Retired Army Col. Norbert Otto Schmidt

“My mom’s never going to recover from the thought of my dad being dumped in some alleyway someplace.” –Carol Schmidt

Just when I think I’ve heard everything, I hear something that changes my mind.

Today we welcome into the club nobody wants to join, Donna Schmidt, wife of Retired Army Col. Norbert Otto Schmidt.

On August 4, 2009, in Satellite Beach, FL, Donna’s husband died. He was 83.

In 1949, Col. Schmidt graduated West Point, he served in the Korean War as a member of the 65th Engineers and received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. Col. Schmidt had a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Harvard and a PhD at the Uiversity of Illinois.

Later, he became an engineering professor at the University of Missouri in Rolla.

On November 13, Col. Schmidt was set to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery–But–

Someone broke into the family’s rented van parked outside the hotel they were staying at and stole the urn with the Col’s ashes in it.

On the long list of ugly, this one rockets to the top.

Family members offer a $1,000 cash reward.

To Donna Schmidt, the entire Schmidt family, Griefcase extends its condolences and wishes for mourning joy all the days of your lives.

After we honor Him, do what I do–open what I lovingly refer to as a joy-nal and write something. Go ahead. I dare you.

Mourning Quote:

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” –John Lennon

Mourning Joy:
Q: What is alive and has only 1 foot?

A: A leg

Have a joyful day, and remember, we’re not alone.

L

Mike Monsoor – 4/5/1981 – 9/29/2006

Navy Petty Officer, PO2 Petty Officer, Second Class)
EOD2 (Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Second Class)
“MIKE MONSOOR”
April 5th, 1981 ~ September 29th, 2006

Mike Monsoor, was awarded “The Congressional Medal Of Honor” last week for giving his life in Iraq as he jumped on and covered with his body a live hand grenade that was accidentally dropped by a Navy Seal, saving the lives of a large group of Navy Seals that was passing by!

During Mike Monsoor’s Funeral, at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, in San Diego, California, the six pallbearers removed the rosewood casket from the hearse. Lined up on each side of Mike Monsoor’s casket, were his family members, friends, fellow sailors, and well-wishers. The column of people continued from the hearse, all the way to the grave site.

What the group didn’t know at the time was, every Navy Seal (45 to be exact) that Mike Monsoor saved that day was scattered throughout the column!

As the pallbearers carried the rosewood casket down the column of people to the grave side, the column would collapse, which formed a group of people that followed behind.

Every time the rosewood casket passed a Navy Seal, he would remove his gold Trident Pin from his uniform, and slap it down hard, causing the gold Trident Pin to embed itself to the top of the wooden casket!

Then the Navy Seal would step back from the column, and salute!

Now for those (And Me) who do not know what a Trident Pin is or what it looks like, here is the definition and a photo.

After one completes the Basic Navy Seals Program, which lasts for three weeks, and is followed by Seal Qualification Training, which is 15 more weeks of training necessary to continue improving basic skills and to learn new tactics and techniques required for an assignment to a Navy Seal Platoon.

After successful completion, trainees are given their Naval Enlisted Code, and are awarded The Navy Seal Trident Pin.

With this gold pin they are now officially Navy Seals!

It was said that you could hear each of the 45 slaps from across the cemetery!

By the time the rosewood casket reached the grave site, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from the 45 Trident Pins that lined the top!

Griefcase extends eternal gratitude, sincerest condolences, and best wishes for mourning joy to every member of the Monsoor family.

Mourning Joy:

Something I learned from my son when he was a boy:

No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.

Mourning Quote:

Anything that you tolerate, stays with you. –Cool J

After we remember Him, do what I do–fingerhug your pen. Open what I lovingly refer to as a Joy-nal, and write something. ‘

Go ahead.

I dare you!

Have a joy-filled day, Everyone! And just remember, we’re not alone.

L

Patrick Swayze – August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009

“I keep dreaming of a future with a long and healthy life, a life not lived in the shadow of cancer, but in the light…I dream that the word ‘cure’ will no longer be followed by the words ‘is impossible.’” –Patrick Swayze

Good Mourning, Everyone!

Today we honor the memory of Patrick Swayze, famous star of Dirty Dancing, and welcome into the club nobody wants to join, his widow, Lisa Niemi.

Patrick died September 14, 2009 with family by his side.

He leaves wife, Lisa, extended family, celebrities, and celebrated fans to mourn his passing.

He was age 57. He and Lisa were married 34 years.

To Patrick’s wife, Lisa Niemi, Griefcase extends deepest sympathies and best wishes for mourning joy all the days of your life.

Mourning Joy:

What is Count Dracula’s favorite food?

A necktarine!

Mourning Quote:

“What is there that forgiveness cannot achieve?” –Vidura

After we remember Him, why not write something.

Set a clock-timer for ten, pick up a fast writing pen, open what I lovingly refer to as a joy-nal and write like the wind.

Go ahead.

I dare you!

And remember, we’re not alone.

Thomas Occhiogrosso – 1982 – 2009

“I don’t believe what’s happened.” –Erin Occhiogrosso

Today we welcome into the club nobody wants to join, newly-widowed, Mrs. Erin Occhiogrosso, wife of Thomas Occhiogrosso.

Erin’s husband was run down while crossing Hempstead Parkway in Long Island. He was 27 years old and had served 2 tours of duty in Iraq with the U. S. Navy.

Erin is left with their daughter, Cecelia, age 2.

To Erin, daughter, Cecelia, and every member of the Occiogrosso family, Griefcase extends sincere condolences and best wishes for mourning joy all thedays of your lives.

Mourning Quote:

“God Bless Them All.” –Taken from a large steel beam recovered at Ground Zero.

Mourning Joy:

Q: How do you make an instant elephant?

A: Open the package, add water, and run!

After we remember Him, do what I do. Set a clock timer for ten, open what I lovingly refer to as a joy-nal, and write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day, Everyone.

And just remember, we’re not alone.

xxoo:)L

Happy Birthday Edward Louis Sclier

“…What a kicker. We don’t have a choice.” –Edward Louis Sclier

Today is Ed’s birthday. As memories goldened by days gone by fill my brain, I can’t help but ask the deafening question: What if?.

It is 5 years, 2 months, 23 days since I buried the best friend a girl ever had. I remember Ed’s last birthday here, the one we shared before his death. We had no idea he was so ill. But that hot humid evening in 2003 when Ed stepped through the front door from his long day at the office, I recall vividly the twinkle in his eyes and the blush in his cheeks when I presented him with a chocolate birthday cake inscribed, “Happy Birthday, Ed” and threw my arms around him. “We made it,” I said, referring to our longstanding plan, the one where we promised joint retirement from our day jobs, the one where we planned to spend the rest of our days traveling, gardening, writing, and taking time to savor a morning cup of coffee–together.

Today, as I sit sipping coffee, eyes raised to a sunrise and fingerhugging my pen, I’d like to think Edward Louis Sclier is standing over a long line of tomato plants, admiring the fruits of his labor.

*coffee mug raised high to the sky*

Here’s to you, Honey. Happy Birthday!

Eunice Kennedy Shriver – 1921-2009

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Today we honor the memory of famous widow, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She died August 11, 2009 at age 88.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver was married to Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. in 1972. Robert Sargent Shriver was U. S. Ambassador to France from 1968-1990, and was U. S. vice presidential candidate in 1972. They had 5 children: Robert III, Maria, Timothy, Mark, and Anthony.

In the 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics. Her life was devoted to helping establish numerous health-care facilities, researching causes of mental retardation, and ways to treat it.

To the family and friends of Mrs. Shriver, Griefcase extends profound sympathy and sincere wishes for mourning joy all the days of your lives.

Mourning Quote:

“As a man lives and thinks, so will he write.” –John Galsworthy

Mourning Joy:

Q: What do you call an empty jar of Cheeze Whiz?

A: Cheeze Whuz.

After we remember Him, do what I do. Open what I lovingly refer to as a Joy-nal, set the clock timer for ten, fingerhug your pen, and write something.

Go ahead. I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day, and just remember: we’re not alone.

Linda Della Donna
“…And sometime when I wasn’t looking, I got a new life.”

Maharani Gayatri Devi – Died July 29, 2009

“There is an irreducibly private dimension to real grief, a point at which one’s own words and the kind intentions of others all run to ground and we can only bear what follows in silence. And that silence is not a bad thing; it’s a measure of respect, for oneself and for what is lost, as well as an acknowledgment of the hard things we all must bear on our own eventually.”

Steve Perry, A Minneapolis Writer

Good Mourning, Widows, Widowers, and anybody else out there missing and mourning a loved one.

Welcome to the club nobody wants to join–Ever!

Today we honor Maharani Gayatri Devi, widow of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. Their famous courtship and subsequent marriage is legendary. The Maharani’s husband died June 24, 1970 after a polo accident in England. After his death, Gayatri Devi went on to become an extremely successful politician. In 1962, she ran for Parliament, winning by a landslide. Known for her classic beauty and often compared to Jackie Kennedy for her poise and celebrity, Gayatri Devi died July 29, 2009 at age 90.

Mourning Joy:

What type of phone does a turtle use?

A shell phone.

After we remember Him, do what I do–Open what I lovingly refer to as a JOY-nal, fingerhug your pen, and write something.

Go ahead.

I dare you.

Have a joy-filled day, Everyone!

And just remember, we’re not alone.

xxoo:)L

Farrah Fawcett – 1947 – 2009

Michael Jackson – 1958-2009

Dora Silveria – February 8, 2009 – Age 77

Today, Griefcase lights a candle for Dora Silveria, wife, mother, grandmother, humanitarian, and friend.

I met Dora in 2007. It was at a party.

How special for me.

I was on the arm of my new friend, and I remember feeling uneasy–I had just relocated, just moved into a new community, and here I was meeting new people.

Dora welcomed me with warmth, friendship, and sincere non-judgmental affection. I will never forget Dora, and will always remember her smile, her gentle touch, her electric eyes and most of all her shock of white hair.

What a blessing that our paths crossed.

Let the world know this writer is grateful sincerely for the memory.

To Dora’s husband, Dick; daughter, Ricki V. Silveria and her husband, Michael Spruill; daughter, Danette L. Fernandez and her husband, Wilfredo; son, Kent B. Silveria and his wife, Patricia, and her beloved grandsons, Douglas and Curtis Silveria and Austin and Eric Fernandez, Griefcase extends sincere condolences and best wishes for mourning joy all the days of your lives.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found peace at the end of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy!
A love shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah yes! These things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I’ve savored much,
good friends, good times,
a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now, HE SET ME FREE!

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