Losing someone you love deeply is one of the hardest things we face as human beings. One minute they’re physically alive and in our world; the next, they’ve taken their last breath and moved on to a new place in the universe.
When it’s happening, you struggle to deal with it, the experience is emotional, confusing, disturbing, intense – and yes, very sad.
And so it goes with my Mom (your paternal great grandmother) who died Sept. 7 at the age of 89. She was buried Sept. 12 in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Somersworth, NH, the city my (childhood) family lived in most of our lives. She was 89 years old.
Despite living a long life, it’s never easy to say goodbye forever. I was there when she died with my sister and a few relatives and friends. We held hands together and stood around her bed at Bellamy Fields Assisted Living in Dover. She died peacefully on a bright, unusually warm September day.
The past week were hard to get through. Fortunately the lights of my life – Grammy, your Mom’s and Dad’s and my grandchildren -were close by. You made tough days better, just by being who you are. While you couldn’t understand the concept of dying, you instinctively sensed sadness, things being different and people you love hurting inside.
Rita Blais Beaupre – my Mom – was born in 1923, went to school in Berlin, NH and married my Dad (Donald J. Beaupre) – your great grandfather – in January 1951. They became parents in 1952 when my sister Francine was born; I came along a year later in 1953.
Mom was an outgoing person who loved life. When she was younger, she’d drive to Hampton Beach in the summer (over 100 miles away) with her friends to enjoy the largest beach in NH. She went to New York City with her best friend when she was single, attending Broadway shows and concerts. She saw Frank Sinatra in the 1940’s when he was at his peak – Sinatra is one of the most famous singers of all time
Mom helped run my Dad’s photography business, BEAU STUDIOS, when they were first married and later worked in the Human Resources department of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for most of her adult life (my Dad also worked at the Navy Yard). She had many friends, was a great Mom, and will be missed forever. My blog about being 10 years old has a lot of insight about what my young life was like.
You’re so young! Ben, while you’re the oldest of the “Samurai Seven,” you’re the oldest at 9 years old. Emma 7; Camden almost 7; Ainsley 5; Jack, almost 2 and Madigan, a mere one year old. While words weren’t there, kindness was ever present. You hugged me, were gentle, loving and created special drawings I’ll keep forever (see below).
You made a very hard time, much, much better. Thank you. I love you to Pluto and back and am so incredibly lucky you’re in my life.
