My condolences to Jim and Family.

I can't say I know how you feel, we all take things differently. I have buried my first wife and my dad who both died from cancer.
All I know is that your pain will ease, time will ease your pain. Believe in your higher power and that your mom is in a better place.

My Condolences Jim..

I am fortunate enough that both of my parents are still alive and their passing is something I think about and dread almost every day.

Jim I'm very sorry to hear this mate :(

Thanks again to everyone...
Today is the Funeral and I will be back to work full time sometime next week. There are still a lot of details I have to deal with Monday and Tuesday but after that I think the best thing for me is to get back to work. So, hopefully Wednesday, I will be back to my job, working.

I printed this thread off and gave it to my father and it was the first thing that made him smile in a long time. You guys are great.

Last night was the calling hours (wake) and for the first 20 minutes it was very tough on all of us. Mostly my son :( Seeing she was his wife, my father did much better than expected by anyone.

Thank god for the person that invented Valium.

I think Greenie is on his way here now. Since I am staying at my father's house with my Son and Father, poor Greenie gets the pleasure of staying in one of our world famous off the New York State Thruway Motels.

This whole thing has tougher than I could have ever imagined. Since my mother was told she had lung cancer, I have had to be the strong one in the family and still am. One of these days I just have to stop and cry. I never did in front of my mother and I never will in front of my son or father. But damn...I need to get drunk :)

I'm glad you have been able to bear it as well as you have. I too have always been the strong one in my family. It was my word to the Doctors to unplug my mother (6 years ago) and let her go on to a better place.


Would that be HoJo's? :D

He is going to wish it was HoJo's :)

Make sure you find the time to do that. My father passed away unexpectedly, and no one in my family was able to do anything so i did it all, telling myself i'd grieve later. As i was his favorite and everyone knew it, i was viewed as 'cold' but it was that strength that allowed the few days that followed happen. Then one thing led to another and by the time i realized I had time to grieve, i couldn't.

Greenie was right in the newsletter..that we all need to take the time to step away and hug our tangible friends and family as well as "hugging" our on-line family.

and if those emotions, Jim, run down your face, it's not a sign of weakness, its a sign you are human.

we'll be thinking of you all day..

you're such a dear sweet soul....
crying is completely okay - when you do - you will start
to feel better... slowly...

do what's good for you also...
take care of you too ....

hugs of support...

and greenie - you are a GOOD friend to Jim...
I'm glad he has you...

~Bell

Not to worry guys
Greenie was here last night and made sure I did what I was supposed to do. Get drunk as a skunk :)

Jim, I'm very sorry to hear this... and sorry that I haven't been able to post this earlier. None the less I'd like to offer you my deepest condolences.

I have to tell you guys something. A year ago I was registered to sell Caskets online. When our Funeral Director (my cousin) gave me the $7000 price on the casket, I checked what I could pay for it. Can you believe I could have purchased the same casket directly from the factory for $995 with overnight delivery included.

Very few people know that you don't have to buy a casket from the funeral home. When I showed the wholesale price to the Funeral Director, he told me, "we obviously have to renegotiate".

This is my cousin that gave us the family discount :) Cost plus 600% on the casket. Imagine if I was not family to him.

I will be renewing all of my casket domains right now.

Jim,

Very sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

I guess it's never to late to say that I'm sorry to hear this ....
my condolences Jim,

saL