When someone passes people do not know what to say or do to help the ones left behind feel better. There really isn’t anything you can say but there are simple things you can do to help them stay connected with the one they lost. You can ask friends and family to come up with one word to describe the loved one or write down a story. Find an old picture that will make them smile. This will be especially helpful if the person was sick for many years and the good times seem so distant in memory.
You can also plan an evening where friends and family gather to tell stories and record the evening since it will be an emotional one and some things may be forgotten. Having an evening to remember a loved one is especially important when a child looses their parent at an early age. Children long to know their parents and wonder if they are like them at all. At the event remembering my father, several people commented they wished someone had done the same for them but too much time has past to coordinate such a gathering to remember their parent.
Since my father passed at an early age, many of his friends and colleagues were eager to share their stories and help us get to know another important part of his life. My father was very private and did not discuss his work unless a lesson could be learned. At his funeral may things were mentioned about him and we have always wondered about the stories. Now that my brother and I are older, we wanted to know why our father was named “The Human Tornado” and “The Silver Tongued Devil of the South” by his colleagues.
It was an evening we will always treasure. We cannot express how appreciative we are of everyone taking the time to attend, share their stories and show how much our father meant to them. Thank you to Judy and Rick Smith for opening their home and organizing the event as well as all their support over the years. My father was fortunate to work with such an amazing group of men and women.
Since this was such a special event, we spent a lot of time planning the menu. Of course, all the food had to come from my father’s unpublished cookbook. It is on our list to publish and all the profits will go to ALS research in my father’s name. He always said something good will come from him getting sick and maybe we will be a part of finding a cure.
We asked Perrine at Perrine’s Wine Shop to pair wine with all the hors d’oeuvres and desserts. We printed the menu with the wine pairings below and included a separate page with descriptions of the wine so everyone could pick a wine they would enjoy the most. Many of the guests appreciated the effort and loved the wine.
We did not have any of the 2009 Domaine Grosbois “Gabare” Cabernet Franc wine left at the end of the night. More of the guests drank more red than white. The favorite whites were the 2010 Zocker, Gruner Veltliner and 2011 Fusional Sauvignon Blanc. I alternated between both of them since they were so delicious.
The 2010 La Serra, Moscato d’Asti is amazing if you love a like fizz and sweetness. We came home and enjoyed some with the Raspberry New York Style and Oreo Cheesecake.
To print these chevron menu cards, visit Martha Stewart and click on DIY Menu cards. There are many different options to choose from on the site. Print the menu on heavy card stock and mount to a slightly large sheet of card stock for color. A 3/4″ reveal on all sides looks nice.
For the individual cards, I used the same card stock and cut them to size. I was able to print 3 per page. The font was 18 point to ensure they were easy to read.
Apricot Brie and Angel Biscuits with Ham were on the menu and LOVED by everyone. Many took the leftover biscuits home; my sister in law made extra to make sure we had enough. I promised to post the recipe and here it is for everyone to enjoy.
I apologize it has taken me so long to post this night and recipe but it is still hard even after so many years. I hope this post will help someone remember and honor a loved one.
