My dear uncle Gary passed away on 12/26/11. Today we attended his memorial service. My kids remember Uncle Gary as he was for all the years of their lives - physical body failing and living in the VA hospital, but fun-loving and giving. He had carried on my grandmother's tradition of gifting crisp cash at Christmas and enjoyed the smiles of the kids and returned their smiles readily.
The family was able to gather today to celebrate his move to a new life, where he will never worry about physical ailments or the concerns of this life.
His funeral, held at Riverside National Cemetary, was very interesting because it was a military service. The funeral director had also served in the Navy and wanted to honor his fellow Navyman, and helped arrange a more elaborate service. An honor guard team did a rifle volley and played taps. Then, the flag from the casket was folded and given to my cousin (his "next of kin") and many honoring words were shared.
The kids will not soon forget their great uncle, though their times with him were few, and because they received one of the shell casings from his memorial, he is more firmly etched in their memories.
Goodbye Uncle Gary.
baking cookies and delivering them & caroling to the neighbors 
