At 5:00 AM on Friday, September 11th, Grandpa slipped away. He lingered a week after he took his final turn. A week where he did not eat, and drank only a few drops. He passed quietly.
Thank you all for your kind comments.
The family took it as well as could be hoped. We all had time to prepare ourselves, which I think helped in some respects. Pat, in a comment on the previous post, asked how my Grandmother is doing, and I can say for the present she is doing good. At present her worst problem is fretting over the financial events unleashed by the death. She hasn’t slept well for most nights, and basically can’t think at all. I have taken the lead in guiding her through both the paperwork, and the more mundane activities of preparing for visitors. Since she knows she can entrust everything to me it makes life bearable for her.
And how am I feeling? I’m not sure. A bit sad, a bit numb, a bit tired, a bit relieved, and very much like a great burden has been removed. I will write more later, but I just wanted to drop in briefly to say thanks and let everyone know that it was over.
Below, I’ve attached a slightly abbreviated version of obituary that ran in the newspaper:
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On September 11th, 2009 Ivan D. Purdy Sr., lifetime resident of Vestal, departed to his eternal rest. Born Dec. 31st 1927, he lived a full life, a quiet and humble man. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janice Purdy, and their children. Ivan was a World War II veteran, and retiree from IBM. He has left us as a faithful husband, loving father of six children, twenty-five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Today our comfort is that he is loved, and he loved. The family would like to thank his grandson, Rundy, for his faithful and loving care for Ivan in his last years. Funeral services will be private.
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