Charles N. Isaac (1919-2008)
This morning my paternal grandfather passed away. He had been paralized from the neck down for the last month or so, likely due to strokes, and hadn’t eaten since last week. The nurcing staff didn’t expect he’d last as long as he did, but he was a fighter to the end. As far as we can tell, he died a peaceful death.
His quality of life had degraded to point where his passing is a good thing, but that only makes it easier to accept, not easy to accept. He also had cancer just over four years ago with a 0% chance of living more than six months, so I consider these past four extra years a gift. Now is the time when many people lean on their faith in an afterlife, and I can see why the idea is so appealing, but I don’t know if I can accept that as a posibility.
We don’t yet know when the funeral will be, but next Friday is the most likely time at this point. We’ll see how it goes. Even though he hasn’t been in my life as much over the past couple years as he once was, he really did about as much to raise me as either of my parents, and he will will truely be missed.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
The only ways I know to respond here are preachy, which is why I did not respond to this information elsewhere.
I’m a Presbyterian myself. While we still mourn at funerals, it’s only for a momentary separation. And even that’s an illusion enforced by our finite perception. To quote Tolkien, “I do not say ‘do not mourn,’ for not all tears are evil.” However, don’t let it consume you.
And if this prompts you to do some soul-searching, remember that that is not bad and need not be painful, either, so I’m all for it.
April 14th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Just want to send my sincerest condolences to you and your family through this tough time. He is in a better place now, and no longer suffering.