A sad thing

[jethrien]

My great-grandfather passed away on Monday. (I haven't had time to post anything substantial in the interim.) It was his birthday--he made it to 105. I'm now realizing I don't know what the official cause of death was, but it wasn't anything particularly traumatic--he's been failing for awhile, but not from cancer or anything, just extreme old age. Overall, it's a pretty good death--dying from being really old, in your own home, with numerous adult great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild on the way. (It's a pity he won't meet Smidge, but he hasn't been terribly aware for a little while, so this is probably best.)

The overall family reaction, from the folks I've talked to, is not so much grief as just a sense of being vaguely impressed he made it that long.

Rest in peace, Pops. If I weren't pregnant, I'd raise a glass of vodka to you--we've always kind of suspected the reason you made it so long is that you were a little on the pickled side, anyway.

Comments

[fairest.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your loss. What an amazing lifetime he must have had, though -- and that sounds like as peaceful and gentle a way to go as I've heard.

[mithras03.livejournal.com]

Amen. My condolences.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

*hugs* It is kind of mind-boggling that you came close to five generations living at the same time, though, isn't it?

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I understand how someone living to that age might be more overwhelming than sad, but I'm sure he'll be missed. Save that glass of vodka for after January and let memories of good times take away the sting for now.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Your Pops sounds like he must have a heck of a life. I'm glad he brought you into the world, and I'm glad you were able to know him as a child and as an adult. It's amazing how rare that is.

*hugs*

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I know--it would have been pretty cool.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

His wife died when I was pretty young, but old enough that I have some clear memories of her and a necklace that she left me. So I actually knew two of my great-grandparents, which is pretty lucky.

[maydove.livejournal.com]

My condolences on your loss. What an impressively long life!

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I knew two different great grandparents too, which always felt pretty lucky to me. I still miss my great grandfather. I knew my great grandmother less well.

[momerath4.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. 105 is phenomenally impressive—good for him. And that's so great that you got a chance to know your great-grandfather as an adult (I knew one great-grandmother and one great-grandfather, but both died when I was around eight, so I never got the chance to ask them the questions I would have liked to ask if they'd been around when I was a bit older).