In Memory

In Memory of Delphine

May 12, 1922 - February 24, 1999

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23

I am no longer bound by gravity

I have left behind all the

Indignities and frailties of mortals

I am not lonely now

I have no pain

.

I am in a place beyond your

Imagining

I see the beginnings and ends of the universe

.

I hear the exquisite songs of angels

I am attended by those who have gone before me

I stand unaided, straight and strong

In God's light

.

It is all and more than He said

It would be.

Cynthia Ann Conciatu 1998

At my sister Mary's (aka Loolielouise) suggestion, in addition to yesterday's post, Chapters, I have posted the poem that I wrote for Mom's remembrance cards. I actually wrote this the year before she died as I tried to make sense of the death of someone who had suffered so much during the last 25 years of her life.

I've sent versions of this poem to many others who have lost someone dear to them, rewording it slightly to speak to the circumstances of the person who died. I find this poem very comforting as it is a reminder that although we have lost them, they have found everything in death.

Mom and Dad have both been on my mind this week because their wedding anniversary is October 2.

They were married October 2, 1943. The country was in the midst of WWII, and many of Mom and Dad friends and relatives were in the service including Mom's brother, Bill and Dad's brother John.

Mom bought her dress off the rack at J.L.Hudsons in downtown Detroit. If I'm not mistaken, she paid $25 for it. For their honeymoon, they took a train from Detroit to Texas and visited Uncle Bill who was in boot camp at Fort Hood. (Years later both my brother Bill and my husband, The Mister, were stationed at Ft. Hood.)

Mom and Dad had seven children: Joseph, Cynthia, Janet, James, William, Mary and Jerome. Dad died suddenly in 1975 and mom in 1999.

I don't recall the names of any of the ushers in the picture, they were friends of mom and dad and either were declared 4F as dad was, or had not yet been drafted into the service. The bridesmaids are (left to right) mom's youngest sister Eugenia (age 16!); Dora, mom's life long friend; Mary, dad's youngest sister, and Marc the wife of Dad's brother John.

Grandma Clara (pictured in the margin), promised that when all of their friends were safely home from the war she would have a party for them. The amazing thing is, they all came home! They had the party that Grandma promised. Even Mom's brother, Bill, who was severely injured in France recovered and returned home.