sad news

[redbird]

I just got off the phone with Lise Eisenberg. Her father died last night. She's upset and I think hasn't entirely taken it in: he'd been ill for months (which is why she was calling me from Brooklyn rather than Japan), but not in a way that suggested the end was imminent.

At the moment, she's trying to sort out funeral and burial plans (he had no religious affiliation, nor does she, in the sense of being connected to a rabbi or synagogue, and he didn't own a cemetery plot, and decide whether to sit shivah in his apartment or her own, and figure out who she needs to notify, and whether she's executor of the will. (That last involves calling her lawyer's office, a matter better saved for Monday during the day.)

We stayed on the phone a while, a mix of trying to find answers to questions, and just trying to raise her mood a little, and verify that she's staying properly hydrated, and such.

ETA: I don't think Lise reads this regularly, and I'm virtually certain she's not reading it right now. So condolences or offers of assistance should go directly to her.

Comments

[wouldyoueva.livejournal.com]

Poor Lise! I know she's more or less my age, and, sadly, this is all too common when you're in your 50s.

I know with my in-laws (who stopped going to church years before they died) we were able to have the services at the funeral home, and they "rented" us a Presbyterian minister.

Was he a veteran? He may be eligible for burial in a veteran's cemetery.

I don't remember having problems with dehydration when Jack died. However, since everything tasted like cardboard, remembering to eat was problematic.

[redbird]

There are no problems with dehydration here, it's just my standard thing to check on (because people can go a lot longer without eating than without enough fluids).

[ala-too.livejournal.com]

Loosing one's parent isn't something I've seen anyone take in fully within a day. It's tough. The ritual that religions put on mourning can sometimes be helpful in focusing.

If you call most synagogues the Rabbi will ccommodate you or refer you to someone who will. I can say nothing good about "Rent a Rabbi's." The one I encountered (when my relatives "arranged" for this) had no empathy or listening skills at all. I fired him on the spot and went with a referral from a friend (since my Rabbi is 3,000 miles away and Dad lived 1,500 miles from where he wanted to be buried) who was excellent. I can probably find the details for Lise if she needs them.

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

Ahh, crap.

Not sure there's anything more articulate I can say.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us know. It is very sad news.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for posting this, Vicki. I called Lise and we talked for quite a while.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us know. I'll send email for now and phone at a more reasonable hour.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the news; I'll either email or send a card today.