On Tuesday, Lori was driving from across the state for the visitation and funeral for our cousin, Rochelle, and the plans were made for her to meet the rest of us at the church where the visitation was being held. It was the same church, St. John, Newtonburg, where my father-in-law's services took place at the end of February. Lynn, Mom, Jill and I drove out there in Lynn's car, with plans to have dinner after the viewing. The line was at the door and up the steps to get into the reception line. Mom refused at first to go up the ramp to sit in the parlor area so I went up with the coats to scope it out. My cousin, Barbie, was up there and I told her about Mom standing down stairs so she went and spirited Mom up the ramp to sit on the sofa. Mom was assured that no one would feel like she was pushing in line at a funeral visitation when the rest of the family made it to the top. Truly heartwarming was the turnout for the viewing, Rochelle was much loved and well-known in her community.
*
Before long Lori arrived which made our family well-represented. Kerry was still having troubles with her sciatica and lower back giving her such fits of pain that she would be sick from it. The chiropractor was seeing her daily and recommended she take a leave from her job in order to heal. We hoped to see her on Wednesday for the funeral service itself, and she did make that after her adjustment.
*
It was tough to see Rochelle's children, Larry and Cheryl Lynn, so deeply saddened, and most especially, her husband, my actual cousin, David. We Lahaie's have deep connections to this particular cousin and family since Lynn is Cheryl Lynn's baptismal sponsor, and we babysat for Cheryl Lynn from infancy at our family's home. We babysat for both kids at their homes in Newton, too, having many fond rembrances of those days. When this couple owned the Cleveland Family Restaurant, we would stop out there to eat whenever we were in town to see them and enjoy some good home-cookin'.
*
Later, when David retired from truck driving, Rochelle and he customized a Peterbilt truck cab into a mini-motor home and would pull a special trailer designed for transporting collectible cars. When a buyer bought a collector car at auction or a sale, they would hire David to take the car where they needed it delivered. Often, David and Rochelle would be in our area for the car shows, in particular the Amelia Island show. They would drive over to our part of the world, park their rig behind Wal*Mart where we would pick them up for the day. They had come around this time of the year in 2001, not long after Timmy had died and spent the better part of the day with us, which was great. We had last seen and spent time with Rochelle at Arno's funeral in late February, only a week prior to her diagnosis.
*
Not only could we extend our sympathies to the immediate family, but it was also a great time to reconnect with our cousins, aunts, and friends, and co-workers of Rochelle's from Hannah Home. My sis-in-law, Sharon, resides there and Rochelle worked at HH for five years before retiring in January of this year. She was still Sharon's caregiver, at least until she was diagnosed in early March. Sadly, Sharon lost her dad and her caregiver in a month's time. Sharon was unable to make it to the viewing, telling Harv and Barb, who did make it, that her knees were too bad that day.
*
Larry, who in now 40 (unbelievable!!!), greeted my Mom and sisters in front of me as we went through the line, and cried when he grabbed me in his giant arms, telling me how glad he was that I could come. Truly a head and a half taller than me, it was not a small task to bend over to hug me, and Jill said Mom looked like a doll in his arms. I explained that Justin could not make it this time, having just a few weeks left of school, etc., and they were most gracious about his not being there. I assured the family we would get together when we both return to Manty in June.
*
After the visitation, much time spent from the pews trying to figure out who was who (people look very different than they did years ago.....!), we all went to eat at the Green Street Tavern, Mom and her girls. Many of us had the perch plate which was divine, meaning you can go home again! As often happens, I saw someone I knew there, Ruby, who was out with her friends. She asked me if I never went home after the other funeral, since she knew I was here for Arno's. I laughed and said I had gone home and barely unpacked before coming right back. She is taking my greetings to her hubby and my friend, Curt, who works with her. Curt had been our partner when we moved to Florida but he moved back after two years, and now works with Don at a lumber company as a draftsman and purchaser.
*
Wednesday morning, the funeral service was lovely. Fortunately Kerry was able to make the drive from Oshkosh to attend. Jill had to work but had enough time off for the service only and then had to get back. Lisa and her family made it just in time for the service as they got a bit turned around coming from Sheboygan, the road the church is on did not make their GPS system for some reason. I barely got to acknowledge the boys or Noah after church, as he drove them back to Sheboygan so he could go to work. Lisa stayed for the luncheon before heading back to work. It is tax season and she has tons of work to get done before Tuesday! I had wanted to have a family photo taken with all the girls and Lisa but Jill had to leave, so our photo is short a daughter. I took lots of photos of the luncheon and the folks there to share with Cheryl Lynn and Larry at a later date. David assured me that he will consider coming down yet, as they had planned together, in August for a car show, and I encouraged his younger brother, Jimmy, to come with him. Jimmy was excited about that prospect as well, and Cheryl knows this, too, so she can keep that little fire burning in her dad's head. Jimmy had been at our home in Florida already so he knows how lovely our area is, but not so sure about the August temps! Shhh!, no one tell them about the heat, okay?
*
After the service and on our way to the luncheon, I stopped to say good-bye to my friends, the Harrigan's, who had handled the arrangements for Rochelle and for Arno. When I got to church on Wednesday, I saw Andy standing at the top of the ramp. As I got closer he said, "Well, here comes Smiles!" and we hugged each other. After I said farewell once more before they drove off, Lori told me, "The undertakers love you." I just looked at her and smiled, and she said, "Yeah, when you went over to get the coats, they were talking between themselves about how nice you are..." Golly, (digging my toe into the ground), that is so sweet! Thanks, Lori, for eavesdropping!
