This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Friday, October 11, 2013

Saying Goodbye To Jerome

It's odd how you meet someone and circumstance leads you into a friendship. Mel (my deceased husband) would come home from work and tell me something ole' Wiley said or did on the job. Mel was a Commercial Refrigeration Mechanic and Wiley worked for another company that fitted right in with Mel's line of work so their path's crossed a lot. Mel told me Wiley was going to retire and he would like to go visit him sometime. Before that happened Mel heard Wiley had cancer. Mel wanted to make that visit and for me to go with him. I said I would but he must call first to see when it was convenient for us to visit. The wife was happy for us to come. They wanted us to come again but before we did Wiley died. We paid our respects but went on with our life as we didn't know the wife well. Six months later Mel died and the wife saw the obit in the paper and recognized the name and called me. The end of that again until one day I was at the cemetery and recognized her standing at a grave. I backed up, got out of the car and walked over and reintroduced myself. I invited her to go down the street for a cup of coffee. At first she was hesitant but turned out she needed that talk over a cup of coffee. We visited often over the phone after that and eventually started meeting for lunch, then going places together. My daughters both lived away by that time so her daughter would include me in holiday meals and her husband was Jerome. Several years ago Wiley's wife passed away but her daughter and I remained friends. In fact she calls me Sis since she doesn't have any sisters. John and I then became friends with Jerome too, even though they are quite a bit younger then us. He always had a smile on his face and laughed easily and would help people out with no thought of pay. Last week he got a terrible headache at work, bleeding in the brain and no hope. They had to make the decision everyone hopes they never have to make. Today was the day to say goodbye to our friend Jerome. Rest in peace. 

10 comments:

Lori said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. It sounds like you had a good friendship there.

jack69 said...

Beautiful story with a sad ending. Tragedy does bring folks together. This is such a sweet post. Friendship is a gift, not to be taken lightly.
Love from North Carolina....
Sherry & Jack

TexWisGirl said...

oh, paula. i am so sorry. what a sad thing for you and john and certainly jerome's wife. what an intricate web of relationships we weave here on earth...

TARYTERRE said...

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

Jon said...

Close friendships often begin in unusual ways, and sometimes blossom into other friendships that last a lifetime.
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Jerome.

Sharon said...

In our lifetime we make friends that are special and we sorrow at their loss. Please accept my sympathy.

Jean said...

It's sad to hear about your friend passing and at a young age. My heart and prayers go out to you, John and his wife and family.

Sheila Y said...

That is a wonderful story of how friendship came to be...so sorry for the loss of your friend. Prayers for you and all his family. Take care, Sheila

Lynne said...

My sincere sympathy on the loss of your friend, Jerome. I'm glad you stopped that day and over a cup of coffee got a chance to meet his wife and then him. Funny how a simple action of kindness can grow. Hugs.

Leave It To Davis said...

What a lovely way to remember Jerome. Letting go is never easy. Hugs.