viewing

So today was the first day of Grandma's viewing, following 5pm mass at Mt. Carmel. I cannot believe the number of people who turned out. some of which i haven't seen in years. Politicians, friends, family. Ruthie Mc and her mother came. Dan Hill showed up in town for his nephew's baptism. Tom Simiele came by to send his regards with Russi. Now there's an odd matchup standing in a receiving line

At one point (for about an hour) the receiving line was about an hour long. It wrapped thru half the church. There were posterboards set up everywhere with pictures of her from the last 85 years. While they weren't in chronological order, they provide a hell of a timeline. kids. grandkids. great grandkids. Husband. Friends. Coleagues.

There were a few awards displayed when the evening started, but by the time the viewing had finished they had quadrupled in number. Friend and coleagues brought notes from the mayor, the senate, the house of reps, all memorializing an amazing woman. I mean for fuck's sake there was a 5 minute period on the floor of Congress this week to remember Mary Zone. That's a pretty big statement.

Someone tonite said to me "hey if we all told just 1 story each about Mary we'd be here till next year." And when i looked around the room i knew it was an understatement. She impacted everyone's life she came in contact with, and she'll be missed and remembered fondly... with the endless arsenal of Mary Zone stories she left behind.