Remembrances | The Beauty Around Us

Posts tagged ‘Remembrances’

R.I.P. Jasper

Due to kidney failure my stepdaughter’s cat, Jasper, was put to sleep on 4/4/2011.

Stacey shared her feelings about Jasper on Facebook. I don’t believe Stacey will mind if I share her words with you. Stacey wrote that Jasper “was my buddy, always there wanting to rub his head on me, or following me around the house telling me stories. I’ll never find another cat like him. He was truly unique.”

Jasper, you were loved by many. All those who loved you will miss you. R.I.P. Jasper.

The Snow Continues …

Our lake effect snow warning that began on Sunday morning was extended from 7:00 PM Tuesday until 6:00 this morning. I just received an email that says that the lake effect snow warning is extended until 10:00 AM on Thursday. Yesterday morning, I measured 19 inches of snow on the ground. Bob cleared the driveway and sidewalk when he came home from work. He measured 21 inches of snow. I’d say there is 2 feet of snow on the ground now. The latest forecast calls for 6-12 inches of new snow.

Our winters are usually snowy; however, we don’t have many 5-day snow events! Last time I remember it snowing for such a long period of time and a good amount of snow from the storm was during the Thanksgiving Day holiday in 2002! The 2002-2003 season was quite snowy. I remember Leo, our exchange student at the time, wondered when it would start to snow. Leo is from Brazil and had never seen snow. He was very excited when we received our first snowfall, which was sometime in October 2002. After a few snow storms, Leo asked when the snow would end. If I recall correctly, it snowed until early April 2003.

To My Mom

Mom and I in July 2003

TO MY MOM

Mom, just want to say
I miss you everyday.
I still see your smile
Even though it has been a while.
I’m sending you all my love
I hope it reaches you up above.
You are my shining star
Although you are so far.

– written by Patty G.

I stumbled upon this poem, while surfing the Internet. I wasn’t intending to post anything for Mother’s Day. This poem, though, reached out and pulled me in. The poem says so well what I would like to say to Mom on this Mother’s Day.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Had he not passed away 6 years ago, today would have been Dad’s 81st birthday. Last night, as I was falling asleep, my last thought was tomorrow is Dad’s birthday. When I awakened this morning my first thought was today is Dad’s birthday. I miss you every day, Dad, but I miss you today so much more. Happy birthday, Dad! I love you!

This photograph was taken in June 2003 at a family reunion. As Bob and I were getting ready to leave, I asked him to take a picture of my family. I am so thankful that I have this photograph. This is the last photograph I have of Dad, Mom, my brother, Jim, and I. Dad passed away on February 12, 2004.

The Loss of a Best Friend

I received a text message early this afternoon from my sister-in-law, Judy. The text message read “We are putting Tucker to sleep. His wind pipe is collapsed and his heart and lungs are giving out.”

Tucker is a Boston Terrier and has been a part of my brother’s family for the past 14 years. Tucker was a very much-loved dog and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Tucker’s favorite thing to do was to play ball. Tucker was relentless while playing ball. Once you started playing ball with Tucker, you couldn’t stop playing ball with Tucker, until Tucker said you could stop.

This is my favorite photograph of Tucker.
A ball was never far from his side.

How could you resist those eyes
when Tucker wanted you to throw the ball?

My nephew, Jared, was Tucker’s best friend.

R.I.P. Tucker

Surprise!

“Had the most wonderful surprise last night…..TOBY CAME HOME!!! :)”

This statement was today’s status for one of my Facebook friends, who is actually one of my cousins. The moment I saw Ann’s Facebook status, a memory rushed over me.

The year is 1975. I was in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. I booked a flight home one weekend, without telling Mom that I was coming home. A friend picked me up at the Pittsburgh airport and drove me home. Some of my blog readers know my friend; my friend’s name was Sherry Pleacher. It was late evening when Sherry and I arrived at my house. I don’t recall seeing any lights inside the house. All the doors were locked, and I didn’t have a key. I wanted to surprise Mom, so I didn’t knock on the door. Instead, I climbed through a window into the house.

Once inside the house I stood still, listening. I didn’t hear any sounds. I remember thinking that Mom must be in bed, asleep. I tiptoed to the telephone, which hung on the wall in the hallway. I can’t remember how I did it but I dialed some number, which made Mom’s telephone ring. I expected Mom to come downstairs to pick up the telephone when she heard it ring. The telephone rang at least a dozen times. Mom didn’t come downstairs to pick up the telephone. I stood still, listening. Again, I didn’t hear any sounds.

I decided to go upstairs. I tiptoed up the stairs. The stairs were wooden. I remember grimacing as I heard creaking with each step. Once upstairs I tiptoed to my parents’ bedroom. Even with the lights off I could tell that Mom wasn’t in bed. I knew Dad had gone to the cabin that weekend. Could Mom have gone with Dad to the cabin? How disappointing! I flew home to surprise Mom, and it was me who got the surprise! Mom wasn’t home…or was she? As these thoughts were going through my mind, I heard something in another bedroom — my old bedroom. The sound was muffled, as though someone was coughing but holding their hands tightly over their mouth.

I tiptoed to my old bedroom, turned on the light, and saw Mom underneath my bed! We were both so happy to see each other! Mom crawled out from under the bed, as fast she could. We hugged each other tightly. Apparently Mom heard me when I first entered the house through the window. That’s when she crept from her bedroom into my old bedroom and proceeded to crawl underneath the bed.

R.I.P. Roy Jr.

Family Reunion
June 2003

My cousin, Roy Jr., passed away yesterday. This blog post is in memory of him. Roy Jr. was well loved by family and friends. He will be missed.

Obituary for
Roy J. Heilman Jr.
Kittanning
(obtained from the Kittanning Leader Times newspaper)

Roy J. Heilman Jr., 57, of Kittanning, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, in Armstrong County Health Center. Born July 24, 1952, in Kittanning, he was a son of Betty (Bowser) and Roy J. Heilman Sr., of Kittanning. He was employed by Barker Bus Co. and was a member of the North Buffalo Grace Brethren Church. Roy enjoyed camping, fishing and working on cars. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sherry (Townsend) Heilman; two daughters, Lisa Waldor (Asher), of Ford City, and Veda Kunkle and friend, Curt Askins, of Kittanning; a son, Shawn Heilman (Trisha), of Kittanning; six grandchildren, Andrew Toy, Randi Toy, Kenneth Kunkle, Austin Kunkle, Katelynn Heilman and Haley Heilman; a brother, William Heilman, of Kittanning; and four sisters, Sherry Sharp (David), of Goheenville, Donna Garner (Tom), of Dayton, Pa., Tammy Iseman (Ed), of Kittanning, and Barbara Knight (George), of Kittanning. He was preceded in death by a brother, Randy Heilman; and an aunt, Lottie Bowser. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the SNYDER-CRISSMAN FUNERAL HOME, 200 S. McKean St., Kittanning. Visitation continues from 10 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. Thursday in the North Buffalo Grace Brethren Church with the Rev. David Blevins, church pastor, officiating. Interment in Center Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in care of Roy Heilman Jr., 638 Fifth Ave., Ford City, PA 16226.