Dear Lauren and family,
Ed and I are in FL for the winters and Ed reads the Lancaster paper each morning and he told me of your Dad's passing. I am so sorry that I did not write or at least send a condolence at this site long long before this. I have had a card for you forever and tried and tried to find someone who had your address and finally I am writing to you here. We will be home in time for the service.
Lauren, I would like to say that we are so sorry for your Father's passing. I cannot as I am sure you have to feel the same to see such a wonderful man, such a wonderful person suffer like he did. We are so sorry that such a beautiful person would have to be so ill, suffer so much with the loss of your Mother and then to suffer physically so severely. We could only be thankful that he could finally be relieved of his misery and go to be with your Mother. When Eddie told me, I could only say "Thank you Lord". I hope that does not hurt you, Lauren, He was so brave to go through so much trying for your Mother and trying for you and your family, to be well again. We only got to know your Dad when he was ill, but what a sweet, kind, lovely person he was. We both admired him so much and we adored your dear little Mother.
We had the privilege of taking them a couple of times for his treatment and to social security. I still remember that dear little, very brave little girl (that is the way I always think of her, but she was so strong) going into social security insisting on taking a crate of paperwork to get insurance for your Dad. She was also carrying her oxygen along. When we got back in the car, she was absolutely jubilant and said I got all four insurances for Gary. As you know at that point she was already very ill, but still taking care of your Dad. They were truly two sweethearts and I am sure they still are.
One day, we were bringing your Dad home from a treatment. It was not a good day, he was not feeling at all well. I made a comment about your little one and he immediately went to his cell phone and showed us the video of your Mother bouncing Jude on her knee. He beamed from ear to ear.
Stephanie, you must be exactly like both your parents to be so brave through all this. I can't imagine any child going through this with both her Mother and Father and for such a long time. You are amazing and I just pray for you that the Lord is and has been so close and so comforting in your heartache. I lost my parents when they were in their older years and I was much older than you and yet, I know the suffering just at losing them without watching them suffer. They were so blessed to have a daughter like you. May God bless you and keep his arms wrapped firmly around you to comfort you and give you peace. Your child is so fortunate to have such a wondeful person for his Mother. May God bless you and give you some moments of relaxation and eventually joy again. Love you, sweet girl. Jean and Ed
Ed and Jean Howell - Tuesday April 10, 2018 via Condolence Message