This past weekend we held a double funeral and memory service for our Sisters Dorothy and Mary Bernard, both of whom died on December 21, one in the morning and one in the evening. They were truly very touching and special experiences, in as much as the memories and stories and liturgies surrounding the events were uplifting, prayerful and consoling. One of the most asked questions, however, was: Have you ever had two deaths on the same day before? The answer is, yes. Five years ago in January 2015, Sr. Audrey B. and Sr. Claire H. both died on the 26th. Claire had been on a long, long cancer journey but Audrey's death was a sudden, total system shut down, so to speak, the source of which and the suddenness of which was shocking. Other big differences were that they both died in a hospital, St. V's and Hamot, and that they were in their early 70s, very active and involved. Mary B. and Dorothy were 90 and 88 respectively.
This answer is not over yet.
Back in 1971 two blood sisters died in a car accident in California, along with their parents. I believe one was in her late 30s, the other in her 40s. The sisters who were here for this, recalled it this weekend with great sadness in their memories as they told us that they had all four caskets here for viewing, which then continued at their home parish here in Erie.
So, unusual as it was, it was not a first.
Personally, in my experiences I now value the deaths and following funeral and burial rituals of our sisters to be in the category of great privilege. To be part not only of daily life with these women, but then to be a part of the ending of that earthly life and the "beginning" of the next, is truly special, very humbling and always quite miraculous.
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