Monday, June 20, 2022
Bob, Grace, Joe, Foy, Sterling, and Lois, my thoughts and prayers are with each of you and your families as you navigate these difficult days after your father's passing. Although his physical presence may be absent, his legacy remains...and will go on and on. For example, I was in Myrtle Beach last week with my family, and when I learned of his demise, I told my daughter Carrie. She smiled the sweetest smile and reminded me that your father had married her and her husband, Rich Maseda, in the Columbia Temple in December, 1999. To us, that was major.
A couple of memories: When I first moved back to Camden, I was at a Relief Society meeting one night when your mother responded to a question about homes. I don't recall all the specifics, but what she said about her home stayed with me. She said it was her favorite place to be because J.C. was there. I loved that and knew then that he had to be a giant of a man. Years later, he gave a talk in Sacrament meeting one Sunday and spoke of special times in his life, one being the birth of Bob. Afterwards, when I said something about how meaningful his words were, Bob said he had never heard some of those things before that Sunday. I interpreted that to mean that your father pondered special thoughts and memories in his heart.
A friend of mine often says, "Love remains" when people become disconnected for a season, and that's definitely true for the Connell family.