I was blessed to have four grandparents that I grew up knowing. Pop was the first to pass away in 1995. Followed with the passing of my grandmothers in 2008 and 2010. Today PopPop went to be reuinted with Grandma.
To me Frederick J. Elias was a devoted husband. There is much I do not know about him, but I can vividly remember that almost every time we would visit them, he would sit with Grandma's tired legs on his lap and rub them. Grandma was ill for a very long time and he did everything he could to take care of her. "Fred..." you would often hear her calling from across the house and he would respond...each and every time. He loved her.
When she passed away he was also ready to go. I suppose that is a true testament of just how much their lives intertwined and how connected they were. I imagine when you give so much of your life to a person and they are gone...there is simply no way to fill that void.
PopPop went on living, but would often comment in our talks just how much he missed Grandma. He spent time memorizing Bible verses in the last few years and there is a lot of time I am not sure how he filled.
Today though I am sad. I cry for the loss of PopPop, for all that I did not do or the calls I did not make before today. To knowing that my last grandparent is gone.
I believe that PopPop is in Heaven and that Jesus welcomed him home. And there is a small part of me that snickers in thinking that Grandma had a small part.... and when it was time she joyous called again, "Fred..." and he responded for the final time.
