Sad news
Last week I got a call from my mother that my uncle (my father's brother) had felt from the stairs and that he had died immediately. I was so shocked. I could not believe it. My uncle is the only brother of my dad and we are all very close, he, my aunt and my cousins. I called to Luc my dear cousin and he confirmed it and we both cried. We thought what a stupid accident and a stupid way to come to your end. My uncle went upstairs to get a little table to put the Christmas tree on. When he did not come back, my aunt called and then they found him. He felt already cold. The special ambulance 'Mug' arrived but it was to late. Afterwards they told my cousin that my uncle got a coronary or a cardiac arrest due to the effort he did on the stairs. That was a comfort that he did not die due to such a stupid fall. But they all asked why he had to go upstairs, why could he not wait until there was somebody to help. But that is fate. You can do what you want or curse. Nothing will help. But it is so sad that two loving people who were married for 57 years are now separated for ever. My aunt is now in the hospital to recover a bit. My dear mum is also so sad and she thinks the whole time at my fahter. My uncle and aunt lived near to my mum and they had a very good contact. Tuesday my uncle will be buried. Yesterday we went to funeral house where you can give him a last goodbye. I cried and gave him a last kiss and asked him to say hello to my father. It was so sad leaving the room and seeing him for the last time. So you see my friends, it is a sad time and Christmas will not be the same.

I'm so sorry, Marthe. :hug

My heartfelt condolences for your loss, Marthe :hug A sudden unexpected death can be the hardest to bear. I hope your family can find solace in each other this Christmas. My thoughts are especially with your aunt.

I'm sorry about your loss, Marthe. :hug Sudden death is always difficult to bear, but I think it's especially hard during or near the holiday season when everyone is supposed to be filled with cheer. I hope your family will be able to find solace with the support of each other. My thoughts are with you and, especially, your aunt.

Oh Marthe, I am so sorry. We lost our last uncle just a few months ago and it has been difficult on my parents, so I could imagine how difficult it must be for your Aunt and your Mom. Many :hug to those ladies, you and your cousins.

Sorry for your lost. :hug. I know how you feel, loosing someone is really painful. We lost our uncle almost 5 years to coronary arrest too and I was the one who found him. He lived alone and he never married. His death was instant. Loosing someone like that is hard and difficult for the family but should I say easy for him cause he didn't suffer. My condolences to you, and your aunt, mum and your all family.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Marthe. Condolences to your family. I lost my grandfather and my grandmother over the holiday season (different years). It does get better with time. Good luck to you, GinaP

Sweet Marthe, I'm so sorry to learn of your uncle's passing. My thoughts will be with you,and your family,during this difficult time. Love, Ship

Dear girls, thanks for your sincere sympathy. I am a bit late to tell you more about the funeral. It was a very sad day. During the Mass my cousin had looked for some songs who reminded us at my uncle. The lecture of the priest was dedicated to the live of my uncle. Everybody was quiet and full of respect for my uncle who was a good husband and father and a respectable police inspector. At the end of the Mass, his granddaughter read a lettre of farewell and it was very painful. My aunt was so confused and she called his name when the hearse left. In the evening she went back to the hospital. During the funeral my mom was stronger than I had thought. She has cried, but she comforts herself with the thought that my uncle is no in heaven with my dad. Yesterday I called my cousin Luc with Chrismas wishes. But he was very sad. He said that Christmas was so empty without his parents. His mother is still in the hospital and she was not well at all, so she could not be with her children. Then suddenly my cousin cried and that was so terrible, to hear him cry. So yesterday I did not have a good day for Christmas. My mom was here, and we all had a fine diner and presents, but it was not the same. We missed my dad so much and thinking at my uncle, we prayed for better days.

Oh Marthe, I'm so sorry your holidays had that air of sadness and loss when we all hope for joy at this time. :hug to you and your Mom. I hope that next year will be better. It is good for your cousin Luc that he was able to talk to you and cry. That should help him heal and you do understand what he is going through at a time many others would not.

Marthe, I'm really sorry that sadness marked your and your family's holidays. I can remember how empty Christmas felt the first time my family and I celebrated it without both of my father's parents. I can also remember how confused I was after my grandfather died (he died about two years after his wife, my grandmother): a couple of months after his death, I remember going to his home before I left for a trip to greet him and only realizing when I was about to ring the bell that there was nobody there waiting for me. So I think I can understand what your family is going through.

Thanks girls for understanding me. It is indeed not easy now, certainly not in this holidays. And we have two weeks vacation. But the first is already past. And we do not know what to do. And there is so much to do in this Christmas time, but we do not feel like doing something, not even for a walk with Rex. But it is also very cold here, but no snow. My mother has a bad cold. The day before Christmas, she had to call the doctor. Her bronchial tubes are inflamed. So I went for her medicines before Christmas Eve started. Today she is already better. So while I am at home, I visit her every day and see if I can do something. And I also feed her cat. As for my cousin Luc, when we were children, we were like brother and sister. So we understand each other very good. He has no sister and I have no brother. We had a very good youth together. My dad also loved him very much because he was such a bright child. He is happily married and his wife Myriam is a very lovely person which I also love very much. Luc has not such a good relationship with his brother. Luc and his wife must do everything for his parents, while his brother and his wife are always gone. So you understand why Luc and his wife are very fond of us.

My continued prayers will be with you and your loved ones during this very sad time,Marthe. I hope your mother feels better very soon too. Lots of love, Ship

Thanks Ship, my mother is feeling better. I will give her you message, she will be very pleased. Love Marthe

Marthe, it's good to hear your mom is feeling better. And I truly hope you and your family will have better times ahead in 2009.