear in this store. (I have never heard it there any other time)

As I wandered around the aisles, I started to SNEEZE.

An older couple were a few aisles over and they came up to me and said something in ITALIAN. The wife said God Bless You. The husband took my hand and he said, "MAY THE SAINTS WALK WITH YOU". That is what we said in Italian.

My heart was overwhelmed and I told them that their kindness is just what I needed that day. I told them why. I also said, "YOU MADE MY DAY". They both hugged me and simply said that I MADE THEIR DAY.

Some other things happened as well. SO I MADE A DECISION.............

George was cremated. I had not decided where his final resting spot would be. I was not prepared for his death. We did not have a burial plot picked out.

Kelly Sanvidge from Emerick's Funeral Home had suggested that I consider having George entombed in the Columbarium Wall at the Saratoga National Cemetery when I was ready.

I had received other signs that George was HAPPY AND HOME IN HEAVEN. Now it was my turn to put him to rest on this earth. HE WOULD ALWAYS WATCH OVER ME, this I knew, this I felt and continue to feel to this day.

George had an elegant funeral. Bishop Hubbard made his Mass so special. The Air Force Honor Guard gave him a wonderful send off at the Church. That was in August, 2006.

After I returned home from the Cape, I called Kelly and told him that I was ready to finally say good-bye. I would follow his suggestion and have George entombed in the Columbarium Wall at the Saratoga National Cemetery. It is a beautiful area and George would be pleased.

I fully expected that we would say a few quiet prayers at the cemetery and that would be that. Kelly told me that George would be given a full military burial at this time. Our grandson and daughter thought that was a good idea and so I agreed.

Kelly told me that the Honor Guard would pick a date when all could be present. That was fine with me.

He called me and told me that the date that they choose was, ALL SAINTS DAY, November 1.

ALL SAINTS DAY is a very special day for me. We remembered George at Mass this morning. I remember him every moment of every day. He was a good man...........

On a lighter note, Father Lanese spoke of married couples as SAINTS many years ago.

He said that when couples took their vows, for richer, for poorer until death we do part many, many years ago, they never expected to be married for 40 plus years. People had shorter life expectancies than today. The average marriage lasted seven years. Now a days, with longevity, he said that all couples who have been married for a long time are SAINTS...............

And also if you sneeze and someone responds to that sneeze in Italian.......remember......MAY THE SAINTS WALK WITH YOU...........