Sue, my dear devoted, kind, loving, generous, caring and funny sister died on September 15th.
Dear Lord, I miss her.
I have tried several times to write about it. When I say "it", I mean her death. It is almost impossible to process that Susie is gone. I have two half-written posts that I was going to try and finish, but words aren't adequate.
Here is one of those posts that I began on Thursday, September 18th:
"When I woke up on Monday morning, I thought about it being the birthday of three special ladies in my life: my niece Lauren, my dear friend Lynn and my favorite 80 year old Ellen. I was trying to come up with a clever, meaningful post for Facebook to wish them all happy birthday. I kept thinking, wow, September 15th, what a great day to be born because these three ladies are all very strong, loving women.
As it turned out, September 15th is also a good day to die. My strong, loving, brave sister Sue went to heaven on Monday around 3:30 pm.
I still cannot believe how the day unfolded. God's hand was in every moment of it.
Susie had a doctor's appointment at 4 pm and Jenny and I were going to take her. Jenny arrived at Sue's around 1 pm, got her lunch, took Sue's car for its emission test, did some housework...you know, the everyday busyness that needs to be attended to. Around 3:15, Jen went up to Sue's room to tell her that I was on the way and asked what time she wanted to leave for the doctor appointment. Sue was getting ready, doing her hair, putting on makeup. Jenny went back downstairs, washed some dishes, then went back upstairs to see if Sue needed anything.
Sue had collapsed on her bed. She was gone.
Jenny called 911. The fire station is about 5 blocks away. I was heading up the street and had to pull over for the fire department lead car.
I knew in my heart where it was headed.
I just knew.
When I pulled up, Jenny was in the front yard, her phone in hand.
She looked at me, crying, and said, "Sue's gone".
I ran inside, up the stairs, because the paramedics were not there yet.
Dear sweet Jesus. My sister. Bella, her Newfie, was by her side, not barking, just there. Bella didn't leave her side."
How incredible that Susie died in her room, on her bed, with Jenny downstairs and me a few blocks away. And of course, with Bella by her side. Also, her best friend, Karen, had a dear friend from out of town visiting, so when Karen heard the news, she had Joanne with her and Joanne stayed with her for the next three days. God was there for all of us when He called Sue home.
God is so good.
It was less than three years ago that my mother died in that same house, in her own bed, with Sue, Jenny and me there.
Amazing.
I know that my whole family has gotten so much comfort from the memories that Susie's friends and coworkers have shared. Sue was loved and cherished by so many people and that legacy will live on. And I hold on to my belief that there are things far worse than death and that Suz is now at peace with all those who we love and have gone before us.
God is great.
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| Suz and me, taken by Abbie Aug 2014 |
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