Sevilla Family Reunion
My cousin Ken passed away on August 14, just three days after his 57th birthday, after years of treatment for metastatic brain cancer. I had been sending him postcards from all the places we visited, so that he could travel with us vicariously. We last saw Ken at the 95th birthday party of his mom, my Tita Pining. He was a gentle soul; kind, funny, and devoted to God and family. I’m sad that his life was too short, and glad he is finally at peace. He had a fast track to heaven, for sure!
Steve and I flew from San Francisco to Milwaukee for the funeral. It’s always wonderful to have a family reunion, but this time it would be bittersweet.
When we arrived in Brookfield, my mom was already there, but the rest of the family wasn’t due for a few hours. We took my mom to Firefly Grove Park to see Mama Rosa, a Thomas Dambo troll. She was 24 feet tall and holding a bouquet of “flowers,” wondering how they grow and why they glow (at night). Dambo’s whimsical giant trolls made from reclaimed materials always lift my spirits! Nearby was a new sculpture called Sacred Rhythm Mother, still being assembled by volunteers, also from reclaimed materials. A large human face and arm emerged from the ground, while an assortment of animals lingered nearby. It was a lovely park, and a nice way to start the weekend.
The visitation and funeral Mass were at the same parish church where Tita Pining’s birthday Mass and party had been. There were heartfelt eulogies, beautiful music, and comforting prayers. At the reception afterward, we had Filipino food (of course).
There was a lively bunch of kids - my nephew Emmett, Ken’s nieces and nephews, and the children of my cousins from Ohio. I loved that we could celebrate Ken’s life by watching this next generation of cousins joyfully playing together, the way we used to play with Ken when we were kids!
I very much enjoy spending time with my cousins, and I hope we’ll do it again soon, but not for a funeral.
