Has it really only been a week since I last wrote this column? So much has happened since then, and life has changed.
Brother Albert, 59, passed away after an eight-week battle with colon cancer. He died peacefully surrounded by his wife of 37 1/2 years and his children. Despite the excruciating pain, he spoke with his family and left some very moving words. Albert didn't sing much, but just hours before he died he sang song number 131, the second sung in Amish worship services. This song is included in the Ausband, a collection of all church songs.
A comfort to the family is that Albert is cancer free. Albert told the family they needed to let him go. Let him go and let God. These words are easy to say, but with God's help they are comforting. We have so many cherished memories of our brother Albert.
Albert died on my 53rd birthday. We had planned to go to a neighbor's house for dinner, inviting family and a few others. I had been sewing all day so I thought it would be ok not to cook dinner on my birthday. When I got the call that Albert had passed away, I just couldn't bring myself to go out or be in a crowd. We knew this might happen but we still held out hope that he might go into remission. It reminded us that God's ways are not our ways.
My daughters Loretta and Dustin also didn't come to dinner and brought dinner for our family. We were so grateful! Little Denzel saw Grandma crying and kept kissing me. He is so sweet and innocent, yet completely unaware of the trials of life.
Albert's memorial service took place at the family home on May 23 and 24. His funeral took place on May 25 and was attended by an estimated 1,000 people.
Albert was mourned by his loving wife, Sarah Eileen, who was by his side throughout his battle with cancer, and his eleven children, Elizabeth (Amos), Benjamin (Ruby), Joseph (Amanda), Albert Jr. (Luana), Eileen (Levi), Emma (Johnny), Marvin (Lori), Liana (Alvin), Andrew (best friend Diane), Susan and Sylvia, as well as 39 grandchildren and five sisters, Leah (Paul), Verena, Liz (Levi), Lovina (Joe), Emma and sister-in-law Nancy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Elizabeth, his brother Amos, his sister Susan, his brother-in-law Jacob, his father-in-law Joseph and his mother-in-law Elizabeth.
Albert and Sarah Eileen's church community did a great job of providing meals and supporting Sarah Eileen and her family. One of the pastors said that in the 11 years he knew Albert, he had never heard him say a mean word about anyone. Let us all follow Albert's example.
My husband, Joe, was off work for most of last week. He has been having some health issues and after seeing his doctor he has doubled his medication, which I hope will give him some relief.
Joe will miss Albert at work as he worked with him for 3 years in the Metal & Truss Shop. I told Albert, “Joe said you were like a brother to him at work,” to which Albert replied that he couldn't have asked for a better person to work with. A cherished memory. Rest in peace, my dear brother!
Thank you to everyone who has shown support to the family in any way. May God bless you all for your kindness. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for Sarah Eileen and her family as they deal with life without a beloved father, grandfather and husband. God does no wrong. May God bless them.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her two cookbooks, The Essential Amish Cookbook and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina's Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped self-addressed envelope for a reply), or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org, where your message will be passed on to Eicher to read. She does not respond personally to emails.
