In Memoriam

Florence A. (Hanlon) Leaver

Born: 22 July 1927
Entered eternal life: 21 December 2013
Celebrating my grams 85th birthday in 2012 after my return from Portugal.

This is definitely one of the hardest entries to write, so it won't be too long. Yesterday I got a message from my mom on Facebook saying "call me when you can". In my heart---I knew what it was about. I just knew. It was confirmed as soon as I heard my mother say, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this..."

I love my grandmother Florence so much. I miss her already. The last time I saw her was in July a few days before departing for Rome. After giving her a hug and a kiss and leaving her house, my eyes filled with tears as I heard the song "Homesick" by MercyMe for the first time. I had a feeling that I wouldn't see her again.

For 15 years of my life, I lived seven houses up the street from my paternal grandparents. I didn't realize how blessed I was as a child to be able to see my grandparents basically everyday on my walk to and from the bus stop, on weekends---pretty much anytime I wanted.  

There are so many memories with my grandmother that I will cherish forever, and that I'm sure I will be sharing with my family over the next several days. 

All the prayers that my family and I have been receiving are so greatly appreciated. There is a beautiful, ancient prayer I'd like to share for the praying called In Paradisum. It was the traditional antiphon chanted during the funeral liturgy as the body was being carried out of the church. I put the English translation with the original Latin underneath.

May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.
(In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.)

Rest In Peace, gram. I love you.

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