  the wake and the funeral were distressing affairs. tons of people came to pay their respects to john’s grandfather. he was very well known in the community, even mayor menino came. everytime i saw someone crying, i would start crying.
they had a bagpiper performing outside of the church where the service was held. he grew up in that church, which was located around the corner from the house that he lived in all his life. the line of cars in the procession stretched far while we were escorted by three state police cars and several police motorcycles. the day was full of telling stories and tales about this great man. john’s grandpa was a class act. i only met him a few times since john and i have been together, but you could tell he was a kind and gentle man. he never cussed in his 94 years of life. he loved his family, his house, the neighborhood, his garden and the beach.
he was laid back, funny, loving and had a huge heart. you can see that all of those characteristics have been passed on to his 6 children, down to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. there will be a huge hole in their lives and the many others that he touched. the family christmas party won’t be the same because he won’t be there to play santa, but his memory will live on in everyone’s hearts. 
