Yesterday saw the passing of another precious family member.
Leonard Brook is the brother of Les's mom... Ilene. Leonard lived his life in Wisconsin. He and his wife, Donna, raised 3 beautiful, smart, caring and wonderful daughters. Donna, sadly, passed away several years ago. So Leonard was left rattling around in his big house -- maybe traveling a little.
I wish I had known him better. To me, he seemed like a man of few words. But I always saw him watching intently, with a little grin on his face. What was going on behind those clear blue eyes? I know he cared deeply about his family and that he was a great help to Ilene. He was a very good man.
Donna -- sadly I barely knew her either. She died many years ago as a result of cancer -- Multiple Myeloma. When I first met her she kind-of intimidated me. When I mentioned that to Les later that evening and he asked me why, I told him it was because she kept asking me questions. Les explained that was just because she wanted to know me better. Wow... really, I believed that no one ever wanted to know about me like that. It was completely foreign to me. But from that realization came acceptance. What a great feeling that was.
And that's the kind of family I married into. They are all very close and really care about each other.
Leonard's girls Janet, Ellen and Nancy were with him until the end. They kept vigil for him. They let him go knowing that he was loved and will be missed. Then, cancer took him away, too.
But today, comfort can be taken in what I know is a fact. Leonard and Donna are together again... pain free...care free... loving each other.
3 comments:
Hi my Mary. So, I have been meaning to write you and say, YES! We are coming out that way- just waiting until I have more info before I wrote you- but still lacking dates and routes. Need to get to AAA and pick up maps and plan- just so busy w/ work and kids. Thought I'd check in on you via Strawbales and then - boom- I see the cute man, begin reading and then see multiple myeloma. It seems to follow me. Sorry for your loss of Uncle Leonard.
WEll, know I will be in touch soon. Looks like we will start our roadtrip endish of July and I would LOVE to see your face.
I am going to go read more about you and what you've been doing. Back to Strawbale I go. Adios.
OOdles of love,
Jana
Thank you Mary for your kind words and post in memory of Dad (and Mom too).
Ellen
Thank you so much Mary for your tribute to Dad. You wrote that so well. Thank you for the flowers at hospice they were beautiful and mostly for your prayers.
Janet
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