Rose's Funeral

In 1982 my grandmother passed away.  I was in my second year of college at Carleton University in Ottawa.  For several years, she had live with my father  (or sperm donor as my sisters and I like to call him)  We had not had contact with her in a few years and I believe she was suffering from Dementia.  I remember visiting her in downtown Toronto and being directed to her ward.  I walked up to the desk and the nurse looked up, did a double take and said "Rose's granddaughter."  It was not a question.  I went in and saw her and the familiar smell of her carnation perfume enveloped me.  She did not know me...it was sad.    When my mum called me to tell me of her death, my first response was....oh...OK.  We talked briefly and hung up..  I sat at my desk in my dorm, suddenly remembering all the memories of her when I was a child.  I called my mum back.....she had just booked my train ride home....she knew I would come.

We arrived at the funeral home and her coffin was draped in roses.  However, she always wore a perfume that smelled strongly of carnations.  Even thru the funeral home roses, I could smell her.  It was comforting.  The first hymn was an unusual arrangement of the Psalm 23 called Brother James Air. It was one of the first choir pieces I learned in grade 2.  Suddenly my sister and I got hiccups at the same time....we had not been laughing or even talking...it was in the middle of the service.  Giggles broke out.....we knew Rose was there causing them.  After the service, we went to my aunt's apartment for a Celebration of Life. Stories were told and there was a lot of laughing.