Uncle Vic, Departed
01/12/2004 04:17 p.m.
I brought in my mom's mail for her, this morning. When I found a letter from my Aunt Miriam from England, we knew it must be bad news. It turns out Uncle Vic had already passed away, as of Dec. l8, 03. A newspaper obituary sent with the letter listed D.F.C. after his name, for his Distinguished Flying Cross award in WWII. He was 85 years old.

Because the mail takes so long from England, and my aunt does not use the internet, we were slow to learn of his demise. He died painlessly, she writes, and with his son-in-law close by, holding his hand, and my aunt there too. Of course all the family had been there constantly to help and tend to him in the hospital.

If only costs and distance hadn't intervened so much, I'd have certainly loved to keep visits up with them across the ocean.

But her faith is strong and keeps her going, she says, knowing he is at peace now after a twelve-year struggle he gave his very best to make. It must have been a terribly sad Christmas over there, though, with my relatives in mourning.

He was a real gentle sweetie, and I'll always have a huge place in my heart for him. And her, and will write her often. And if I do get overseas to Europe I will definitely try to make it to Devon to see my dear Aunt, and her family, as they are my dad's only living relatives besides us here. Every year I hang on the Christmas tree the unique folding ornament they gave us one year, with little scenes in blue and red, on it, that hangs from a red string. I always insist people treat it very carefully as it came all the way from England, and our aunt and uncle there. It will be even more carefully guarded now.
I am currently Sympathetic