A Day of Grieving & Remembering

Wednesday, August 4, 2019

Today we drove the toad into the Buffalo suburb of Kenmore to attend memorial services for Jane’s cousin, James Brian Tuhovak who passed away last week at the age of 55. It was a sad time for the family, especially for Jane’s Aunt Phylis, who has experienced her husband (Uncle Steve), her brother (Bud) and now her son, all depart this world within about a year’s time of each other. Jim had been an accomplished distance runner and skier and this was documented in family photos and awards he had won on display at the memorial service. Tragically, at age 33, Jim had been disabled in a car accident while on a casual run. The solemn irony of attending Jim’s memorial services in the same funeral home and then proceeding to the same mausoleum in the same cemetery (Elmwood) as we had about a year ago for his father added to the sadness of the occasion.

After the interment, the family reunited at the house of Jane’s cousin and her friend, Cathy and Pat. They had renovated their beautiful home that was set up well for entertaining. Jane’s mother and brother, Helen and Dan, had driven up from Kane so it was nice to have another opportunity to get caught up with them. I managed to tumble down the deck stairs (darn progressive lenses) and injured my right wrist which had taken the brunt of the fall.

After eating and socializing, we followed a Honda Fit full of Phylis, her two sisters and Helen to visit Phylis’ new home. Cathy and Pat had renovated a nice home in a neighborhood near them and had helped Phylis and Jim move there. The home was very nice; Pat and Cathy have flipped a few houses and certainly did a good job fixing this one up for Phylis. After socializing for awhile, we departed for the campground. Helen is going to stay with Phylis for several days before one of Phylis’ sisters drives her back to Kane.