Saturday, January 28, 2012

Losing One of the Best

It's been a pretty horrible week... it started with a road trip to upstate New York to attend a wake, and it continued with the death of another dear family friend. Previously, I'd written:


In other horrible news, an old grammar school friend of mine recently called to tell me that his mother had terminal esophageal cancer. She decided to forgo chemotherapy, and will be receiving hospice care in her home. She traveled extensively in her youth, and she saw her children marry well and start to raise kids of her own, so she decided (with her characteristic Yorkshire stiff upper lip) that she didn't want to buy a few more weeks at the expense of her quality of life. Her door was always open, so I'll be sure to visit her when she needs support.


Mrs Pauline Stoffel of New Rochelle, New York died in her home on Wednesday night. She was a tremendous individual, and her unfailing hospitality, wit, love, and support meant a lot to me throughout my life. Her door was always open, and she embraced an enormous, diverse extended family, of which I was a part. Her complete lack of b.s. was a salutary thing for any kid to experience- if she thought you needed to "come correct" about anything, she made sure you knew (which is something a lot of people are afraid to do). She was as fearless as she was generous. She raised three incredible children- John, Kate, and Peter, who I have had the privilege of knowing since I was in grammar school, and had a coterie of beautiful, brilliant grandchildren. News of her passing hit me particularly hard... I had planned to visit her on Friday, after a terrible, terribly busy week.

It's been a rough time lately... thankfully, the extended family is incredible, and we'll get through this.

10 comments:

Laura said...

Sorry that you are going through yet another loss. :(
It's been a tough week-hasn't it?

Sending you a big hug with a hope that things get better.
It's never easy to lose someone and when you had planned on seeing them again before they passed away, makes it feel even worse sometimes.

You've got a good heart Big B. :)

((Hugs))
Laura

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Thanks... it's been pretty awful.

Laura said...

Sounds like someone needs one of my special titty press hugs.
Those usually bring a smile to ones face. :)

But seriously, I'm so sorry for all that you've had to go through lately. I know that you hold great affection for the people in your life.

((Hugs))
Laura

wiley said...

Our condolences. It's always sad; It's supposed to be. The loss of the best is saddest for all the best reasons. Sounds like she'll be remembered very well.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

You've got a good heart Big B. :)

I've had good role models.

Sounds like someone needs one of my special titty press hugs.
Those usually bring a smile to ones face. :)


Hubba hubba!

The loss of the best is saddest for all the best reasons. Sounds like she'll be remembered very well.

Yeah, it's really hard to lose someone of this caliber. The wake is going to be packed.

Substance McGravitas said...

I hope all goes well. Drink mightily.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

I'm really sorry to read this. My thoughts are with you and yours.


I hope a bit down the road I come to this blog and it's nothing but rainbows and unicorns cuz gosh darnit, you deserve it.

zencomix said...

Sorry for your loss.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Man.

Hamish Mack said...

Thinking of you, dude