Eileen Weidaw
To My Beloved Rich,
I was drawn to you from the very first time you said hello to me as we passed each other on the Smithfield Street Bridge. Little did I know, you began timing your walk across the bridge to ensure that you would see me once again.
We had our first date in early December, 1989. You took me to the Carnegie Museum. And from the minute I took your hand in mine as we walked to the museum’s entrance from the parking lot, I knew you were my soul mate.
When we got engaged after dating for less than a month, because of our age difference, Mom asked me if I knew what I was doing. I told her yes. And that if we made it to our 10th wedding anniversary before you passed, that I would be very happy. When our 10th wedding anniversary arrived, I asked the Lord for 5 more years of marriage. By the time we were married 25 years, I got greedy and asked the Lord for another 10 years of marriage. This past May marked our 35th wedding anniversary. The Lord is great and greatly to be praised!
Rich, we went through a lot in those 35 years. I lost both of my parents and we both lost our jobs twice. And then there were life’s normal highs and lows. But your love for me never wavered. You stood by my side through it all. I never once doubted your love for me. You truly were my soul mate and I am eternally grateful to the Lord for bringing us together and for blessing us with such a long and happy marriage.
But now you are gone and my life will forever be changed. But memories of you and our life together will be with me until the Lord calls me home. Oh, how I look forward to that glorious day when we will be together again.
Until then my love, rest in peace. Your suffering here on earth is over. You are now in the loving care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a place where there are no more tears and no more sorrow.
My beloved, know that I will continue to love you and dearly miss you until I take my last breath in this life.
Your loving and devoted wife,
Eileen
