My Uncle Eddie passed away this past Saturday. Coincidentally, Saturday was All Souls Day. All Souls Day is a day Catholics take to remember All the Souls who have gone on before us. The day before All Souls Day is All Saints Day, when we celebrate the Saints, or as St. Paul called them, the “cloud of witnesses.” They are both beautiful days to celebrate.

Friday night we attended All Saints Day Mass and while I wanted to go to Mass on All Souls Day, because of our schedule, I kind of already knew I wouldn’t be able to do that.

I did make time to take my Dad some marigolds along with my sister, Jason’s Dad and my brother-in-law. We took some time to arrange the marigolds into a cross for my Dad’s grave and place marigolds around his headstone. All Souls Day coincides with the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead and marigolds are what is often used to decorate the graves. It’s quite a beautiful site when you see it in person. I’ve come to find it very peaceful and soothing to spend time doing this on All Souls Day.

Other families place elaborate displays of marigolds, candles, favorite foods and drinks. You really can’t go anywhere in the cemetery without smelling the marigolds. Some families stay most of the day and have lunch or some have dinner and stay into the wee hours of the night.

When I took the flowers to my Dad my uncle popped into my mind. He had been on hospice care for a week by that point and I thought to God “All Souls Day would be a good day, don’t let him suffer too much and bring him peace.”

Around 9:30 that night I received word from my Aunt that my uncle had passed at around 8:30 PM. I was sad but also thought how strange it was that God did take him home on All Souls Day.

I asked my husband to take me back to the cemetery so I could see my Dad again. It was beautifully peaceful, some families still lingered by the graves of their loved ones and there were candles lit and stories being told, some laughter could be heard and music. Some may find it hard to believe that a cemetery at nearly midnight could feel so peaceful and calm. Looking up at the sky the stars shone brightly as the moons light scattered and reflected off a smattering of clouds that had gathered. As we walked back to our car I missed my uncle, my Dad, our Lauren Rose, my sister, my other Aunts and Uncles all who lay to rest there in that cemetery and I wondered when my time would come, but mostly I remembered all the happy times before the sad.

My Uncle Eddie was always kind to me. I danced with him at my wedding and while I didn’t see him often, I always enjoyed listening to his stories and listening to him, my Dad and Aunt talk and laugh. His back yard was so fun to run around. He created a roadway of sorts with road signs and a mini trail for my cousin to ride his bike. I remember parties on his patio and playing with my cousin, one sleepover and thinking his house was fancy. I will miss him and now there’s only one sister left from all my Aunts and Uncles that I grew up with. It feels sad to have almost all of them gone.

I loved my Uncle and my Uncle loved Jesus and so I expect to see him again, along with my Dad, Aunts, our Lauren Rose, my sister and dear friends who’ve passed in the last few years and until then I’ll hold onto the promise Jesus made, when he said “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.^{” John6:39}

I can’t be thankful that people I love are gone but as I said previously I can always be thankful for Jesus.

For my Jesus, whose gave His Life that we could live forever with him one day…I Give thanks!