Sarah's grandmother's funeral was the day before Jo and her family and friends were due to leave New York. The relatives who came to the visitation included Rachel's sister and their cousins. Jo and Rachel made the introductions.
"This is my husband Doug, my stepson Clay, my daughter Jamie, and my friends Blair, Natalie, and Tootie," Jo began.
"This is my twin sister, Robin Hirsch, our Aunt Claudia, and our cousins Pam Johnson, Jeanette Miller, Olivia Parks, Margaret Simpson, and Ralph Petronski," Rachel continued.
Ralph was tall and slender, with blond hair and very serious looking pale blue eyes. He looked to be about thirty-five. He smiled as he was introduced to Natalie. "Hi."
"Hello." Natalie thought that he was very nice-looking and wondered whether it would matter to him that she was slightly older than he looked to be. What am I thinking? she chastised herself. This is a funeral, for crying out loud!
"So, are you married?" Natalie was so caught up in her own thoughts that she almost didn't hear Ralph's question.
"Nope. You?"
Ralph shook his head. "Do you live around here?" he asked.
"I live in Los Angeles," Natalie told him. He looked disappointed.
"Look, I know this isn't really the appropriate time to ask, but could I call or email you sometime?"
"Sure!" They exchanged cell phone numbers and email addresses, and Ralph promised to be in touch.
"I'm sorry about your aunt," said Natalie.
"That's all right," Ralph replied. "She lived a full life, and we know she's in a better place now."
Jo had never been to a Jewish funeral before and was glad that Natalie was there in case she needed guidance. The rabbi went around and placed a black ribbon onto everyone's shirt or dress. "You're supposed to tear it at the same time everyone else does," Natalie whispered to her, so she did. The the rabbi said the opening prayers, read some passages from the Psalms, and then delivered the eulogy.
"Veronica Wedemeyer was not born Jewish," he began. "She was born to Frank and Peggy Ganz, who were nonreligious, in New York City in 1929. While she was still a very small girl, Frank and Peggy divorced, and Peggy later married Ralph Petronski, who owned a dry cleaning business."
"Veronica was twelve years old when she met Peter Wedemeyer, who was also twelve and was in her class at school. Although their relationship got off to a rocky start at first, they soon became great friends, and within a few years, they realized that they were in love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Although Peter never pressured her to convert, she did so anyway, in an effort to please his parents."
"Peter and Veronica had a long, happy marriage that produced two children, identical twins Rachel and Robin, who were born in 1961. Peter died of a heart attack at the age of eighty in 2009, and Veronica spent the last two years of her life enjoying the fellowship of her children, grandchildren, and other family members while waiting to be reunited with her beloved on the other side. Well, now the two former roller skating buddies are together again at last." Jo was moved to tears by the rabbi's touching words.
Next the cantor sang the "El Malei Rachamim', or Prayer of Mercy, and it was time to go to the cemetery. The family all recited the 'Kaddish' as Veronica was laid to rest beside her husband. A handful of dirt from the land of Israel was thrown into the grave by her son-in-law, Matthew Hirsch.
"Can you sit shiva with us?" Sarah asked Jamie as they were leaving the cemetery.
"What's that?" asked Jamie.
"We'll mourn my grandmother for seven days," Sarah explained.
Jamie shook her head. "I'm sorry, but we have to fly back to New York tomorrow."
"That's all right," said Sarah. "I'll email you soon."
"I didn't know your mother was a convert," Jo said to Rachel.
"Oh, yes! My grandmother never let her forget what a stupid idea she thought it was, either. She never thought much of my father. She was always comparing him negatively to Uncle Stanley."
"How long's your uncle been gone now?"
"About ten years now. My Mom always said he worked himself to death. He did work hard, but he had to. He had a wife and five kids to support. His father, my Mom's stepfather, was the same way."
Savannah accompanied Clay to the airport the following day. The two of them parted tearfully and promised to stay in touch. Doug was much more relaxed on the flight home but nevertheless heaved a huge sigh of relief when the airplane finally touched down. Jo laughed and embraced him.
Natalie had been home for three days when her cell phone rang, and she answered it to hear a slightly familiar male voice. "Natalie? Hi, it's Ralph Petronski. Are you busy right now?"
"Not at all!" Natalie felt her heart beat faster.