We Went to a Funeral Today

We went to a funeral today to say good-bye to a friend.  He wasn't a good friend--one that you hung out with or shared confessions with--he was just a good person who made you happy when you were around him. 

Dennis Walsh was my first "taste" of Leland.  He owned a restaurant/bar called McGrooders in Leland that was what every bar strives to be--a "Cheers."  The food was excellent, the wine menu extensive and the wait staff was his family.  Everyone was his family when you went to McGrooders.   

We used to go to wine tastings and fancy dinners there and then we just went to hang out.  The music he had playing in the background was from the '60's.  I used to go myself from time to time, just to sit at the bar, listen to "my" music and watch people.  

Dennis was 58 and diagnosed with Leukemia--the same kind of cancer that Bill had.  He lost his battle quickly, again, just like Bill.  

The church where his service was held was packed with people from different parts of his life--his family, his co-workers, his friends, his business associates.  The residents of Compass Pointe, of which he was one, were there in good numbers, because Dennis offered his food and entertainment talents to the  community at large.  He was a nice man.   

His brother gave the eulogy, his children read psalms, but it was his wife, Karin, that moved me to tears.  At the end of the service, there was a man playing the bag pipes--Danny Boy and Amazing Grace--typical Irish, Catholic funeral songs, and Karin walked down the isle--alone, but flanked by her children and their spouses.  She was crying.  I felt her pain and wanted to reach out to her.  I know that she will have to sleep on Dennis' side of the bed now, so it won't be empty when she looks for him in the middle of the night.   I know that she will be the only one in a sea of married couples at future social events and I wanted to tell her that even though she was physically alone, Dennis was by her side.  

We went to the Grand Lanai at Compass Pointe where his reception was held and saw pictures of Dennis in various stages of his life.  In every picture--even in the hospital with thinning hair and tubes sticking out of his arms, he was smiling and hugging his wife.  They both knew that time was running out, but they smiled anyway.  They smiled for their children and they smiled for the memories of a life shared.  A happy life.  A life well lived. 

We went to a funeral today to say good-bye to a friend.  A friend to many and a good man to all. 

Rest in peace, Dennis.  You were remembered well.