I'm sure some of you are wondering.... how things went for Christmas, New Years, and what is happening with my fathers b-day which is tomorrow... he would be turning 68 years old.
As some may assume, Christmas must have been hard. Having a parent pass away at Christmas time... how terrible it's going to be.... But I like to think of it as a blessing. We always get together for Christmas, so we'll always get together for this. Well Christmas this year was a very special. We spent most of the day sharing memories with each other and celebrating my dads life. In the bulletin, there was a piece of paper that said "Something I Remember In My Relationship With Henry de Wolde". It was asked of the congregation to jot down a little thought, memory, something that dad taught, or maybe even a joke that dad may did to that person on that piece of paper, so that we his children, wife and grandchildren could reflect on at another date. So on Christmas day we took those papers, and handed them out around the table and took turns sharing them. Some were heart warming, some were kind words, and some were hilarious. We also took a look at all the on-line condolences that came in through the funeral home... but also a few of us had special messages that came by e-mail, and facebook. One of our relatives had mentioned on the memory paper, that dad played Donna Sommers really loud and that he didn't care what anyone said... so, that is just what we did. And we sang it at the top of our lungs. And just like years past... the guitar got played (by my brother Brad this year instead of dad) and we sang a few songs together It was a special day.
We got back together for New Years Day. This is when we shared ( in the same way as Christmas) who had sent out flowers, and gave donations to the "C.R.W.R.C." ( Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) and the "Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation." This day too was filled with memories and sharing.
Tomorrow is my dads Birthday. We the whole family is getting together, and I'm sure just like the past few weeks, it will be a great day and we'll be Thanking the Lord for what a special dad, husband and grandfather we had.
I'm sure some of you are wondering how things are with mom. Well, the girls and I stayed with mom over the Christmas Holidays. It was nice to have the extra support, and I know my mom feels the same way. Mom seems to be doing good, but of course has her moments, just like anyone else... but says that it still feels like dad is on a trip, and will be walking through the door at any time. I know a couple of my brothers feel this way as well.... That it doesn't feel real. I too kind of feel this way sometimes, but I like to stay positive and put a little twist on that feeling and say... "he is gone away, but I'm the one on a trip (probably a long one) and I am going to come home to him (in heaven) and I will see him again someday."
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Years. I will keep writing and sharing. Thank you for reading, and posting your thoughts.
In the last few weeks of my dads sickness, I never wanted to say good-bye, so I had started to say to him "We'll see ya soon Pa". I used this phrase again as a closer for his life line in the bulletin, and I will keep it going in different ways to everyone else.
So....
We'll Talk To You Soon
Becky
Updates and Memories of Henry de Wolde and Family
Friday, 13 January 2012
Saturday, 24 December 2011
December 24th 2011
What a beautiful day, and service yesterday. The words and passages that were used to describe "my Pa" were perfectly fitting... by my brother Mark who did the eulogy, Pastor Kasey Vanderveen who did the service, Pastor Henry Wildeboer who came up to say a few words or when a young child named Myah and her brother came up to say they will miss uncle Henry, and what better fitting than to come from the mouths of babes.
We found so many similarities over the last few days, that could be described as nothing less than GOD THINGS....
1. Mom played dads Gaither music all day long everyday during the day for dad. There was one song on there that dad loved... in the past when dad was still somewhat healthy, he said it was his favorite and every time it came on he would turn the volume way up. On the early morning before "Pa" passed, for the first time at night time mom decided to put on dads Gaither video on which she never had done before. Mom got me up at around 3:30 saying, "I think this is it Beck". Mom and I calmly went back to her room, and listened to dad take his last breath, all the while telling him how much everyone loved him etc...during this I had noticed what song was playing... It was his favorite song, "I Then Shall Live"... The next thing to follow this was... that same song played as dad went out the door with the funeral guys. Amazing Right? "GOD THING"
2. A day or two before "my Pa" died, I had wrote on the blog a bible passage that "my Pa" had mentioned while he could still hold a conversation. It was John 14:1-3. Hopefully you remember :) We had to get a bulletin picked out, we asked for one with a boat or something similar. Along side of this wonderful picture that pastor had found, he put a passage... It was the same one, John 14:1-3, and he was going to use it within the service. Pastor had no idea. "GOD THING"
3. Pastor had also picked another passage for the service, James 1:12. My brother Mark also made reference to a passage during his eulogy... the same one. Neither one discussed this or planned it out before hand. "GOD THING"
4. My mom found an another amazing "GOD THING". When dad came out of Kingston Hospital, which was December 5th, 2011 (Dutch Christmas) the first thing that he had said to m mom was "I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and death - to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." This is the answer to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism. The Question being..."What is your only comfort in life and death?". Pastor also put this in as part of the service, also not consult or planning.
God's hand is always there. Praise be to God for holding dad up and holding us up.
My family and I would like to give thanks all those who were able to come out on Thursday evening's visitation and on Friday afternoon's Service. It meant so much to have all of you there sharing in this special time with us. I also want to thank all those who were unable to come but kept us in your thoughts and prayers, who have sent messages, flowers, donations, and condolances, and those who have kept in touch over the last few months.
We are very blessed to have friends and family like you guys and wish to keep in touch. You are all a great support.
I will put a copy of the Bulletin on here and a copy of my brother Marks eulogy from the service.
My brother Rod also put a eulogy together for my dad as well. He asked me to put it on the blog.
The blog will continue with... well who knows, you'll have to keep checking to find out :)
Love:
Becky and the de Wolde family
We found so many similarities over the last few days, that could be described as nothing less than GOD THINGS....
1. Mom played dads Gaither music all day long everyday during the day for dad. There was one song on there that dad loved... in the past when dad was still somewhat healthy, he said it was his favorite and every time it came on he would turn the volume way up. On the early morning before "Pa" passed, for the first time at night time mom decided to put on dads Gaither video on which she never had done before. Mom got me up at around 3:30 saying, "I think this is it Beck". Mom and I calmly went back to her room, and listened to dad take his last breath, all the while telling him how much everyone loved him etc...during this I had noticed what song was playing... It was his favorite song, "I Then Shall Live"... The next thing to follow this was... that same song played as dad went out the door with the funeral guys. Amazing Right? "GOD THING"
2. A day or two before "my Pa" died, I had wrote on the blog a bible passage that "my Pa" had mentioned while he could still hold a conversation. It was John 14:1-3. Hopefully you remember :) We had to get a bulletin picked out, we asked for one with a boat or something similar. Along side of this wonderful picture that pastor had found, he put a passage... It was the same one, John 14:1-3, and he was going to use it within the service. Pastor had no idea. "GOD THING"
3. Pastor had also picked another passage for the service, James 1:12. My brother Mark also made reference to a passage during his eulogy... the same one. Neither one discussed this or planned it out before hand. "GOD THING"
4. My mom found an another amazing "GOD THING". When dad came out of Kingston Hospital, which was December 5th, 2011 (Dutch Christmas) the first thing that he had said to m mom was "I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and death - to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." This is the answer to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism. The Question being..."What is your only comfort in life and death?". Pastor also put this in as part of the service, also not consult or planning.
God's hand is always there. Praise be to God for holding dad up and holding us up.
My family and I would like to give thanks all those who were able to come out on Thursday evening's visitation and on Friday afternoon's Service. It meant so much to have all of you there sharing in this special time with us. I also want to thank all those who were unable to come but kept us in your thoughts and prayers, who have sent messages, flowers, donations, and condolances, and those who have kept in touch over the last few months.
We are very blessed to have friends and family like you guys and wish to keep in touch. You are all a great support.
I will put a copy of the Bulletin on here and a copy of my brother Marks eulogy from the service.
My brother Rod also put a eulogy together for my dad as well. He asked me to put it on the blog.
The blog will continue with... well who knows, you'll have to keep checking to find out :)
Love:
Becky and the de Wolde family
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Henry deWolde
January 14, 1944 - December 20, 2011
deWOLDE Peacefully at his home, on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011, HENRY (HEDRICK) deWOLDE, at the age of 67. Beloved husband of Wilma. Loved father of Mark and his wife Jessica of Howe Island, Rod and his wife Shari of Millbrook, Brad and his partner Laura of Oshawa and Becky of Picton. Dear brother of Morris, Helen Klok, Herman, Hennie, Sijpheer and Ann Babich. Loved grandpa and opa to Hailey, Keira, Olivia, Alyssa, Brooke, Trinity, Owen and Benjamin. HENRY IS RESTING AT THE WHATTAM FUNERAL HOME, 33 MAIN STREET, PICTON, ON. The Funeral Service will be held at Bethany Christian Reformed Church on Friday, December 23rd at 2:00 P.M. Pastor Kasey VanderVeen Officiating. Interment to follow at Quaker Cemetery. If desired, donations to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (Disaster Relief) or the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family. FRIENDS MAY CALL ON THURSDAY EVENING FROM 6:00 UNTIL 8:00 P.M. www.whattamfuneralhome.com
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