Bob G’s Funeral & Family Trip to Emmitsburg

February 23, 2004

I have known for several days that I would be going to Emmitsburg today after Bob’s funeral to look at a house. Last night S.C.C. and C.R.C. decided that they were going to go too. When I got up this morning the time was 7:13.

I went down stairs and turned on the computer to print out a copy of the eulogy that I wrote the other day for Bob. When I wrote it the other day (Sat Feb 21 ) I finished it at 2:13 PM. Today all I did was add the words “Eulogy February 23, 2004” at the top of the page. I suddenly felt the sense of peace and I glanced at my watch and the time was 8:33:00.

We left to go to the funeral and on the way I decided to stop for just a minute at the funeral home before going to "Parish Church". We arrived at the funeral home at 9:33. As I looked at Bob for the last time here on earth my mind was flooded with wonderful Emmitsburg memories. I was also filled with sadness because of this chapter coming to a close.

We arrived at "Parish Church" and the funeral mass began at 10 AM. During Fr. ___’s homily I looked up and a halo of light formed around the heads of both The Child Jesus and Mary at the statue in the front of the church. It happened twice. The second time I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:33. When Fr.___ finished his homily I was filled with peace because it was so perfect. The time was 10:33.

When mass was over we drove to the Culpeper National Cemetery and when we arrived the odometer was 3.3. The religious portion of the funeral ended and the military portion began. The time was 11:33.

We then drove home to change clothes and ride to Emmitsburg to meet Ray Hennessee who is a real estate agent and longtime member of the Thursday Night Prayer Group. As we were leaving I glanced at my watch and the time was 12:33:13.

We stopped on the way and ate lunch. We then continued our trip to Emmitsburg and when we arrived at St. Joseph’s I looked at my watch as we walked in the church and the time was 3:13:33. Adoration was in progress. I prayed the rosary for Bob and when I finished I glanced at my watch and the time was 3:33.

We waited for Ray to arrived but he was late. When he did arrive he told us that he got confused and was waiting for us at St. Mary’s. We then rode out to Fairfield and looked at the house. After looking at the house S.C.C. and I decided that this was not the house we were looking for. Ray then said “I don’t think this is the house for you” Just as he said what we already knew I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:33:33.

Ray then left and said he would see us tonight at the Miraculous Medal novena at St. Joseph’s tonight. S.C.C. then wanted to ride around and just look at neighborhoods and houses in the area. We did and then C.R.C. suggested that we go get something to eat before the novena. We drove back to St. Joseph’s and arrived at 6:13.

We got out of the car and we were walking on the sidewalk directly in front of St. Joseph’s when suddenly S.C.C. just stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes started to fill with tears and she said “I am smelling the roses, I want to move here”. I breathed in but did not smell the roses. Just as I thought the roses were just for her I smelled them too. Like always they are unmistakable. Nothing on this earth can come close. C.R.C. did not smell them.

We walked over to the Ott House to eat. While we were waiting for our food fire trucks pulled up to the apartment building that Jim O’Brien lives in because of a small electrical fire. I saw Jim come out so we invited him to join us for dinner. After we ate we all went over to St. Joseph’s for the Miraculous Medal novena. It was especially nice because Fr. Michael Kennedy who was a former pastor at St. Joseph’s during the time of the Thursday Night Prayer Group was the celebrant. When it was over we got in the car to leave and the time was 8:13. We drove home and pulled in the driveway at 10:33.

R_____ C___

February 24, 2004

11:33 Pm