It Is Finished, and It Has Just Begun

 

On a beautiful sunny spring day we laid our sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend Ilene Grady to rest.

The deer were waiting in the woods to feast on the the casket flowers, which was a fitting end, since Ilene was done with them now and they could nourish to deer she also loved.

We brought the rest of the beautiful flowers back to Ilene's house, where the family and a few friends gathered in her sunny walled garden to spend time together. We shared food and stories and hugs and a few tears.

Ilene's Sons, Tim, Scott, and Stewart.

Cousins Ben, Stewart, Andy, Katie, Scott and Tim (thanks for the photos, Katie)

Ilene's grandchildren: Jamie, Stephanie, Timothy, Logan, Nicole, Daniel, and Jennifer.

And what one of the young whipper-snappers, probably over 50 himself, referred to the "Geriatric Set", sister Laurie, sister Linda and her spouse Tom, brother Don, cousin Kathleen and her partner Mike, and in the back row, brother Henry and his spouse Cindy.

After some family time, friends from the community were invited to join us. We met long time card  playing pals and lots of fellow teachers and parents and students from Ilene's teaching career. It was a wonderful celebration of Ilene's life.

And now begins the hard work of living without her. She was such an important part of so many lives. The realization that she is gone will take time to set in. The hole she leaves will never quite be filled.

Rest easy, Ilene. Your work here is over, and you can be proud  of a job so very well done.