My Best Friend Passed Away

[dlnfloral]

It takes alot to get me down but my best friend passed away today. He was only 60 years old and no health problems that we were aware of. He had a massive heart attack and went immediately. He always said that was the way he wanted to go. So I know it's a blessing but @@@@ it sure sucks.

Mark and his wife Nancy where in WI visiting a long time friend and he was helping them move some furniture and just went weak,dropped his end and that was it. Thank God Nancy and him were not driving home when it happened. That would of been twice as bad.I'm so glad that Nancy was not alone when it happened. My heart is just breaking.It's just not fair!

Mark and I have been friends for 20 years now. I have lost my best friend,listener,advice giver and my yin to my yang. It's going to be a tough week. I always use to kid him that "well you'll have great flowers at your funeral when you finally go" Well crap I didn't think it would be this soon.

Another bad part,Mark had just retired last October from being a heavy equipment operator for 45 years. He didn't even get to really enjoy his retirement. Plus Nancy was going to retire this October,so they were looking forward to being together. Well crap to that too! Makes you really wondering about life and to count your blessings daily.

Thank goodness for friends and family.That's what it's all about and all this other crap about business,economy,stress,etc.. really doesn't matter.

Thanks for listening to me,made me feel better for about 2 seconds but it did help to write this.

 

[lori042499]

Darlene, that sux outloud..My thoughts will be with you this week...I am so sorry for your immense loss!

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

sending you hugs

 

[Palms]

That is awful, and you are right, family friends and health are all that are important. Money, work, flowers etc etc are just play things along the way.

Really thinking of you, death scares the hell out of me. Hope you manage to get through this week ok..

 

[RWK]

"Father God, In the name of your Son Jesus, I ask you right now to grant the peace that passes all understanding to this family. I ask you right now to send comfort to this lady left behind, I ask you to provide strength where there is none........as the poem says Father, take her up and carry her across the sand.

I ask mercy, forbearance, long-suffering, patience for this family as the emotions, anger, turmoil, hit. You said yourself that in times of stress, you understand our needs and our prayers, even through groaning, Above all else, if there is anyone associated with this man's friends or family that do not know you Jesus, I pray that the passing of this man would be that catalyst that helps them find you lord Jesus.

I ask this in the powerful and true name of your son Jesus,

Amen

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

true friendship is the greatest puzzle......when a piece goes missing, it's just NOT the same anymore!!....This is not an "island" story, MANY people that I have known, didn't really get a chance to enjoy retirement, and that is truly unfair, but, here's a clue:
My parents' "peer group" numbered in the hundreds over the years, they enjoyed life to the fullest, worked and played hard, and as immigrants, had many hurdles to overcome to do so!!
As immigrants, most went to factories, mills, farm work, and the building trades, and out of the entire bunch, maybe 10, went into business for themselves!!
Over the years, many "discussions" enveloped over "security" of a steady paycheck, over the risk taking of self employed route to retirement, thus MOST chose the "secure" jobs, with secure pensions and a "comfortable" retirement.
Well, it kind of didn't work out that way....practically ALL of the peer group died within 10 years of retirement, and MANY didn't last more than a couple of years, and it was a terrible time, one after another, funeral after funeral, it seemed to last a very long time!!
Today, there are maybe 16 left counting my parents, and of those, 9 of the 10 that went into business, are still alive, and still involved, and DON'T have "time" for retirement...too much to "get done".....
You see, the "need" to work surpasses the need to NOT WORK for some, and I'm pretty sure that is a major "key" in long life, and agility is to take the years AFTER you turn 60-65, and slow down a little, over the next 30 years!!
The "pressures" of a working career of 45 years, that just come to a crashing halt, IS the "culprit", I'm sure!
By the way, my dad is 85 this October, STILL works every day, most of his customers are MUCH younger, and he is now listed as the OLDEST electrical contractor in Ontario!
We grieve with you, I would want to go the same way, but, I don't have "time" right now.
We are so very sorry for losing such a dear friend, good friends are SO VERY HARD to come by......

 

[VJD]

Darlene - Sympathies to you, and your friend's family. It always reminds me that death can be so random and unfair.....

 

[Victoria]

Darlene, I know you will miss your best friend. What a gift he was for you and you for him.

I send my condolences to you and to Nancy.

Thank you for sharing with us, for through the sadness I am reminded again of the importance of loving the life we have.

Hugs.

V

 

[anytimeflowers]

Oh Darlene,

I'm so sorry. The incredible shock of losing someone so dear, so unexpectedly, is very hard to bear. You wonder why, when you feel like he was just beginning a "new life".

Take comfort that he, indeed, has started a new life, even though you don't get to be a part of it yet. And take comfort too that he went exactly the way he wanted to. No lingering suffering for him or for you to bear.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and all who will be mourning the loss of his physical presence.

Linda

 

[dlnfloral]

We were just discussing how a lot of people we know who have worked all their lives and deceide to retire without a plan.They seem to have health problems that show up and wham!! I know from experience with my husband ( he is 67 ) that you can't just quit,you gotta have a plan and keep ypur mind and body going. Just hard to process when it first happens.

Thank you all for the support. I REALLY appreicate it.

 

[sloan]

Love and prayers from Palestine Texas.................... sniff

 

[lil_goldie]

My eyes are welling up reading that story b/c the same thing happened to my uncle in December.
Got up, when outside to start his wife's car, and next thing you know, the paper girl is running into the house screaming for help.
He just went down. Massive heart attack.

It's so hard to lose a friend, especially when he had so much life left to live.
I hope your memories of him will comfort you right now.

 

[emilymoonflower]

Darlene,
Hugs and prayers from me. I hope that you find comfort in the fact that you got to share your life with someone who sounded clearly wonderful.
Emily

 

[dlnfloral]

Nancy is home now and they released Mark's body from WI coroner today.So he should be home today. Nancy will be meeting with the funeral home today at 2:00pm. Tonight a group of us are going to Nancy's to be with her. Should be very helpful for us all.

 

[conchandler]

So sorry to read this. So sad, so sudden, too soon. I like to think though that God answered his prayer in that his suffering was not long, although that is now in the hearts of his friends and family. I pray that your get-together this evening will be comforting to you all.

 

[dlnfloral]

We did get together tonight and it was very comforting for all. We had a lot of drinks,good memories and alot of laughs. Mark never liked to see anyone sad so he always made sure everyone felt wonderful and loved.

I gotta make all the pieces for Thursday so creating in my mind as I write this. It's going to be spectacular to design for him but difficult at the same time.But it's the only way I know how to express my feelings in my designs. I know Mark would say you go you little cutie and I love you for making me go out in style.So that makes the hurt alittle less painful.

 

[Victoria]

Giving the people we love the best part of us is an important gift Darlene. The gift of your creations will send Mark on his way with love.

V