Saturday, July 15, 2006

My Grand-niece

The Funeral
A eulogy for Mary Rose Bernstein and her boyfriend Robert Conway was held in the auditorium of Evergreen High School. The auditorium seats about two hundred. Every seat was full and another fifty or so were standing in the aisles, and some in the lobby. There are not that many people in the world who would recognize my name, let alone take the time to attend my funeral. Even at her family's home there were seventy people crammed into a house that would comfortably accomodate twenty standing guests.

Usually eulogy is hyperbole for people who are, like almost everyone, ordinary. Mary Rose seems to have been magnetic and had lots and lots of friends, and gotten the attention of acquaintances in a way that few people do.

She was a junior majoring in molecular biology at UC Santa Cruz.

Mary Rose in her short life was a big success to have touched so many.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:58 PM

    Ah the definition of a successful life. It never was "the one who has the most toys when they die wins." It's the one who has the most love wins at life. It must have been a comforting feeling for your family to see how loved your niece was.

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  2. Anonymous5:50 PM

    my thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and the rest of Mary's family.

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  3. Thank you, Lee S, for your kind words.

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  4. Anonymous11:44 AM

    you are welcome. Mary was a beautiful and gifted young woman.
    This is such a senseless tragedy. my heart goes out to you and the rest of her family.

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  5. Anonymous4:19 PM

    Jack, I am so sorry.

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