We lost one of our family members yesterday…
My sister’s husband…
He came into her life… I would say… in the perfect moment…
She had lost her first husband through death… brain tumor/heart… leaving her and her six children to be on their own… 
She was not alone… many family members embraced these kids and her…
Loving them with all of their heart…
They seemed to become part of my own …
My second little family…
Four girls… two boys… ranging in ages… I’m guessing here… from one in the Marines… so maybe 19… no, there were two already married… so maybe 20 or so… to one in elementary school… so maybe 5… maybe not in school yet…
So you see… so young… to have a daddy taken away…
But, my sister is a strong woman…
Working… making ends meet… staying in touch with her family and her Bert’s family…
Curtis came into her life with a grin… and a slight limp of a leg…
And we knew he had been smitten!… He adored her!
and took on the responsibility of being a Dad as best he could with rebellious teens and a woman who had lost the love of her life… her first husband…
Carolyn met Curtis  at a Parent’s Without Partners dance… They were held weekly… and at that time… it was just to get out and be around others her age…
They were married after about of a year of on again… off again…
This would be a big decision on her part to make …
With six children… and a new man in her life…
Her mind was twirling…
But, they married… at one of her daughter’s homes… on Valentine’s Day…
Life has had so many directions… illnesses…kids…moving to a different home twice… his children accepting her…
But, it seemed their love began to grow more and more…
The kids came to acceptt him as their Dad… and the grandchildren that came.. knew only him as their Papa…
They clung to him… and loved him… with all of their being…
Curtis has been a very sick man for most of their marriage…
but, my sister has tended to his every need…
He has had to have an amputation of a leg…
heart trouble…and lately a lung disease and cancer…
There are no words to describe all she has had to do…
A strong woman… an understatement for sure…
There will be no regrets that she did her best by both husbands…
As a sister… we have talked much… we can get the day going through our conversations… no matter how hard!
As he lay dying in their home… she was still in charge…
making arrangements that had to be completed… talking to everyone who came in to say good-bye…
Talking to Hospice help as they arrived…
He went quickly… surrounded by much love… and his wife… who had become his life …
Peace to you Curtis in your new life in Heaven…
and peace to you my sister… as you pull it up again… and become yourself again…
Love,
Your Sister Marilyn
it’s sad, but with you on her side (and her kids), she maybe has the strength to make it through …
oh, she is strong as I say…but, will take time to regroup for sure…thanks for reading!
Marilyn~ I was deeply saddened to hear about Curtis’s passing. Please tell Carolyn that I extend my deepest sympathy. He was such a nice man and I feel blessed for getting to meet him. It’s always so hard to lose loved ones, but it’s even harder to sit back and watch them suffer. May Curtis rest in peace and may Carolyn find the strength to help her through this difficult time in her life.
God Bless Always,
Andrea
thanks so much Andrea…she is blessed to have all of those kids…grandkids…and now great grandkids…
Marilyn, As I sit here with tears running down, that is a beautiful tribute from one special person to another special person. Love you both !!!
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thanks Pat…she is pretty special…has been under such a burden…hopefully she will have some time for herself soon…
I send you all my love as I also sit here with tears running down my face. What love, what a tribute. Love to you all, as you all, especially Carolyn learn to live without this lovely man. xx
yes…it will be hard…all her time has been devoted to him and her kids…I hope she will finally have a chance to find some time for herself…thank you!
Condolences to your family. Your sister sounds like a wonderful woman.
thank you …she’s a strong woman…
I was so sorry to here about his passing. I had the opportunity to meet him a few times at some family gatherings. my prayers are with the entire family.
he was so sick…and Carolyn was exhausted…
The funeral went great…and I believe at least 200 people attended…Isn’t that awesome!…
I’m sorry for the loss in your family. You did well in the way you posted this. God bless all of you.
thank you…That means a lot!