Anniversary - In Memoriam

On Sunday 28 Septembre 2014 is the first anniversary of the death of my mother who a year ago entered immortality. It was after a long illness, 14 years of decline to Alzheimer. The end came quickly early on that morning a year ago. I had gone out for errands and when I came home Will simply said, I am sorry, your sister called from Montreal, I knew immediately that Mom had died. He did not have to say more. I was surprised, though the end was near we had been warned by the doctors, but yet I did not expect it, Death is like the visitor you really do not expect, who simply shows up. I am just happy for her that she simply slipped away in her sleep. That is what she always wanted.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Sebastiano Ricci, 1659-1734, Resurrection

I chose the music for her requiem Mass and this piece by Fauré, I know she would have liked. Here Philippe Jaroussky sings the Pie Jesu.

dopo, après

Today is an odd day for me, the 25 march marks the date my paternal grandfather died in 1955 at 48 years old. He was a police detective and had been involved in all the big organized crime investigations in the 1940's. He died on a cold very windy winter night not so unusual back then as he walked to the Police Station just a few steps away from his home, he apparently had a serious heart condition but never mentioned it to anyone. The sad part for him was that he ended up at the City Morgue a place he dreaded. He left a widow and 5 boys.

Those were the days before social programs and pensions etc.... in Canada.

I was born a year later so I got his name Laurent in his memory.
One day is my birthday and the next his my grandfather's anniversary of his death. My mother always thought it strange that I was born so close to that anniversary. I was also baptized in my mother's family church in Ville Saint-Laurent, so I was destined to carry that name.


Here are pictures of my birthday cake from Thimblecakes in Ottawa. A wonderful place for cakes such talent.  thimblecakes.ca

Moka cake my favourite!