Sad Christmas News

Uncle Bob passed away this morning at about 1:00 Central Time. He had been in the hospital for about two weeks, and a scan showed some kind of mass. He had a stroke a few days ago and this appears to have been the cause of death. Kevin called me last night to let me know that the end was near, then again when Uncle Bob died. I talked to him this morning to express my sympathy, and he told me that funeral arrangments were still being made. Uncle Bob died peacefully in his sleep, apparently with no pain.

Sheila and Kevin prefer that family members not travel to Arkansas for the funeral. They know that Christmas is a busy time and that travel is more expensive. They are planning to have a Memorial Mass like the one we had last year for Aunt Peggy Brennan. I assume that this will be in St. Louis, and I am planning to be available to preside. It will be an opportunity for us to pay our respects to Uncle Bob and to have a calmer family time together.

My memories of Uncle Bob are only fond. He was so knowledgeable and skillful, so interesting to talk to. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. He loved this large extended family, he loved hearing family news, and he was full of stories himself. I picture him always smiling, and that laugh of his was huge. One of my most touching memories of him was when he thanked me for Grandma's funeral, how he stood there smiling and tearing up at the same time. I just said, "God bless you, Uncle Bob," and gave him a big hug.

Towards the end, he had grown weary with the years, and that was sad to see. I wonder if he ever really recovered from that year when he lost Aunt Gen, Uncle Richard, and Neil in quick succession--his wife, his brother, and his son. I remember in particular as Neil's wake was ending, how Uncle Bob knelt at the coffin with his head slightly bowed. I wondered what passes through a father's heart at a time like that. He seemed so humbled and yet so brave. And give him credit for this: he was able to live on his own until two weeks ago. He lived the longest of all the Brennans, to age 88. He was still mobile and in possession of his mind.

He had what every Christian prays for, the opportunity to prepare for death. He received the sacraments in the hospital, and we can have a well-founded hope that he is in a better place now. May he rest in peace.

Good bye, Uncle Bob. We love you. We will always love you.