Personal Narrative: Uncle Kenny's Funeral

It was a cloudy Wednesday morning and Martin and I drove from Manhattan, New York to Stamford, Connecticut for his Uncle Kenny’s funeral. Along the way, the scenery changed from the crowded city streets and apartment buildings to lawns, trees, and private homes. As we headed north on the highway, I couldn’t help but think that it was years since I have seen Martin in a suit. My husband hates suits, but he made an exception for Uncle Kenny because he loved him so and was honored to be a pallbearer. Our drive in the car went by fast and we arrived at St. Leo’s Parish with plenty of time to spare and parked in the side parking lot. To our surprise, Father Tom, Martin’s cousin and a priest (typical of large Irish families), was early for a change and chatting on his cellphone, so we just waved to him and headed into the parish. The hall was quiet and the Sunday school classrooms were empty. It made me think that it was such a waste not to use this space for something, anything. Instead, it was a Sunday school ghost town that should have been put to good use. At the end of the hall was the entrance to the church and wall of candles. Inside the church there was …show more content…
To have so many people in his multiple extended families, but I also reflected on what it meant for him to work as a cop. Could the stress from his work as a cop have contributed to the heart condition that took his life? I have heard about the “Heart Bill” passed years ago that would entitle a fireman or cop to disability for the rest of their life because hypertension and various forms of heart conditions are considered occupation related disease. Despite what seemed like a perfect life, his exposure to crime, violence, and stress were the social determinants of health that no doubt took a toll on his body can contributed to his heart condition. A few weeks ago, Uncle Kenny was taken to the hospital and needed open-heart