Cure Kevin

The people who came to pay respect was overwhelming. The hundreds of people who came for the viewing and others who filled the church and extended gym really showed who Kev was as a person. I cannot thank all those who have showered our daughters and I with love and support this past week.

I asked Geoff to give the eulogy. It’s hard to find the words to say how eloquently he wrote and portrayed Kev so well. Most of his eulogy is on his blog, http://www.geofffox.com/MT/archives/2007/06/01/my_friend_kevin.php

(I think Kev is still with me because I just figured out how to put the link in.)

Bill, our friend who gave us our weekend up in New Hampshire in November, said some wonderful words about Kev and his service in the church and as a friend. Then his sister Tami had some funny stories to tell about her brother Kevin as they grew up together with two other sisters. Then my sister, “Half-Marathon” Rachel, was spokesman to my daughters who had some funny stories to tell about their dad. Then my father was my spokesman and I wrote about Kev as my husband, best friend, and partner. There was a memory board where people could write about experiences with Kev. I will scrapbook these and be comforted in the days ahead as I read them. A video of family pictures was also put together which people could watch before the funeral. We had a display table put together of his various interests: lap top, computer books, cast iron dutch oven, kayaking oar, scriptures, PanCAN hat that the team signed at the marathon in Miami, ham radio equipment, a smore tree(sticks with marshmallows) and other things.

I wish everybody could have been there to witness the words used about my husband. Or maybe you already have through visiting our blog and understand our life battling pancreatic cancer.

His sister Tami gave our family a wonderful gift and printed the blog with all the comments in book form for my daughters and I to read. So now I can read it like a book and remember our journey this past year and be comforted by Kevin’s writings. I never thought this blog would touch so many people in the way it did. Kev’s goal was to inform our family who are spread far and wide, but it did more. It taught people that we can face the challenges with dignity and triumph. Using humor we can have a good attitude to fight. And we can rely on God to comfort us and sustain us through the storms in our lives.

People sometimes have a hard time trying to find the words to comfort me. I agree I have gone through something that will challenge the very core of my soul. But, I have seen other families who have their challenges or crosses to bare too. Everyone is given something in some degree either through their own personal decisions which create natural consequences or as Kev used to say, “You are just dealt this card”.

My daughters asked me if I will continue the blog. I think the blog has accomplished its goal in showing what we have gone through and our steps along the way during this battle. Kev cannot physically keep this blog going and our journey has ended with Kev’s passing. But, for us as a family we still continue with our journey trying to face the challenges ahead and keep Kev’s memory alive.

I cannot say thank you enough for all your support and acts of kindness. Please keep Kev in your thoughts and prayers because all of us here on earth or working in heaven need them. My daughters and I give our best to you. Those who have challenges in their lives keep on going with a good attitude, and keep counting your blessings along the way.

My best to all,

Melanee

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 9th, 2007 at 8:07 am and is filed under My Cure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.