Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer, Summit. --Supplied photo

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By Tim Hadac

Editor

Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound

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As a news reporter who started out professionally in 1984, I’ve covered any number of stories involving death and the fear of dying—usually packed with emotion, sometimes so close (to cite one example) I felt the breath of parents at a candlelight vigil, frantic to find their missing son, who days later turned up dead.
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I’ve also covered services of remembrance, including the events held every November/December at funeral homes to honor the lives of all who died in that calendar year.

But it was always someone else’s fear, someone else’s grief. And as a reporter, you become numb—to a point, that is—mostly to protect yourself and stay focused on your job: telling the stories of others.

So a few months back, when I was for the first time invited to a service of remembrance not as a news reporter but as a husband, I somehow did not make the connection that this one would be different.

In fact, I took it lightly—so much so that when the personalized invitation came from Foran Funeral Home, I set it aside and more or less forgot about it for several weeks. When the “day of” came last month, I started making excuses why I would skip the early-afternoon event.

Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer, Summit. –Supplied photo

But I changed my mind at the last minute and went with my younger daughter.

The program was held in the east parlor at Foran, 7300 W. Archer. The room was packed, yet comfortable: nearly 70 men, women and children honoring the lives of 26 departed loved ones of all ages.

Other than my daughter, I recognized no one else in the room except for perhaps Foran co-owner Sharon Jeninga, whom I’ve known for years not only as a leading businesswoman, but as a longtime, steady supporter of this community’s churches, schools and other organizations.

All 68 of us were seated facing several long tables of framed photographs of our loved ones. The lights went low, candles were lit, names of the departed were said aloud, we all watched a commemorative slideshow and heard useful words of wisdom from Linda Moran, an acclaimed grief counselor brought in by Foran.

But even before the program started, I figured out why I had set the invitation aside, why I had considered avoiding the event. The realization of where I was hit me square in the heart and wrung some tears from me. I remembered the last time I had been at Foran, in 2022. I recalled feeling the warmth of Joan’s hand as we comforted each other and mourned the passing of someone else.

(Joan’s services were also held at Foran, back in May 2023; but I was not there. I was hospitalized with a bacterial infection serious enough to land me in an Intensive Care Unit. I didn’t go home until July.)

Anyway, I see I may be rambling here, which is what I do when I talk about anything relating to Joan, even eight months and five days after her life ended. The nearly 40 years of love she and I shared will do that to me.

Last month’s program ended with closing comments by Sharon Jeninga. I expected a businesslike “Thanks for coming, drive safe, folks” send-off—especially from an experienced funeral director who does this kind of event every year. But Sharon spoke straight from the heart. Her voice wavered and she even shed a few tears herself. It was touching, and I spilled a few more tears in response.

In the end, Foran’s event, which they called “Getting Through the Holidays and Remember- ing With Love,” helped me do exactly that. And for that, Sharon and her team have my gratitude—especially since it was my first without Joan.

I’ve never quite understood Foran to be a place of healing. But I do now.

Mark your calendar

• If you live in central or west Garfield Ridge (everything west of Central Avenue) and want to prevent crime, you are encouraged to attend the next monthly CAPS Beat 811 meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 at Ward Hall, 5157 S. McVicker. Beat meetings are a great way to meet and get to know our frontline police officers, as well as like-minded residents of the community. This meeting also serves as the monthly meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. So please mark your calendar and plan to be there. My thanks to CAPS Beat 811 co-facilitator Marilyn Gilroy for sharing this useful and important information.

• In last week’s edition of the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound, you read about the monthly bingo set for Jan. 14 at the St. Rene Goupil campus at Two Holy Martyrs Parish. Today I bring you news of THM’s Valentine’s-themed bingo, set for Sunday, Jan. 28 at the St. Symphorosa I-Hall, 6148 S. Mason. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., games start at 1:30. Admission is $20 at the door. There will be a chili bar with all the toppings along with the usual fare of hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, chips and beverages. Pull-tabs and split-the-pot will be played, along with bingo. My thanks to Lara Hess for sharing this information.

See you soon, folks.