On Friday, I attended a memorial for yet another of our church members. This man was relatively young…under seventy. Unlike other memorials we’ve had, this was very sparsely attended, because Andy tended to be somewhat of a loner since his parents died a few years ago. He was devoted to his parents and especially his mother after his father passed. He brought her to church every Sunday, wheeling her up to the front of the church where she could see and hear everything, even though she was far from understanding anything. You see, she had Alzheimer’s Disease. But that didn’t stop Andy from being the attentive son he always was. His parents were the only family he had here in Canada, though I’ve been told there were a few cousins in Holland.
Although none of us at the service felt we knew the man very well, in his meditation, our Pastor made it possible to get a glimpse into Andy’s lonely life. He spoke of his dedication as a teacher, his political affiliations, his generosity, his devotion to his parents. Andy donated and dedicated several hymn books to the church in memory of his parents. I opened one on Sunday with his name in it. Even though Andy’s ashes were in plain view, awaiting interment in our cemetery, it was Andy the man who occupied my mind during Friday’s ceremony.
I could see him sitting in a back pew or even in the Narthex, slightly disheveled, but attentive. Very seldom did he mingle after service for coffee or tea as most of us did. He came, he worshiped, he left…or so it seemed. (In case you’re wondering how I could see him sitting at the back of the church, I’m in the choir facing the congregation.)
There is a a saying that someone can be conspicuous by their absence…that was Andy on Friday, and the weeks previous to his death. He died peacefully in his sleep one night and save for Jesus, he died alone.
My Precious Life 
Hi Aunt Pat, I Look Forward To Your Posts Every Day, Love Them xx Eileenx
What a lovely surprise, Eileen, thank you! ❤️
Thank you for your loving thoughts of Andy. I’m so sorry I could not be at the service. From what I knew of Andy, he was a quiet champion for many who were oppressed by society or by life.
Your thoughts are with him too, Katherine. Thanks for commenting.
Could we have done more? I knew Andy a little, yes he was private by nature. But it begs the question of us fellow church members “Respect someones privacy or be a better friend and make more regular contact”, what would Jesus do?. I struggle with this. I was out of the country and couldn’t attend. Thanks for letting me be there Pat, See you Thursday at Choir.
Thanks for your wise words, Ed. Undoubtedly Jesus would have done more.
Pat, thank you for posting this. I tried to get to know Andy at one time but was put off by his focus on acquiring more and more money. I believe that was how he insulated himself from others. There was an underlying sadness about him that was hard to pin down. It puzzled me watching his caring for his parents so much, but not seem to care for himself. Maybe that focus on wealth was his way of protecting himself from being hurt by others. Mr. Fixit could not fix the hurt in his own life even as he helped his students and campaigned for public health reform and whatever else he tried to fix. So sad.
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Well, hopefully he’s no longer alone, Debbie. Thanks for your comments.
Heartrendingly beautiful….
Thank you🙏