Geraldine Crimmels is pictured above with her husband Floyd
who died on a ship while serving in World War II
Last Saturday in her home in west Davenport with her faithful dog Molly beside her, Geraldine Crimmels died at the age of 95. Besides Molly, she had a neighbor Quincy who looked in on her. She had the Hyvee delivery man who would stop by each week with groceries. And, most importantly, she had her faith.
On the Wednesday after Easter last year, I took communion to Geraldine. She told me how her husband had died on a ship while serving in World War II. This very independent woman recalled many years earlier when she needed a new roof. She said, "I got up there myself and put that roof on. People would stop and ask if I needed any help. I told them, I could do it."
I had to break up the communion host into a smaller piece for her to swallow it. After she consumed the host, she started to shake and quiver. I asked if I had done something to upset her. She said, "No. I'm just so happy to have received communion."
Her neighbor Quincy called to tell us she had died. She had already given him instructions to put her dog Molly to sleep and to cremate and bury both of them together in Calvary Cemetery beside her parents.
Eternal rest grant unto Geraldine, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
