By Dawn Thompson

My Grandmother and her siblings grew up in one of the first foster care systems in Massachusetts. Although she was grateful for food and shelter, she was always sad to have never been adopted. She wanted nothing more than to belong to a family. She couldn’t change the past, but she did put her heart and soul into raising her own family.

She wasn’t always right, but she always did what she thought was right and that’s what’s important. She invested her life in our future, gave us gifts beyond value and left behind a treasured legacy.

In her will, one of the things she left me was her big brother, Lee, a veteran sailor who I’d been helping her with for almost 20 years. Shortly after she passed, I filed for custody of him. The court date landed on her birthday, which was incredibly divine!

Sadly, in the past few months his cancer came back and his health has declined. So much so that he is preparing for his journey. While getting his care and comfort in order, I got notice that the guardianship was finalized. Although I was happy for him that it happened in his lifetime, I was also very sad. It’s not easy letting go of a loved one but it does help to know he has a special angel waiting for him on the other side. ♥

I arrived at the nursing home last night three minutes after he passed. As I sat in the car waiting for my cousin Steve, I thought of how I would say good-bye to one of my oldest and dearest friends, my great-uncle Lee. I wiped my eyes, looked in the rear view mirror and noticed my grandmother’s rosary hanging from it. I realized there are no words! We went in, bid him goodbye and wrapped his beloved sister’s cross around his hands. Good night uncle, see you in Heaven!

Some people make the world a better place just by being in it.

Leonell A. Maurice; July 17, 1925 - January 22, 2012