Tuesday February 26, 2013

 

Funeral For Elwood

Jere & Kristen’s Family Friend

Wednesday, February 20

 

 

 

We only learned to know Elwood after his wife was seriously burned when their car lit on fire – while they were driving. Because she was in a burn center for many months before her death, Kristen began taking him and his handicapped son, Gregg, to see her.

After his wife died, Jere and Kristen helped him and Gregg on a regular basis.

 

 

 

 

Kristen had known Elwood, his wife, and their son since she was a young child because her mother and stepfather were good friends. Both men were local policemen.

 

 

Jere and Kristen brought Jesse to our house when they heard that Elwood passed away in his sleep. They needed to go to the nursing care unit to make arrangements.

 

 

When I talked to Jesse about Elwood’s death, I mentioned that it was a good thing for Elwood, because when Christians die they get new bodies. So that means Elwood is no longer an old man with pain.

Jesse asked, “Did he get to pick a number?”

 

 

I was a bit puzzled until I realized that Jesse meant, did Elwood get to choose his age in Heaven.

I asked Jesse what number he would pick for Elwood. Jesse said that he likes being five – so he would pick the number five for Elwood.

 

 

I love how children think when we describe death and Heaven.

 

 

 

 

Our daughter Deb joined us for the private service at the funeral home.

 

 

Deb designed a beautiful funeral program.

 

 

Elwood’s son, Gregg, age sixty-seven, (in grey) has been handicapped since he was a small child. Many of his abilities stayed at a preschool level while his body grew quite tall. The man and woman on the left and right are overseers at the group home where he lives.

 

 

The funeral was not difficult for Gregg because death is not a bad thing to him – and he loves his life at the group home.

 

 

 

 

It was more difficult for Jere and Kristen and their children as he had become a regular part of their lives during the past twelve years. These three do not know life without Elwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jere shared Psalm 23 – and talked about the simplicity of Elwood’s life. After his retirement from the police force, Elwood spent most of his time caring for his wife and Gregg. He chose a very private life and wanted his funeral to be the same.

 

 

Elwood and Gregg were often recognized as the father and son who spent a lot of time walking in their local town.

 

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Tomorrow night – Elwood’s burial.

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