In Memory...

[liralen]

Went to the memorial for a friend of ours, that John's worked with quite a bit in the last couple of years, and whom I knew and liked and talked with now and again at church. He was positive, capable, smart and solid.

Leonard Utz was once a buyer for Neiman Marcus and he loved a three-piece wool suit I'd bought from J Peterman long, long ago. He commented on it every time I wore it, and when Alzheimer's got him, he stayed at home more often, didn't come to church, and the church had a card writing thing. So I wrote him a card saying that I still remembered his comments.

He actually remembered the suit and got a good laugh from the card, which his wife told me about when I worked with her at the rummage sale.

So I wore it today to his memorial service. In 97 degree weather. It wasn't to be fashionable, really. It was just... in memory.

His son and his wife both remarked on it. And his wife loved the symbolism of it, but asked me if I was dying by the end of the service, which I took as a hint and an out. So I changed into a cooler dress before the reception, which was relaxed and good, and made his wife happy, too. Tears were shed as should be, memories shared as they should be, we got to meet more of his family, and I got to meet their two Scotty dogs. That was nice.

I was glad I went, and have all the more good memories of a very good man.

Comments

[incandescens]

That was a nice thing to do in remembrance of him, but I'm glad that his wife thought to give you an excuse to change into something cooler.

(hugs)

[liralen.livejournal.com]

(hugs)

It was very nice of her. And I was doing all right in it, I thought, but was glad when I did change.

[marith.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm sorry for your loss. What a fine gesture, though, the suit. That made me smile.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you. *smiles* Good...that's a good thing, too.

[tagryn]

I'm so sorry. That was a nice memorial writeup.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Mm... I'm sorry he's gone, too, but... he was kind of lost by the end, too. *sighs* It's hard either way, but he had a long, good life and family and friends that loved him well, so... yeah.

Thank you.

[annieroo2.livejournal.com]

Such a sweet story and wonderful remembrance. *hugs*

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*hugs back warmly*

It was nice to share that with the folks at the reception, too... nice to have it be taken well.