"Lessons in Uncle Jake's Passing"

            Yesterday, my husband and I attended the funeral of his great uncle, a great man. Uncle Jake was 97 years old. Up until the last few years, he was vital. It was only most recently dementia got the best of him. While I only knew him in the way you typically know someone else s great uncle, I came away from the wake and funeral knowing him on a far greater scope than before.
           What I saw and heard about him spoke volumes.  His wake, at 8PM  on Friday night, was still streaming with people. People from the old neighborhood of Lackawanna were present. This was a man who was there when Lackawanna had a certain steel plant that was the heart of the city and thriving. The people of his community, his neighborhood in Orchard Park,where he and Aunt Mary raised their children, were present. The children his children grew up with, were there with their children. They spoke of the home that gladly welcomed them and was always full of good food and fun. He and his wife, Aunt Mary, were the hospitable sort. Laughing loudly telling his stories and openly weeping over their loss, Aunt Mary, his family, and his friends, were there in strong standing, celebrating his life. His brother and his sister, both at least in their eighties, but looking far younger, were present. In my husband's family, they call it coming from strong stock.

       It got me thinking a lot about those older members of our families that do live into their 90's and what  "strong stock" is about.   For Uncle Jake, I believe it had to do with so many things. He had a strong faith; a strong marriage (this would have been year 60 of marriage for he and Aunt Mary); a loving and close relationship with his children, his other family members, and his friends. His sense of humor was legendary. At his 90th birthday party, the family hired a belly dancer to dance at his party. Expressing his gratitude and delight, he said he would say thank you in both Polish and English for those who didn't understand Polish. With a big grin he said," Dziekuje, very much!"  Uncle Jake had an incredible work ethic.This was a man who toiled for many years at the Ford Stamping Plant. When he was  not toiling hard at the plant, it was at home in his garden, in his yard,  or on some sort of machine he had torn apart. When his one daughter ran a florist shop, he worked in her shop helping her. --And this was in his late 80's!!  But it wasn't all work and no play. There was always time for family, friends, a joke, and a story or two.
        While part of coming from strong stock may be lucky genetics, I do believe a great part of it is choice and perspective in life. It is doing those things that make you feel most alive, but having quiet dignity and faith where and when you most need it. It's about connecting to those around you in a meaningful way and both strengthening and being strengthened by your family and friends. This was Uncle Jake. I can only hope and strive to be more like him.