Great Great Aunt Jule - Rest In Peace

To my son Tommy,

I don't think you ever got chance to meet your Great Great Aunt Jule Slagle nee Downey (pictured above with her brother your Great Great Uncle John Downey above). It was always on our to-do list but regretfully there it will remain in perpetuity. Aunt Jule passed from this world on Friday 16 January 2015 at 11:20 PM. They always said Aunt Jule was two years older than your Great Grandpa Leo (Her other brother) so that would put her at the age of 95 or there abouts. Your Great Great Aunt Sheila, who has been taken care of Aunt Jule, called this Saturday to tell us. Aunt Jule was in hospice care facility so this wasn't unexpected, but sad none the less.

My fondest memory of Aunt Jule was going to her house in Cumberland. She lived on the Mason-Dixon line and even had a marker on her property. For some reason the ability to jump from one state to another, to one second be in Maryland and the next in Pennsylvania, makes a young lad feel like a superhero. I also remember her having a little ankle-biting yapping dog that your Great Grandpa Leo wasn't too fond of, but as a young lad I could ignore the dogs faults thus wearing the dog down.

Aunt Jule donated her body to science, so there won't be a service or ceremony for a month or two until the white coats get finished with whatever they do. I wonder if they are aware of Aunt Jule's drinking history because to make it to 95 and to cocktail like she did, well there has to be something they can learn about liver protection or the likes.

Anyways, after such a long life, we pray that God gives her the rest she deserves, and we pray that God comforts us left grieving, especially as we face the very real potential of more deaths in our family this year and next.

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.

Sincerely with love from your dad,
Leo