Paper pain: loss and our legacy beyond death

Losing a loved one is never easy.

This is hardly a brave statement, but I am sure that everyone who reads this column would agree. Regardless of whether it is the first time or last time, someone you have known for a few years or a lifetime, death touches us in one way or another.

So far I had relatively happy in my life that all my close and expanded family was in good health. Even long after I left my childhood and youth, I still had all my grandparents in my life.

That changed on Monday, May 5, when my grandfather Howard Davies, who was known to me as an grandfather, died in Regina at the age of 79. His death came after many years of poor health and injury, but it was still shocking for me and the rest of my family. The only comfort that I did was an effort to call him at Facetime the day before to say goodbye. Although my love for him did not have to be said, I made sure that he knew that we were last entertaining.

When my family prepared for his funeral last week, we all went through our photo albums and computers for photos of grandpa. Photos of my father and the childhood of my brothers, his wedding with Grandma Noella, a photo of me as a child who was on him as he did his best to watch away. They are windows in all of these precious times before and after my birth that illustrate life. A perfect one? No, but a good one.

I would always laugh at his stories about the many jobs he had worked over the years, from a bus driver to a plumber and if he and my father are to be believed, a hairdresser for a catastrophic day.

An advantage of being the oldest of his grandchildren is that I remember a time when he was more active. One of my earliest memories of him was to build a snowman together in the back yard and then tackle it. Play Boccia ball together, even if I wasn't particularly good.

Grandpa always loved joking and supporting the Saskatchewan Roughider. When his own health failed, he became a strict supporter of my brothers and watched every game that he could remotely. He was always there for me when I had to talk and ready to either give advice or to joke about my endless car problems.

When I was much younger and thought I was much wiser, I talked to my friends in Junior High about what happened after we died. In the Catholic tradition we believe in life after death and resurrection. In addition, I believe that we live on through our actions and what we do in this life we ​​have.

The human memory fades over time. As difficult as it may be to believe while we are here, one day those who remember and love us will also pass on. I believe that our actions and our effects on others survive. A word of the kindness and a helping hand, the other inspires to do the same, and pass on this generosity in the course of eternity. The effects of our actions have long explained the memory of the people we were.

To be friendly and generous with a smile is what we all got into this world. It is certainly what grandpa has done and what I want to do for the rest of my own life until we meet again.