Sleep among the stars

Dry those tears upon the wind

Cry no more sweet girl

At a couple of points in the first run of this website{1}, I made mention of the family death toll. Back in 2009, I mentioned that as of 2006, I had lost thirty odd persons either close family, relatives, close friends, etc. in the prior six years and that I had attended twenty-one funerals. The occasion of that posting was me breaking my "no more funerals" vow to attend two more funerals in 2009.{2} Not long after that, this site was suspended for various reasons and among them was the growing deathtoll. And it did not stop when this site was first suspended. After comparing lists with my mother a few days ago, my list is updated and it is longer than I thought it was. Without further ado...

Virginia Usher (3/2000)*
Art McCann (7/2000)*
Jane Clark (8/2000)*
Mel Clark (5/2001)*

Joyce McCoy (1/2001)-

Richard Dunn McElhinney (6/2001)*

James Dunn McElhinney (8/2001)*

Mary Kanski (9/2001)*

Mark Usher (3/2002)*

Hope Hitchman (3/2002)

David Kanski (5/2002)*

Cindy Greubel (6/2002)*

Annie Sabin (6/2002)*

Joan Lucas (11/2002)

Roy Sabin (12/2002)*

Buddy (1/2003)*

Ed Flynn (1/2004)*

Mel Denny (1/2004)*

Dr. Who (7/2004)*

Chris DiSomma (11/2005)*

Larry Gonczy (12/2005)*

Kathy Hanks (1/2006)

Kathy Edlund (4/2006)*

Sharon Colson (6/2006)

Leo McCann (8/2006)*

Cecilia Flynn (9/2006)*

---Imposed "No More Funerals" vow---

Betty Cribbs (12/2006)-

Ginny Riley (6/2007)

Alice Romanick (7/2007)-

Ann Ripplinger (6/2008)

---Broke "No More Funerals" vow---

Jerry Dykstra (9/2009)*

Don Hellstrom (9/2009)

Willie Romanick (11/2009)-

---Suspended Rerum Novarum---

Louie (5/2010)*

Hattie Denny (9/2010)

Bobby Kanski (3/2011)*

Claudia McElhinney (7/2011)*

Jack DeLisle (11/2011)*

Stan Kanski (1/2012)*

Betty Hale (2/2012)-

---Got married---

Vickie Holdgrafer (8/2012)

Mark Cribbs (8/2012)

---Moved to the Northeast United States---

John Loughnan (12/2013)-

Cutie (2/2014)*

Pat Kane (5/2014)

Sasha (10/2014)

Tristan (3/2015)

Dan Baker (6/2015)-

Kristi Pisano (6/2016)*
Mystery (8/2016)*

Steve Paul (2/2017)

Jim Duma (6/2017)-

Larry Usher (9/2017)

Jim Greubel (10/2017)

Keith McDonald (1/2018)

Vicenzia Barone (1/2018)*

Lanny Johnson (9/2018)

Bill Grossklas (10/2018)-

Mona McDonald (12/2018)-

Dave Altier (5/2019)

Marlene Eiden (6/2019)

Raffaelina Barone (4/2020)**
Frank D. Barone (5/2020)**
Gail Kanski (10/2020)

Gerald Holdgrafer (12/2020)

Patches (12/2021)*

My mothers list is even longer than mine -more than 80 names in the same time period. The starred names are those whose funerals I attended. The ones with dashes I found out about some time afterward. When you go through so many deaths in rapid succession, it is hard to keep track of it all. So in the past nearly 22 years, I have had 65 family, friends, and pets pass on and attended 35 funerals or their equivalents{3} during that time.

In the cases of Raffaelina and Frank Barone there has not been a funeral yet due to Covid but my wife and I oversaw every part of their burials. And Patches my sweet girl was cremated late last week and I will be picking her urn up this morning. She will join Louie, Mystery, and Cutie on my memorial shelf. Which brings me to the point I want to make at this time.

Just as "all glory is fleeting" (cf. George Patton), so too in a certain sense is life. And the time we have for investment in various endeavours is limited. It is good to write material of general usefulness from time to time and even occasionally stuff not as serious. But again time (like glory) is fleeting. We need to ask ourselves periodically if we are really serving others with what we do or if we are merely feeding our own egos.{4}

To continue this site at the present time in lieu of recent events and circumstances would run the risk of me doing what so many others online do; namely, make it a matter of ego and continue on just to continue. There is also the risk of me lashing out at others in ways that would not edify{5} and I cannot in conscience do that. For these reasons, the days of actively publishing material to this site are numbered. 

Notes:

{1} From August 22, 2002 to December 19, 2009.

{2} Of which I was only able to attend Jerry Dykstra's as Don Hellstrom's was held halfway across the state.

{3} The only ones attended since April of 2013 were in the northeast, the ones prior to that were in Washington state west of the Cascades.

{4} I see too much Groundhog Day type reiterations online and elsewhere from people who really are just spinning their wheels uselessly on the same crap day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, etc. And while I have actually made conscious efforts on this site to avoid the groundhog day gibberish common to the pundits, agenda provocateurs, and apologists of various stripes, at the same time, there is still a certain degree of repetition even when one actively tries to avoid it. 

{5} The pain is frankly too much for me right now, worse than it has been in years. 

With Patches' passing

Mystery, Louie, and Doc

Old wounds reopened

💔💔💔💔

My Patches is gone

Off to sleep amongst the stars

My heart is broken

💔😭  

Lying awake now

Petting my lovely Patches

My last night with her

😪

Purgatory Project Names 2021:

Richard Dunn McElhinney
Margaret Dianne McElhinney
Anna Maria McElhinney
Shawn McElhinney
Teresa Marie McElhinney
Frank D. Barone
Raffaelina Barone

Silvana Barone

Bobby Kanski

Sean Donovan

Harry Kanski
Mary Kanski
Paul McElhinney
Mildred McElhinney
Mark Usher
Virginia Usher

Joan Lucas

James Dunn McElhinney
David Kanski

Mark Cribbs

Ed Flynn
Cecilia Flynn
Hugh Dunn

Mel Denny
Hattie Denny

Sharon Colson

Ginny Riley

Steve Paul

Don Hellstrom

Leta Allen

Fr. John Rizzo
Marlene Eiden

Natalie Holderness

Gail Kanski

Ann Ripplinger

Alice Romanick

Sharon Yotter
Lisa Yotter
Bob Kanski

Jessie Kanski

Brent McElhinney 

Denise Leese

Jody McElhinney

Judy Spence

Ann Spence 

Jack Spence 

Claudia McElhinney

Jerry Usher

Larry Usher

Pat Kane

Chris DiSomma
Mic Greubel
Jim Greubel
Cindy Greubel
Kathy Hanks
Shane Rasmussen
Tim Tull
Charles Tull
Dennis Rasmussen

Alicia Chimenti

Bill Walkling

Pauley Perrette
Mike Mentzer
Ray Mentzer
Jack DeLisle
Larry Gonczy
Keith McDonald
Mona McDonald
Michelle Crawford

Melody Walkling

Yvonne Goodwin
Diana Louie Taylor
Marc Taylor
Beth Cleaver
Kender McGowan
Misha Lynn Nicastro
Miki Odendahl
Bob Klaus
Deborah Klaus
Art Sippo

Michael Lopez
F John Loughnan
Fr. Robert Taft SJ
Don Hale

Betty Hale
Linda Hale
Dave Altier
Vangie Altier
Fr. Augustine Hartmann
Fr. Christopher Hunter

Emilio Barone
Fr. Angel Sotelo

Mike Kanski

Mary Jane Kanski
Gwen Stefani
Fr. John Rizzo
Albert King
Albert Collins
Freddie King
Rick Wright

Prayers for the eternal repose of Fr Angel Sotelo.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. 🙏🏻❤️🕊

Today is the 20th anniversary of the passing of my father Richard Dunn McElhinney. If readers could offer some prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, I would appreciate it.

Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Today would have been the 49th anniversary of the birth of my childhood best friend Chris DiSomma who passed on back in 2005. Here are a couple links which reference older material from this site on him:

Chris DiSomma: A Birthday Commemoration Posting (circa May 23, 2018)

Remembering Chris DiSomma: A Simple Man (circa November 23, 2019)

If readers could offer some prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, I would appreciate it.

Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Today is the 19th anniversary of the passing of my uncle David Kanski. If readers could offer some prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, I would appreciate it.

Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

My father in law Frank Barone passed away a year ago this morning. If those who read these words would say a prayer for him, it would be most appreciated.

Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

One year ago, I prayed this prayer for my father in law Frank Barone who was in the hospital. As today would have been his wedding anniversary to my mother on law Raffaelina Barone, I repost it anew at this time and request prayers for the eternal repose of their souls...

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light [Dylan Thomas (published 1951)]

My mother in law Raffaelina Barone passed away a year ago this evening. If those who read these words would say a prayer for her and her family, it would be appreciated.

Eternal rest grant unto her soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon her...May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Points to Ponder:

It has been years since I had a truly bad Lent --last year was not great but all things considered was not bad. I found myself last night when out walking pondering my disgusting Lenten performance this year and it dawned on me that maybe this had to happen.

For often when things go well or pretty well, we can lose perspective to some extent and maybe laying such a stinky egg this Lent was needed to remind me in a fundamental way that there but for His grace go I. 

Or maybe I am just trying to rationalize my own failures.

Or perhaps it is a bit of both?

Today would have been the 80th birthday of my father Richard Dunn McElhinney. If readers could offer some prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, I would appreciate it. For those who do not believe in this ancient custom, then prayers for my mother (who still has difficulties on anniversaries such as this) and the rest of the family would be appreciated.

Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Apmen.

Apostolic Letter Patris Corde of Pope Francis on the 150th Anniversary of St. Joseph Being Made Patron Saint of the Universal Church 

As someone with a personal devotion to St. Joseph, I am looking forward to reading this apostolic letter in full and reflecting on its contents.

Today was our first trip to the mausoleum where my wife's parents are buried since they finished engraving the names. The latter was done a few months back but my wife was not able to visit again after the internment until today. 

Please pray for the eternal repose of the souls of Raffaelina Illiano Barone and Frank Diego Barone.

Eternal rest grant unto their souls oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon them...May their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Purgatory Project Names 2020:

Richard Dunn McElhinney
Margaret Dianne McElhinney
Anna Maria McElhinney
Shawn McElhinney
Teresa Marie McElhinney
Frank D. Barone
Raffaelina Barone

Bobby Kanski

Silvana Barone

Sean Donovan

Harry Kanski
Mary Kanski
Paul McElhinney
Mildred McElhinney
Mark Usher
Virginia Usher

Joan Lucas

James Dunn McElhinney
David Kanski

Mark Cribbs

Ed Flynn
Cecilia Flynn
Hugh Dunn

Mel Denny
Hattie Denny

Sharon Colson

Ginny Riley

Steve Paul

Hugh Dunn

Don Hellstrom

Leta Allen
Steve Paul
Marlene Eiden

Natalie Holderness

Gail Kanski

Ann Ripplinger

Alice Romanick

Sharon Yotter
Lisa Yotter
Bob Kanski

Jessie Kanski

Brent McElhinney 

Denise Leese

Jody McElhinney

Judy Spence

Ann Spence 

Jack Spence 

Claudia McElhinney

Jerry Usher

Larry Usher

Pat Kane
Chris DiSomma
Mic Greubel
Jim Greubel
Cindy Greubel
Kathy Hanks
Shane Rasmussen
Tim Tull
Charles Tull
Daniel Tull

Bill Walkling

Pauley Perrette
Mike Mentzer
Ray Mentzer
Jack DeLisle
Larry Gonczy
Keith McDonald
Mona McDonald
Michelle Bigliatto

Melody Walkling

Yvonne Goodwin
Diana Louie Taylor
Marc Taylor
Beth Cleaver
Kender McGowan
Misha Lynn Nicastro
Miki Odendahl
Bob Klaus
Deborah Klaus
Art Sippo

Michael Lopez
F John Loughnan
Fr. Robert Taft SJ
Don Hale

Betty Hale
Linda Hale
Dave Altier
Vangie Altier
Fr. Augustine Hartmann
Fr. Christopher Hunter

Emilio Barone
Fr. Angel Sotelo
Kevin Tierney
Gwen Stefani
Fr. John Rizzo
Albert King
Albert Collins
Freddie King
Albert Cipriani
Rick Wright

Today is the 19th anniversary of the passing of my father Richard Dunn McElhinney. If readers could offer some prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, I would appreciate it.



Eternal rest grant unto his soul oh Lord and may thy perpetual light shine upon him...May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

As today would have been Chris DiSomma's 48th birthday, I wanted to revisit a couple postings in the archives about him from recent years. Without further ado...

Chris DiSomma: A Birthday Commemoration Posting (circa May 23, 2018)

Remembering Chris DiSomma: A Simple Man (circa November 23, 2019)

You are in my thoughts and prayers always my friend. Rest in Peace!