sister-in-law dies

My sister-in-law, Rachel, Dorcas's next oldest sister, passed away last evening at 9:25 p.m. in the Harrisburg (Pa.) Hospital, as Monroe her husband (in photo) and Dorcas and I and the hospital chaplain attended around the bed.

There was not a clearly defined moment of the final heartbeat, but Nurse Craig quietly informed Monroe as life signs exited the stage one by one. Dorcas put her hand on her forehead as life was slipping away and prayed one of the psalms.

The chaplain offered that we hold hands circling the bed as she (the African-American chaplain in jeans) prayed.

At Monterey we all loved her and called her Aunt Rachel as the children grew up. A vibrant, faithful, creative center of energy, even as her physical limitations increased, here she is at Joel's wedding reception last November. Photo by Lois Maust.

God rest her.

Cousins for counting

What are cousins for? For playing with when you are a child. Now, for counting at funerals of uncles and aunts. At the funeral of Uncle Irvin thirteen attended. Here they are, including the four children of the uncle (back row, right) and Aunts Gladys and Jane (front row left, and middle with laced collar).

Cousins are for knowing who you are, for knowing where you started out in the great maze of life. You can't fool your cousins. In a good family they won't fool you. What a great bunch!