In Memory Of

Dear Great Grandma Jean: I wanted to give you this rose, but

Dear Great Grandma Jean: I wanted to give you this rose, but

when I looked up I saw you way up high in the clouds, and you were way too far away for me to hand this to you. You looked so peaceful and you were smiling, so I smiled back - did you see me? I remember you wearing that sport-cap when all your hair fell out after you got that thing they call cancer. I was so hoping you'd get better, but when you didn't and you felt so badly, I just knew you needed to rest. Well, I can dry the rose petals; put some pretty perfume on them, and keep them in a little jar so I'll always remember the day I saw you floating on the cloud near Heaven. I love you. Bella

Friday, June 13, 2008

Jean's services were held today...

A day that we'll all remember; a day in Cincinnati - with storms, but after the clouds there will be sunshine. The flowers will bloom; the birds will sing, and Jean will smile down on those that have cried as they said good-bye. Jean will remember the days she gave birth to her children; the times with her husband Bill, and she'll be waiting until they'll all be joined together in that everlasting place we all heaven.

As Kahlil Gibran said: "Your children are not your
children; they come through you, not from you." "You can't ask that your
children strive to be like you, but you can strive to be like your
children." In the Kreutz family they merely strive to live life to the
fullest - like their mom and dad did - Jean did not make love of others a bond,
but they all did bond in mutual respect, and love.

Today we burned a candle in Jean's memory

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Today we received word that our son-in-law's mother had died late last night...

In Memory of Jean Kreutz: KREUTZ,

She was the beloved wife of the late William J. Kreutz, loving mother of William Jr. (Deb), James (Sue) and Chris (Lisa) Kreutz and Vicky (Tim) Mills, devoted grandmother of Zach, Eli, Jessica, Eric, Brittney, Kerri, Mark, Kaytlyn, Mike, William III, James II and Kyle and great-grandmother to Brooklynn, Isabella and Lane. Cherished sister of Tom (Margaret) Rotte. Passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Age 77.

Because I awoke to this e-mail message, and felt that 'loss' again - missing so many who've left this beautiful world in the course of my life, I wanted to put a place for the few photos I had, as well as bring some comfort with music that could possibly help during this time.

Jean Kreutz was a wonderful mother; she had a wonderful family - her children are all so independent, kind, and caring. Jean had battled lung cancer at the same time my mother was battling breast cancer. In December of 2007, both Jean and my mother had been given the 'all clear', and we celebrated Christmas with great optimisim.

My mother is still healthy; Jean's cancer reappeared in February - it moved quickly, and she barely made another Mother's Day in 2008. While we all wanted her to live longer, none of us wanted her to continue to suffer the pain she was in. We all welcomed her relief from pain and suffering on June 10, 2008.

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Chris said these few words for his mom, Jean - amid his tears, he finished his thoughts beautifully.

THIS IS FOR MOM

I’m probably a little biased, but she was the greatest mom anyone could ask for. From the birthday cakes and parties when we were little to the Christmases with the kids, grandkids and great grandkids completely destroying the house and never batting an eye.

From carving pumpkins and having all of the grandkids go out for candy and watching them count the pieces spread out on the living room floor, we will miss the chaos.

Chaos, we gave her a lot. Each one of us has a bucketful; she should have disowned us all. Instead, she kept making and baking the best things anyone could ask for – Christmas cookies, goetta, chili sauce, pea soup with spaetzles, breakfast, lunch or dinner anytime we came over.

I’ll miss the gin and tonics she’d make when I’d call after work to tell her I was stopping by.

I’ll miss calling Linda, her best friend for the last 30 years, and asking her to hang up for a minute from her nightly calls so I could call mom and tell her I was coming by. Mom didn’t have call waiting, but Linda did.

Linda and Sandy, what good friends they are. You guys are so loved and appreciated. No one could ever match what you have done for our family; we are so blessed.

There are so many good things and stories to talk about. She touched so many lives that we will never stop remembering and talking about her.

We love you and miss you, Mom. Tell Dad we said “hi” and have a great time.

I WROTE THIS POEM FOR MY FATHER - IN HIS MEMORY. DIANE

Dad never heard the voice
of a political puppet

He only heard the sound
of a heavenly trumpet

What a golden voice
that he fought for
in this land of choice

Dad - in the army
under the red, white and blue

Dad, blew his trumpet; and fought bravely
for me
and you

The taps - later, at so many funerals
he played
On that cold windy hill - he quivered
yet brave

he buried his sister
and brother-in-law too

that same day - dad never skipped a note
and that sweet sound of his music
resounded; echoed

over their caskets
remembered and cherished
through
and
through

Then dad's turn came -
he left mom; my sisters
my brother
and me -

May;
in the spring
of 1993

Now I hear my dad when I see
that early morning sky

I know he's making music
when that horizon is bright and blue.

Blew, blew - the wind and his
breath...
Dad, how I miss
you in this
form

we call
'death'.....

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE CARLIN - MAY 12, 1937 - JUNE 24, 2008

Mr. Carlin won a total of four Grammy Awards. He was recently named the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which he was to receive in November at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The Kennedy Center said Monday that the prize would be given posthumously and that the evening would be a tribute to his life and work.

In addition to his brother, Patrick, Mr. Carlin is survived by his wife, Sally Wade, and a daughter, Kelly Carlin McCall. His first wife, Brenda Hosbrook, died in 1997.

Mr. Carlin’s most recent work was especially contentious, even bitter, full of ranting against the stupid, the fat, the docile. But he defended the material, insisting that his comedy had always been driven by an intolerance for the shortcomings of humanity and society.

“Scratch any cynic,” he said, “and you’ll find a disappointed idealist.”

JOHN WEBB - A HOMELESS MAN WE ALL LOVED.

John Webb, age 59, passed away May 15, 2007 - a little over a year ago.

John was a very dear friend to 'the world'. John served in the military in his younger years. John never talked about family; family by blood that is.

John's 'adopted family'were the town people and the people at the local bus service where they'd give John all the rides he needed, at no charge.

John smiled at everyone - he walked everywhere (except for the many who offered him a ride when they saw him by the side of the road).

John ultimately became crippled from the cold nights; needed a walker, and still remained determined to walk the streets he loved - push along the shore of the Colorado River that he often bathed in.

We all helped feed him - we all loved him - and last year when he died, a tribute to him was made in the local newspaper.

In memory of John...

I REMEMBER PLAYING THE MELODY TO THESE LYRICS AT FUNERALS. I LOVE THE WORDS...

Sunset and evening star,And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

THE LIGHT BURNING, IS A RESTORED GAS LAMP FROM GRANDPA'S HOME.

THE LIGHT BURNING, IS A RESTORED GAS LAMP FROM GRANDPA'S HOME.

Chris Kreutz, my daughter's husband, restored this lamp after it had sat in my grandfather's vacant house for many years. Chris salvaged many items from that old home - he loves to make old things new; he brings life to those things others see no purpose in. Chris is hard-working; loving, and a wonderful grandfather. He's been a second father to children brought into the 'family', simply by either marriage, or merely because he (and my daughter) believe they need some extra parental guidance and love. Chris is one of four children that Irene and Bill Kreutz called 'our kids'. I thought it would be nice to bring 'light' to Jean's page, and to mark this spot for the others we've missed after their death; they all were lights in our lives.