UPDATE:
Eight months after this video was recorded Grandpa was actually the one to pass first. On May 15, 2016 Howard closed his eyes for the last time. Grandma (Laura Virginia) held on just five more days until she followed her love home on May 20, 2016. She was surrounded by members of our family who were singing her favorite hymn "How Great Thou Art" when she took her last breath. They both passed peacefully at home. They were laid to rest side by side on July 22, 2016 in Sarasota, FL. Our family misses them dearly and remembers them often! It usually includes, music, singing and dancing!
Below is their obituary
Mr. Howard Louis Serena and his wife of 73 years, Mrs. Laura Virginia Serena, both passed away in Gainesville, Florida, May 15, 2016 and May 20, 2016, respectively. Howard, a WWII veteran, and Laura were long time residents of Chicago, Illinois and Sarasota, Florida. The bond they shared was so strong that they passed within five days of each other.
They are survived by their nine children, eighteen grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.
ORIGINAL POST
My grandparents Laura and Howard have been married 73 years. In this video Howard is 92 and Laura is 93. Laura (Grandma) is at a hospice facility making peace with her final days. I was lucky enough to capture this precious, heart-melting moment between the two of them. Howard (Grandpa) is singing to her their love song, the song that comforted her when he went away to fight in World War II.
Jukin Media Verified (Original)
* For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmediadotcom
At family gatherings, it was not uncommon for the two of them to sing this song together, each taking a verse and serenading the other. In fact, after fifty years of marriage, they renewed their vows and performed this song as a duet for the entire family at the reception. Sadly, Grandma is now too weak to sing, but that doesn't stop her from saying the words to him (see at 1:00). Howard then takes over for her and sings the rest of the song to her while stroking her face.
Moments before this video began, when Grandma heard that Grandpa was in the room, she asked if she could hold him. Grandpa cannot stand on his own, but he immediately pulled his wheelchair close to her bed ready to make it happen. My cousin, Serena, who is a physical therapist, helped him to his feet and held him up throughout the entire song.
You might notice above her bed there is a sign that says, “Patient Blind.” That is because she has macular degeneration, so she cannot see much of anything but shadows and light. That doesn’t stop her from looking deep into her love’s eyes. Grandpa, on the other hand, has lost most of his hearing, so you’ll notice us repeating things for him since Grandma is to weak to raise her voice.
The song used in the video is “You’ll Never Know” performed by Rosemary Clooney with Harry James. Our family prefers this version because everyone always said Grandma had a voice just like Rosemary Clooney.
After posting this video to Facebook, it began to go viral and all the outpouring of love lifted everyone's spirits... including Grandma's! They originally gave her just a week to live, but hospice eventually deemed her well enough to go back home to live out her remaining days. She is still considered “Terminal,” however, as of this posting my beautiful Grandma Laura Virginia is still with us resting peacefully at home. Our family along with the wonderful people from hospice are taking care of her and making sure she remains as pain-free and comfortable as possible while she prepares for her nearing departure. We all thank you so much for the love and kind words.
**Due to the fact that there is a licensed recording playing in the background, the rights to this video are being managed through a third party.
UPDATE:
Eight months after this video was recorded Grandpa was actually the one to pass first. On May 15, 2016 he closed his eyes for the last time. Grandma held on just five more days until she followed her love home on May 20, 2016. They were laid to rest side by side on July 22, 2016 in their home town of Sarasota, FL. Our family misses them dearly and remembers them often!
Below is their obituary
Mr. Howard Louis Serena and his wife of 73 years, Mrs. Laura Virginia Serena, both passed away in Gainesville, Florida, May 15, 2016 and May 20, 2016, respectively. Howard, a WWII veteran, and Laura were long time residents of Chicago, Illinois and Sarasota, Florida. The bond they shared was so strong that they passed within five days of each other.
They are survived by their nine children, eighteen grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.
19 сен 2015
