Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 56 - The Advantages of Planning Ahead

Despite how difficult it was emotionally for all involved to make the final arrangements for Ruth and Mr. Simms, actually going through the motions of having them laid to rest didn't take all that long. Ruth's funeral was held in Oakland on the Sabbath, just as Reuben and her children planned. Mr. Simms was buried one day later, on Sunday, in the cemetery plot he'd held the deed to since 1937. Following Jewish tradition, those in attendance saw their coffins lowered into the grave and helped to bury them as part of the service.

Ruth's funeral was particularly sad. It was well attended by local friends, a few relatives from the east, people she worked with, and of course the family. Reuben's family was there to support him ... a brother, Melville, and his wife whom Greg had only met twice before, and Susan and the children had never met at all.

For his part, Greg stood with his and Ruth's children, doing his best to support them as they laid their mother to rest. The reception afterwards was formal and traditional, just the way he knew Ruth thought it should be. It seemed ironic to plan such an event to please the deceased, but that's what everyone in the family thought they should do.

Mr. Simms funeral was no less sad for those who attended, but aside from Greg's family, the Siskles, and Reuben, no one else came. Except for Jessie, all his family had passed on, a fact that became evident during their visit to the cemetery where he was buried. To everyone's surprise, Ada Simms, Elias Simms, and Frances Simms were buried right beside him. A few spaces away, Albert Simms, Helen Simms, Ella Simms and Lucy Simms were buried there too. Even Lois and Robby Simms were there, buried beside their parents and beside Robby were Allison and Johnnie. In fact, most of the relatives Jessie had ever heard about in the Simms family were here in the cemetery.

"They have a family plot," Greg observed as they stood beside Mr. Simms's grave following the service, staying for a while after the Siskles left to allow Jessie time to study the many headstones of her family that were there.

"That is so nice," Susan remarked.

"It is, isn't it," Greg said. "Susan, what would you think of doing that too ... adding a family burial plot to the arrangements we made at the funeral home near us last spring?"

"I like the idea. I don't know who else might want to use the plots, but buying several together seems to be a good idea," Susan said.

"Are you really going to do that, Mom?" Matt asked.

"Yes, I think so Matt. Why?" Susan asked.

"Ash has been talking about stuff like that since we got engaged. Her mom bought a lot of plots for their family when her dad died. She's been telling me about it ... but if you buy plots too, I need to talk to her about it to decide what to do," Matt said.

"Decisions about who uses them don't need to be made at the time we buy them," Susan told him.

"They don't?" Matt asked.

"Indeed not, Matthew," Greg said. "You will find as you go through life, when it comes to decisions to be made once you are married, there will be opportunities made available to you from a variety of sources about all sorts of things. What you decide to do about each situation as it comes up is entirely up to you."

"Papa, should I be buried with you?" Jessie asked.

"I think that is a decision you can make when you grow up," Greg told her.

"Grandpa Bobby got buried with his first wife," Jessie observed. "His second wife is over there."

"Yes, he did. Ada was his soulmate, Jessie," Greg said.