Lest we forget--

We must seek after our kindred, lest we forget.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of my younger brother, Albert’s birthday/death.
He was born January 9, 1958, the third son and sixth child of my parents, Carlos and Elena Rodriguez.

I remember being only fourteen, and missed school that day to go to his funeral. It was at the graveside, since we were late in arriving at the funeral home. My parents were upset anyway, and it was shortly after my mother came home from the hospital without her baby.

Even though that many years has passed, I can still recall her grieving and mourning for her son with empty arms. I would come home from school and see that she had been crying. I thoughtlessly would then scold her for it, my not being sensitive to her time of grief. Shame on me! I don’t know how she ever got through it or over it, for she never showed it again in my presence. Then as I got older and had children of my own, and became a member of the Church I was more sensitive and had the words to comfort her over the remaining years.

It was my custom to call her on his birthday day and talk to her about the plan of salvation of little children. I know she never believed he was doomed or damned not having been “baptized” in the Catholic Church. She had some choice words to say about that one time as I do recall now. She was raised Catholic but had not continued with teaching us, her own children the rituals associated with it. However, she did receive comfort from my teaching her about being able to see him and be with him again after this life and had hope in Christ.

I was thinking about my brother yesterday and realized Aaron was in California this week on business. He is staying close to where we lived and I had the impression to tell him to go visit my little brother’s grave and dedicate it for him. I emailed Aaron to tell him about it. Then he called me later to talk about doing it and said he would do it for me. I told him I would look up the cemetery on line and get back with him.

I did some research online over the next few hours and found the cemetery. I actually called three possible sites and left messages. The second number I called the caretaker checked his records and said Albert was not buried at his cemetery. But said he would keep trying to get in touch with the one in charge at the first cemetery, Little Lake Cemetery. I really appreciate his willingness to help me, a stranger. I guess they are used to this kind of thing and willing to do what they can to help others find their family members buried there.

I also called a mortuary that I found online that had a name which sounded familiar who handled Albert’s funeral. The lady there called me back and had searched their records that went back that far, and found which cemetery he was buried. She said I was right, and wished me luck. Then the second fellow called me back and gave me the same information that he had just found the caregiver on the phone and said he was there and could help Aaron when he got there. I just received a third call now from the caretaker from Little Lake Cemetery and said he would direct Aaron to Albert’s grave. I told him I had not been back to the cemetery after all these years, but that Albert had not been forgotten, and my son was bringing some flowers for the grave.

I felt a sense of warmth and love for my brother and his appreciation for finding him and to get his grave dedicated. I know it means a lot to them to have this done in their behalf, since they are called from the graves at the resurrection. Such a perfect spirit to reunite with his body and my mother will get to raise him from that time on. What a blessing in the eternities and joy to look forward to meeting him again someday. I never saw him, even after he died-- the casket was closed at the grave site. I just remember a bouquet of yellow roses which my mother kept some from it in her room for probably the rest of her life. My brothers, Charlie and Albert were sealed along with me to our parents in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple October 30, 2004. I remember that feeling of total love and joy, how can one forget that?

I feel blessed to have my son, Aaron there this week and have the prompting to dedicate Albert’s grave for me. I know it came from Albert and glad I listened. It humbles me to know they are so close by and aware of my thoughts and for me to be an instrument, or vessel for good!