Chapter 36
The second Sunday of October, Jessica woke up an hour early than normal. A gut feeling startled her out of her dreams, she didn't know what was causing it, but it wasn't good. Unable to get back to sleep, she started her daily routine before she left her house to mow the lawn of an elderly couple lawns and weed three gardens.
After lunch, she rode her bike to the rest home like as she always did. When Jessica arrived, she noticed the sad look on the residents and the staff. Clenching her jaw, she walked down to the living room to see her great-grandfather, but he wasn't there. She walked down to his room to find the door closed.
With a frown, she opened the door to see a doctor and a nurse there, they turned to Jessica giving her space to look at her great-grandfather who was lying in bed. She stepped forth when she noticed he was pale. With a fear-stricken face, she looked up to the Doctor who placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
"No. He can't be," Jessica told the Doctor.
"Are you family?"
"Yes, I'm...Jessica Bird, his great-granddaughter. What happened?"
"He passed away this morning. It was his heart, I'm sorry for your loss," she shook her head
"No, it can't be. Why today?" the Doctor managed to move her to a chair and she sat down in it.
"What do you mean, Jessica?" she looked up at him.
"We had plans today. I was going to take him to the cemetery..." the Doctor frowned.
"My great-grandmother passed away thirty years ago today. And I take him to her grave three times a year, her birthday, there wedding anniversary and... like today," Jessica cried as she looked at her great-grandfather. Then she looked up at the doctor "What time did he..."
"Twelve minutes past seven this morning, why?"
"That was the time I woke up with a gut feeling. I knew something bad happened or was going to happen," she turned to her great-grandfather.
"We will leave you alone with him. Sorry for your loss, Jessica." The Doctor said before leaving the room.
Many of the residents went to see Jessica while she was with her great-grandfather. They told her different stories about him and how he always enjoyed her visits.
"Have you called my family?" she asked to the first staff member who had joined her.
"I've tried, there's no reply. Your grandfather asked me to give this to you," she said giving Jessica before she left her alone. Sighing she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
'Jess, by now you would have been told of my death. I know it will be a shock to you, but I know you can move on from this and follow your dreams and become a qualified medic and chef for the Navy. I'm proud of what you have done and accomplished so far.
Don't give up your dream.
You might not know that your great-grandmother was working for the Red Cross during World War One. And she also was a nurse during World War Two and the Korean War. I met your great-grandmother in 1918, we both were sixteen and on a ship HMAT (His Majesty's Australian transport) Wandilla. I was in the navy and posted on there.'
'I met Jessica in July 1918, when the ship was on its way to Europe to pick up wounded Australian and New Zealand soldiers and return home. We got married a year later, while she was training to be a nurse and I was still in the navy. We didn't see each other much during World War Two; it was hard not only for us but for the family. I retired at the end of the war as Warrant Officer and worked in a factory until 1970 when I retired. She retired two years later.
You look so much like Jessica, black hair and your eyes and smile. When you were born, and I held you for the first time, your parents were arguing over a name for you and opened your eyes, and I whispered Jess. Your parents looked at me like I had gone crazy. I shrugged and said that you looked like Jessica. And that's why you are named after her, in case they haven't told you.
Jess, after what happened last Christmas with the family, I've decided to change my will. I don't want a funeral, since I ... we know that the family won't show up. But the staff will be putting on a morning tea the same day of my burial which will be three days after my death. I'm going to be buried with my beloved Jessica.
One day, you will meet someone special and fall in love and get married. It might be a male nurse or some guy in the navy. Whoever he is, make sure he understands and respects you, not just as a wife but a woman in the navy. I know you are going to miss coming here to visit me.
There's only one thing I ask of you, Jessica. Keep coming here on Sunday afternoons to visit the other residents, some of them have no family or friends, but they enjoy chatting with you even if it was only a few minutes each week. Can you do that for me, please?
I love you Jess and thank you for loving, caring and visiting me. You made these last couple years memorable. Take good care of yourself and do the best you can in your work. I wish you all the best in your dreams and career.
Love from your great Grandfather Donald Murphy,' Jessica looked over to her great-grandfather with tears in her eyes.
"I love you too, grandfather and I will keep coming here to visit as you ask me to. I'm going to miss you," she folded the letter, and as she was placing it in the envelope, there was a knock on the door.
"Sorry, Jessica. The mortuary people are here," Jessica stood up and walked out the door when she saw two men in suits with a gurney.
"Sorry for your loss, ma'am."
"Thank you," Jessica watched as they push the gurney into the room and move the body from the bed and onto the gurney. Then they closed and zipped the bag and strapped the body before taking it away. Jessica followed them out to their wagon and watched them until the wagon is long gone.
One of the staff members placed her arm around Jessica's shoulder before they turned around and walked inside the home. They walked into the dining area where Jessica sat down at one of the tables while one of the other staff showed up with a cup of tea
"Here, Jessica. Drink this."
"Thank you."
"Would you like for us to try calling your family again?"
"No, I'll tell them," she said before she sipped the tea.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Jessica thought for a minute then she looked around then to the two women
"Yes. Can you find out when my grandfather is going to be buried?"
"Sure, why?"
"He said he didn't want a funeral but a morning tea in remembrance of him in three days' time."
"Yes, we know about that."
"I want to give my great grandfather a funeral. If the weather is fine and the residents want to say their final farewells to him..." they smiled.
"We understand, we will help take care of everything."
"Thank you."
They talked for a while until Jessica left and biked to the store across the road from the cemetery. She brought some flowers before going to her great grandmother's grave.
"Grandmother, Grandfather is joining you in three days, and you both will be reunited once again."
After spending some time there, she biked back home. When she arrived, her family was in the living room watching rugby, she walked over and turned the TV off.
"Jessica! Turn that back on!" Her father yelled, she turned around with tears rolling down her cheek. "Didn't you hear what I said? Turn the TV back on!" Her father yelled as he stood up and step forth to turn the TV back on but she stood in the way "Get out of the way."
"NO," Jessica said
"You'll do as you are told," he said angrily.
"Grandfather died this morning," Her father froze in shock
"What? Why didn't they call?"
"They tried, but no one answered"
"Dad, the rugby." One of the sons said Jessica, step around her father
"I got some bad news."
"Can it wait until after the rugby?" her other brother asked
"Grandfather died this morning."
"What?" her mother said in shock
"It was his heart; the staff tried calling."
"I'll call the others," her mother said as she stood up and walk into the kitchen.
After that, Jessica went to her bedroom where she started crying. Over the next couple of days, Jessica was quiet at school; she wasn't her normal self. On Tuesday afternoon, her English teacher held her back after class while the rest left for lunch.
"Jessica, are you ok? You haven't been yourself in the past couple of days."
"Sorry, Mrs. Brown. My great-grandfather passed away on Sunday."
"Oh! Jessica, I'm sorry for your loss. I know you two were close, any idea when the funeral is?"
"Tomorrow, I might not be in school."
"Just make sure the school gets a note from your parents to explain it."
"Mum was calling this morning."
"Alright then, I'll let you go."
"Thank you."
The next morning, Jessica rode her bike to the rest home. When she arrived there, she noticed there were many cars.
"Jessica," one of the staff members called her over.
"Hi, Jane, what's going on here?"
"Come with me," Jessica followed Jane down to her office.
"It was in yesterday's paper; we had a lot of phone calls asking when the funeral was."
"You told them?"
"Yes, but I didn't know until yesterday afternoon when your grandfather lawyer showed up that your grandfather didn't want a funeral."
"Yeah. Too late by the looks of thing," Jane smiled
"Yes, they all know when the burial is going to be and where " Jessica nodded Jane stood up and walked over to a shelf the return with a box
"Here, these are your grandfather belongings. If you want to look through them."
"Thank you."
"If you need anything, let me know."
"Thank you, Jane." Then Jane walked out of the office leaving Jessica alone.
She opened the box and inside she found several boxes, opening one she was shocked to find two victory crosses, 1914-1918 Victory metal Mercantile Marine war medal and Naval General Service medal from World War One. Next to them was 1939 – 1945 star, The Atlantic Star, the Africa Star, The Pacific star, 1939-1945, Defence Metal, Austrian active Service metal 1945-1975. Australia service medal, Australian Active service medal. Naval General Service medal for World War Two and a centenary medal.
She placed the box down and searched inside the big one and pulled out different items, including a eulogy letter. Jessica sat down as she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. She read what it said and realized it was her great-grandfather eulogy. When she finished reading it, she noticed it had the previous year date. She folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. Before she continued rummaging. An hour later, Jane walked back inside her office.
"Are you ok?" she asked
"Yes"
"Everyone's heading to the cemetery; I can drive you there."
"Thank you," Jessica stood up and followed Jane out of the rest home and over to her car. Ten minutes later they parked in a family reserved spot since Jessica said, "you can park there."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Once Jane parked her car they both got out and walked through the gates and down to where everyone else was. When they got there, a Minister walked over to them
"Jessica Bird? I'm Revered Craig, my condolences for your loss."
"Thank you."
"If you follow me, there's a seat for you," Jessica followed the reverend to where the coffin was.
She saw the empty seat, so she walked over to where a table that got her great-grandfather photo on it is, opening the box she was carrying with her, she pulled out the medals she had found and placed them in front of the photo before walking to her seat.
"Good morning, I'm Revered Craig. We are here to say our farewells to Donald James Murphy."
Jessica looked at the coffin while tears were falling down her checks. She looked around to see some people from the rest home and other old men and women whom she didn't know. She noticed that none of her family was there, just like what her grandfather said in his letter. Towards the end of the service, the minister asked if there was anyone who wanted to share a few words. Jessica stood up.
"I'm Jessica Bird...Donald is, was my great-grandfather. There are several stories I could share with you all, but it would take too long. Instead, I'll read this eulogy that my grandfather wrote," she opened the letter and took a deep breath.
"Donald James Murphy born on September tenth, 1901. The youngest of ten children, his parent's Mark Albert Murphy and Jessica Mary Smith, came from Ireland in 1876 and settled down in Melbourne as a newlywed couple. When he was sixteen, he left school and home to join the navy and the war. In 1918, while serving on the HMAT Wandilla," she looked up at everyone,
"HMAT stands for 'His Majesty's Australian transport," she explained remembering her letter.
"When he was on the Wandilla, he meet sixteen years old Jessica Mary O'Connell a Red Cross worker who was training to become a nurse. They got to talk while the ship was heading towards Europe with army troops and returning with Australian and New Zealand wounded.
At the end of the war, Donald and Jessica married on February fourteen, 1919. On January fifth, 1920 their first son, John Donald was born. Donald stayed on HMAT Wandilla until 1921, then he was on a shore posting for a year where he was promoted to Able Seamen. They bought their home on 16 Victoria street in July 1920.
In 1922, Donald was Transferred to HMAS Anzac while he was on a three months patrol, Jessica gave birth to their second son, Mathew Robert, on the twenty-second of July, 1922. On October the first, 1923, their first daughter, Sarah Alice, was born. And on January twenty, 1925, Jessica gave birth to twins, Joe and Janet. Donald made a lot of friends while on HMAS Anzac and even played matchmaker between some of Jessica's single girlfriends and his friends and crewmates." She said with a small smile then said
"On April twenty-nine, 1927, George Kerry was born. He was their last child. Jessica had a difficult pregnancy, and she had a hemorrhage after giving birth. She had a hysterectomy to save her life.
In 1930, Donald was promoted to Leading Seamen and was transferred to HMAS Adelaide until 1935 where he was posted to HMAS Kooronga. In there, he did some extra training until 1942 where he was promoted to Petty Officer and was called away to war.
During the war, he was on HMAS Napier and joined the eastern British fleet and then the south Atlantic operations in 1944. And from there until the end of the war he joined the British Pacific fleet. When they returned home, he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and retired in 1949 as a Warrant officer."
Jessica raised her eyebrows once again and looked up at every one before returning to her letter. "A month after his retirement, Donald joined the Return service association, Melbourne boat club, Australian coast guard where he served as a skipper for five years. Then worked part-time for them while he was working at Johnson carpet factory until 1970 when he retires from the factory and semi-retired as a skipper. He became a radio operator two days a week for the coast guard. In 1978, Donald became the President of the Melbourne Coast Guard until 1988. He also was the president of the Melbourne RSL from 1974 to 1990.
Every Saturday, Donald, and his friends put money together to buy petrol, food, drinks and bait since one of their friends had a boat. They spent the day fishing and every time he returned home to get in trouble with Jessica because his fishing trip took an hour too long. Both Jessica and Donald joined several clubs during the years, card club, indoor and outdoor bowling, tennis club and golf. They went to the RSA on every Saturday night for dinner, dancing and catching up with friends.
In October tenth, 1974; Jessica, his wife of fifty-five years, passed away from a stoke she had two weeks early." Jessica wiped her tears with a hanky.
"Donald keep himself busy in the garden where they used to grow their vegetables and fruit trees. He still went fishing with his friends as well still play indoor and outdoor bowls. In 1995, Donald moved into Melbourne retirement rest home after seventy-five years living in the same house where he and Jessica brought up their six children.
I
n 2000 Donald became a lifetime member of the Australian coast guard, Australian return service Legue, and Melbourne boat club. Every year, Donald attended Anzac-day parade it didn't matter what the weather was like, he was there walking with other soldiers, sailors from the other wars. Every year he tells the young generation a story or two about what he did during the two wars and how he received his medals.
Donald passed away on a calm Sunday morning, on October, the tenth, 2004. Thirty years to the date after his beloved wife Jessica passed away. Donald Murphy was the last remaining sailor from the ships he served on during World War One and Two. He leaves behind two of his living children, nineteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren." Jessica sniffles using her hankie to wipe her tears away