Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - my Mom, Dad, Sister, and I traveled to Western New York/Buffalo Region for my Aunt's funeral. We arrived mid-afternoon on Thursday. We checked in to Salvatore's - the hotel - and rested for a while before getting ready for the viewing. Most of the photos (if not all) will be from the hotel. I have stayed at this hotel before but wasn't able to get as many photos - the times I did visit - so I wanted to make sure I snapped more this time around. This first photo is of the Lobby.
They have a Courtyard area that is beautiful. The majority of the following photos are from that area within the hotel including this one.
Acrossed from this picture-esque area is where they serve their Continental Breakfast. It's been interesting to see how Continental Breakfasts have changed since COVID. I overheard a few people complaining about it but I'm just grateful the hotel was still taking measures.
We arrived at the Funeral Home for the viewing a tad early. My uncle, 2 cousins and their spouses and children were there greeting everyone. As people started to trickle in - we were reunited with people we haven't seen in a couple years to nearly 30 years. My Aunt was the one who introduced us to the childhood church we went to until we moved to Pennsylvania. My mother worked in the nursery. Usually the memories of church were good ones. I was in the Kids Choir as well as many of the groups - such as Missionette's. It was nice seeing so many people we recognized but it was so sad that it happened under these circumstances.
We were there until about 7:30pm. It was the most people I have been around since COVID started. Of course, I wore a mask the entire time. After we left the funeral home we went to eat but I will blog about that in another post.
On Friday was the service. My father actually had to attend a separate funeral for his life-long friend in Newark so he left the hotel before we did to drive about an hour and a half from where we were. My other uncle picked us up from the hotel and we drove over to the church for the service.
Upon arriving at the church - were the service took place - we were amazed at how big it was. Several years ago MANY of the old church members I grew up with switched churches over to this one. So my Aunt really had two "church families" - more on that in a bit.
Out in the lobby of this church they continued to show a slideshow of photos of my aunt's life - which was also shown at the Funeral Home the night before. A few of the photos were ones I took a few years ago at a family picnic.
Around 11am everyone entered the service area and the preacher began the service. It was very emotional and lasted about an hour with 3 Eulogies. First was a couple who talked about how my aunt helped watch their children so she was able to go back to work. One of the children has Down Syndrome. She talked about how my Aunt was always a big help to her, her children, and her family.
Next was 2 of her adult nephews - which were her older sisters' sons. Their mother (My Aunt's Sister) was also there but has Alzheimer's/Dementia and from what I was able to observe - and based on what I have learned in my current job - she seemed to be in mid-stages. Her sons talked about losing their father many years ago and how Aunt Carol was always there for them.
Then my cousins stepped up to speak. I honestly don't know how they got thru it but they did and everything they said was amazing. My Aunt was a beautiful person and a friend to all.
There was a lady who sang a few songs during the service and the one she ended the service with really 'got to' a lot of us. My mother broke down at that point - eventho - we were emotional the entire time. My mother considered my Aunt (her sister-in-law) a sister. My mother grew up with 3 brothers and my Aunt was always wonderful to all of us. My mom told always told me stories about how she would call my Aunt for advise on "new/first-time mom stuff".
After the service - many of us then headed over to another church for a meal. This 2nd church was the church I sort-of grew up in. I say sort-of because it wasn't the same building, it wasn't even on the same street, the pastor had changed 3 times since I was there, and everything was different. So - basically - in name only. This new building was amazing. But I will always have fond memories of the old building, the old members, and growing up there. I learned long ago "you can't go back home". Everything has changed in the 30 years or so but I will always remember it fondly.
We stayed at the 2nd church for quite a while but sat in our own little corner with my Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin. My Mom, Sister, and I continued to look around the room and remember people from our old church and growing up.
Eventually, my Uncle dropped the 3 of us off at the hotel. We waited for my Dad to return from the funeral he attended. We chatted about things for a while and then decided to go out for something to eat. Again, I will get to the food in another post.
It was a long, emotional 2 days that is for sure but it doesn't compare to what my 2 cousins and Uncle went thru.
There are a few more photos I took from the hotel surroundings but I think you 'get the idea'. Saturday morning we ate a little something in the Courtyard area here and one of the other guests sang a Valentine's Day Song - as well as a hymn for the other guests. He had an amazing voice. My sister leaned over and said "that was a breath of fresh air". I agreed. It's something I will remember for a long time.
Outside of the hotel - they are known for their fountains, statues, and Veterans Memorials. Because everything was still covered in snow - I will try and share these at a better time. Here is one of them outside one of the rooms and near the parking lot that I was able to take this past weekend.
I'll be doing a Part 2 to this post within a couple of hours that will highlight the places we ate...we also stopped by Whole Foods Market and I was able to grab just a few items before we headed home.
