My Grandfather’s Death
On June 19, 2011 it was the morning of Father’s Day, out of any day it happened that Sunday morning. I had left the hospital Saturday night about ten o’clock. While I was sleeping, I would wake up and check my phone to see if my mom had called me to give me the bad news. At about eight thirty in the morning my mom called me, sobbing to tell me that my grandfather passed. Even though we were aware that it would happen anytime, I do not think you prepare yourself.
I was torn because the day he went to the hospital was on Thursday June 16, 2011. It was a very important date in my son’s life. He would be graduating from eighth grade. I had planned to make him a dinner and invited my family. My mom called me that afternoon about three o’clock to tell me that my grandfather was at St. John’s Hospital and was given less than twenty four hours to live. My son’s Graduation was at six o’clock that evening. I did not know what to do my dad called me, it’s his father and told me that he understood that I was in a difficult situation and to go to my son’s graduation. I felt one thousand pounds off my shoulders, because in my heart I was torn. I knew that I would go to the hospital, but it would have to be after his graduation.
When I first saw my grandfather I was nine years old. We went to Mexico and I met all of my mom and dad’s family members. My grandpa was a tall bald, heavy set man. He was always very respectful with me and very kind. He was a mechanic; I could still picture him in his shop in a mechanic’s jumpsuit. Once they moved her from Mexico about fifteen years ago, we became closer. I grew up here with my parents all of my grandparents lived in Mexico. I remember my brother Santiago would always make him laugh they were very close. That is the way that I want to remember him, not the way that I was seeing him in the hospital bed. I could not hold the tears and I sat next to my Aunt Maria, my grandfather’s sister. We were all quietly and just taking about the life that my grandfather once had. My grandma started the rosary and after the rosary, we just did small talk there were about ten of us on the room. My grandma, my Aunt Patty is my aunt and grandpa’s youngest child, her husband and their children. Also in the room was my aunt Rosa her husband and their children, my mom and dad, my sister and myself. Maria and her daughter Lupe were also there grieving with us. This was Thursday night. The next day Friday I came in to work and left at lunch time. By the time I went to the hospital my Aunt Juana and Uncle Marcelino came from Mexico. They came as soon as they heard that my grandfather was on his death bed, but since they have lived in Mexico all their lives they came on a visa that was good for five days.
It was nice to see my uncle and aunt I had not seen them for about seven years. I stayed in the hospital until about ten o’clock that night. Every day there were more and more family members in the waiting room. He was in the biggest room in the hospital where there were all the amenities for the family members to be comfortable. We pretty much lived there for about three days. People would send us food and drink we would all sit around him and enjoy each other’s company. You could feel the love in the air; it was special since we are not a very close family .We all bonded and that is what I feel was the most special part of it all. Once my grandfather, passed Sunday morning I was already emotionally drained from all of the sadness that had been around me for days now. His mass was held on Tuesday morning at 9:30 in the morning. It beautiful and very heart felt I cried my eyes out. I felt bad for my daughter Clarisa who was then seven years old. She could not stop crying. I did not think it was a good idea for her to be at the funeral services at all; my mother in law attended mass and took my daughters she saw how much she was crying. After mass we went to Ivy Wood Cemetery in Ventura. I could not believe how much tears can come out of a human eye.
After his services, we went to eat at my aunt’s house. Since my aunt and uncle had to leave to Mexico soon we started the Novenario. This is a Mexican tradition and we pray for my grandfather for nine days after his burial. Since my aunt and uncle had to leave soon we had to start right after the funeral services. It began that day at seven in the evening. I went home and took a nap. I was exhausted and had a migraine head ache. I returned to my aunt’s house about four in the afternoon. My aunt and my uncle left to Mexico by Wednesday morning.
Every night at seven o’clock in the evening; we would come to my aunt’s house we pray the rosary in honor of my grandfather’s passing. After the ninth day my Grandma finally had the courage with a big lump in her throat to thank all of us for helping her get through this very difficult time in her life. My grandma is seventy four years old now. We celebrated her birthday in December. I really admire her courage .She was married to my grandfather for fifty four years. I think losing your life partner is very difficult specially after being married for so long. She is the last of my grandparents alive my mom’s, mom and dad have passed. I hope she lives forever. My dad really appreciates her in his life he visits her often and that makes me happy for him. He was really upset once my grandpa died. This is what family is all about to me. Supporting each other no matter how hard the road gets its life. It’s not an easy road there will be many bumps you have to get through.
