Friday, October 26, 2007

Funeral Arrangements

We scheduled the funeral for Saturday, November 3 at 2:00pm. A small reception will follow at our house. If you would like directions, please email me at michele.b.weber@gmail.com.

Edited to add:
Now that everything is finalized, I wanted to make sure y'all knew that the funeral is of course open to everyone. We will have a private burial at the cemetery immediately following the Mass, but we plan to head to the house right afterwards. Everyone is welcome to come, and like I said, you can either email me for directions or follow someone else to our house. It's about 5 minutes from the church.

2 comments:

Kathy said...

Michelle,
I am a friend of your sister-in-law, Caroline. I wanted to offer an understanding ear to another mother's sorrowful heart. Three years ago our son Sean Paul died two hours after birth. He had chromosomal abnormalities also and we knew at four months into pregnancy that if he made it to birth, he would never make it home. I type this note to you with tear-filled eyes as I feel your agony. I do not know you but I think I know how you feel. I ache for you. Even though I have children, as you do, a part of me longs for Heaven just so I can be with him. I guess you feel isolated and perhaps angry with God. It's okay, God can take it, but remember that He is pouring graces on you now as He always does in times of great suffering. People would ask me "how are you able to get up and walk around" and I later knew that it was God's grace and the prayers of others who supported me during that time. I was just going through the motions. I know you are suffering greatly. I don't know why God ordained this for you and your family but know as it says in the bible, He has great designs for you and His plans are only for good. It is hard to hear and believe those words for you today but it does help in knowing you are loved unbelievably by Him. I remember planning Sean's funeral, attending to every detail, thinking this is the only thing I will ever do for him. This would be the day that would be all about him. It was very special. You mentioned your husband's birthday. Unfortunately, Sean had to be delivered the day after my birthday and it was scheduled ahead of time. So each year, my birthday is bittersweet because of Sean's death but also that we share our birthday time together. So try to find joy in that in the coming years. We make a cake for Sean and take it outside for Sean to blow it out (the wind) and my five other children feel more a part of it by doing something they can relate to. Last year we went to the cemetery and they wrote notes to him on helium balloons and we released them together. I say these things to let you know that you will survive this and find a way to keep your sweet baby in your hearts and home. Lastly I invite you to hold tight to Mary. God chose her to suffer with our Lord. I feel more emotion in reflecting on the pieta statue now than before as I look upon Mary as she holds her Son. If God loved her and allowed her to suffer for His greater glory then that makes me feel pretty special in His eyes that He thought enough of me to choose this cross for me. He must think you are also special in choosing you to fulfill His will in this way. Each of us has a will to do for God and your baby is no different. I think you will see in the days ahead how this experience changed the lives of people you don't even know because of your willingness to do God's will through your baby fulfilling God's will. You were a vessel for a saint! Wrap yourself in Mary's mantle and in the love of those who love you. If I can do anything other than prayer, to listen or offer anything, please let me know.
Peace to you,
Kathy Kennedy

Joan Catello said...

Dear Michele,
I am so sorry about the loss of your baby. I know the pain is unbearable. I have found the only way to get through each minute, each hour and each day is with prayer and the love and support of your family and friends.
Keep your heart open for those who want to help you.
Love
Aunt Joanie