RIP Keith Pether

Today was my Uncle's funeral, he died on Thursday 8th November after a very long illness :o(

He suffered with Akylosing Spondylitis for forty years, he had a stoop and his chin almost touched his chest for many years and led to breathing difficulties as his lungs weren't able to inflate properly and problems with pain in his hands and back. Despite this he was an accomplished model builder and enjoyed fishing for many years until it became physically impossible for him to continue. I always remember him as having a mischevious twinkle in his eye and for his smelly old pipe! My cousin read a eulogy that was very moving and showed how much he was loved by his family and how much he loved them and was so proud of his grandchildren. He had an operation on his neck four years ago that was very complicated and led to a very long hospital stay but it also gave him a few more years to watch his grandchildren grow.
I didn't know him as well as i would have liked to, he lived in Berkshire while i was still in Essex and as Mum didn't drive we didn't get to visit. Our families were always brought together at Christmas though with Boxing Day tea round my Grandparents house. I remember them with affection and happiness, i think my cousins do too for the most part but the grown-ups tell a different story!

Uncle Keith was my Mum's last remaining sibling, her other brother died ten years ago and it's really hit her hard. It has me too and it's made me realise how lucky i am to still have my Mum after her illness this summer and how i don't want the next time my family meets to be another funeral - her funeral :o(
So i have decided to organise a party, one to celebrate rather than mourn. I saw my cousin's children for the first time this week the eldest of the four is 12! Mind you i've not seen my cousin for about 19 years!! It would also be a good time for my "new" neice to meet her extended family. My sister had two children, and when she divorced her husband had custody of the youngest one who was about two the last time i saw her... she phoned me a while ago and is now 17! Next year will be the tenth anniversary of my sister's death and it would be a good way to celebrate life wouldn't it, with a family party?

I know we aren't immortal, i know the one thing inevitable in life is death, but it doesn't make the pain any easier to bear :o(