My Father Died today.
Mom and Dad bringing up the gifts at my ordination
Originally uploaded by frjcmaximilian.
My father, John S. Garrett, died this evening of cancer. He was 68 years old, and married to my mother for 42 years. He was one of the first Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at our parish, serving as one for about 30 years, not only at Mass but also taking Communion to those in the hospital. After his retirement, about 15 years ago, he went to Mass nearly every day. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus; serving at three separate times as Grand Knight, and once as Faithful Navigator.
My sister Mary and her daughter Sydney drove up from NC last night, and my sister Ann arrived from St. Louis this afternoon and went straight to the hospital. Apparently Dad was a bit more responsive this morning; answering “yes/no” questions, and telling people he loved them.
I was on duty at the parish today, so I had several shut-ins who called wanting to go to Confession before Christmas. I arrived at Dad’s hospice room a little after 3 p.m. this afternoon. Mom and Sydney had stepped out for a bit, so it was Ann, Mary and me. When Mom and Sydney got back, about 4 p.m., I celebrated Mass in my Dad’s room, giving him Viaticum, a final anointing, and the Apostolic Pardon. I stayed talking with my family, sharing stories of Dad, until 6:15 p.m., and then I headed back to the parish to attend the pre-school Christmas show. I was just about back to the parish when my sister Mary called to say that Dad had just died, at around 6:30 p.m.
I went back to the hospital. All my sisters, my brother-in-law Ed, my nieces Sydney and Moira, and nephew Liam were there with my Mom. Mom was holding up pretty well. When I hugged her I just started crying. My sisters were all crying, as was Sydney. I don’t think Liam and Moira fully understood what was going on, although Liam seemed to a bit more. Of course we were calling a lot of people to let them know, and to activate the various “prayer trees.” Ann told me that she had a premonition during Mass that Dad was going to die that night; see the Gospel today was the account of the Annunciation and Dad was born on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. After spending about an hour at the hospice with Dad’s body, we went to Uncle Bob’s to tell him. He handled the news of his brother’s death pretty well. He said that he was glad that Dad was no longer suffering, and that he was now at peace.
