For those who haven't heard, Jeff died yesterday, November 16, at around 8:30 P.M. His passing was peaceful, surrounded by Julie, his sister Tracy, and devoted friend Geneva. Tom and Fr. Pat were united in prayer as he passed. He passed in the middle of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, a truly powerful prayer that we can pray anytime, but one that our Lord especially recommends to us  to pray for someone in their final moments.

On behalf of our entire family, thank you to everyone who has supported us through this process. It's been long and painful, but so grace-filled. Both Tom and I said that we woke up today feeling a joy we haven't felt in some time. Part of that, no doubt, is relief that this ordeal is finally behind us. But a larger part is the trust that we have in our Lord's providence and mercy. He truly loves us and provides for our needs. 

Please know that dad loved each and every one of you. There are simply no words that can adequately express his and our gratitude for everyone who has prayed for us, reached out, checked in, mowed the grass, installed a new sidewalk, brought a meal, helped drive to Sioux City and back, sent gifts...you name it. Jeff was humbled by so much generosity sent his way. He repeatedly said, "I don't deserve any of this. What have I ever done for anyone?"

But in the same breath, we have to also acknowledge that so many have reached out to help because of the impact that my dad had in their lives. He was but a simple family man who got up everyday to go to work and provide for us. But simply by being that family man, by loving his wife and raising his sons, in that daily work at Hy-Vee, he touched more lives than we ever could have imagined. Again, if you're reading this blog, please know that he loved you.

Though I can never say for sure, because I'm not God, I have every confidence that my dad died in a state of grace and is resting comfortably with our Lord, or soon will be as we pray him through purgatory.

The reason I wasn't able to be at my dad's side as he passed away was because I had long ago committed to helping with a retreat this weekend. I spoke with my mom and discerned in prayer that this was where God wanted me to be, and where my dad would have wanted me to be. So many times over the last eight months he told me, "Don't worry about me. You focus on your job. God called you to be a priest. That's what you need to do." And so, I upheld my commitment to be the spiritual leader for six high school girls taking a deeper step in their interior lives. (Please pray for them!)

I was leading a holy hour with them and their two adult leaders last night, knowing that my dad was in his final moments. As I knelt in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord seemed to put a vision in my mind that I want to share here. I could see my dad on his bed with Satan and a myriad of demons flying around him, trying to snatch his soul at the last moment. But also in the vision were an angel from each of the nine choirs, including his guardian angel and St. Michael. St. Joseph, the Terror of Demons, was there, as was the Blessed Virgin Mary, who crushes the head of the serpent, as foretold in the Protoevangelium, the first proclamation of the Gospel, in Genesis 3: 15. They came to my dad in his final battle, because he was faithful to them in life. He was faithful to daily prayer, including the Rosary and the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel. It shouldn't surprise us that they were faithful to him. Now, was that a real vision? Or was it my imagination? I don't know. And I don't have the authority to say. But I know that our Lord is faithful, and when we call on Him and the entire heavenly court, they respond.

Please pray for Jeff's happy repose and for our family. We rejoice today that his earthly suffering is over and in the "sure and certain hope" of his salvation. But difficult days will no doubt come. That first Christmas, birthday, Father's Day, etcetera without him here will be hard, but the wonderful promise of our faith is that this life is truly passing away. This life is but a foretaste of the glory to come. And assuming we all respond to God's invitation, we will see our deceased loved ones (including Jeff) again.

His services are as follows:

Monday, November 27--visitation from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake, Iowa. There will be a funeral vigil at 7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, November 28--Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake, Iowa with burial to follow at St. Mary's cemetery

In an interesting coincidence, Jeff died the day before his dad (November 17) and will be buried on the anniversary of his mother's death (November 28).

https://youtu.be/dsL7q_zl6IQ?si=lFzbV2R8hsjiAXhv