The Death of a Great Man

Last weekend my Grandfather passed away. He was a Great Man, who taught me much, and so I feel that a word or two should be said about him. He was my mother's Stepfather, but was more a father to her than any she had ever known, and was the perfect grandfather for us. He loved family, and with ours, got a second chance to love unconditionally, and got to raise us better than any before. Life certainly isn't the same without him, but it's better this way.

His health had been failing him for a decade now, and, after all the funeral arrangements were planned and paid for, he decided to slip away peacefully at the hospital. He knew that my Grandmother could no longer care for him by herself at home, and that the decision to put him in assisted living would tear her apart. It's not something he wanted, after all. He was a stong man, once an officer in the navy, who liked to fix everything himself. It was hard for him when he couldn't get from place to place easily, and so he gave up his favourite things, including golf, card games, and most social activities in the end. He was embarassed, but more than that he was too weak to leave the house without needing a nap shortly after.

This King of Cards, the man who taught me the subtle art of sliding out of Grandma's view for a quick turkey nap, chose to depart this world on his own terms. He was tired, oh so tired, and his heart had done so much over the years it just couldn't sustain him and his love of life anymore.
I will always remember him for his larger than life attitude, even when he was sick. For the Great Love he showed his family. And, of course, for all the teasing, just to make life a little more interesting. He teased me about boys, about my sisters, about picking the biggest cookies, about beating him at cards (until he changed the game and/or rules). He had a great sense of humour.

This is the last picture I have with my Grandpa. It was taken at Christmas 2009, just after I had gotten the first stages of the tattoo on my arm. He took one look at it, and rolled his eyes. He didn't have to tell me how much he hated it, nor did he have to tell me that it was my body, my choice. It was a moment, and I was still his grandaughter. I remember poking fun at it while someone was taking this photo, and I am happy to see that we caught him chuckling. Despite his weakness, he always had a great laugh. One of those that comes from deep within and emanated throughout your whole body, shaking you belly full force. A Great laugh looks good on such a Great Man.

Arthur "Joe" Poisson

July 11, 1933 - January 22, 2010

Rest In Peace

Grandpapa Poisson.

Tu me manqueras toujours...

C'est toi qui m'as appris les valeurs de la famille, les jeux de cartes, et plusieurs facons de taquiner Grandmaman. C'est toi qui m'as appris a brosser les dents en enlevant tes dentiers pour des instructions plus claires. C'est toi qui m'as appris a pecher, a trouver et a attacher les vers de terre. Tu m'as appris beaucoup, certainement comment aimer de Grand Coeur. De plus, tu m'as appris que la vie, et l'amour, nous offre des chances renouvellees avec lesquelles il faut faire de notre mieux. Je t'aime de tout mon coeur et j'espere que tu trouves de la paix et de la bonne biere a l'infinie.