Sarah Muller called me around noon today after she received a text and then a follow up phone call with Matt Hannon. My cousin Laurie and her husband, Manuel, were traveling by car from California to the Lake House in Ohio for a 6 week stay so they could do some construction work and general maintenance before the rental season began Memorial week. They spent the night in Anderson, Indiana. Got up, had breakfast, repacked the car and then as Manuel opened the driver's side door to crawl in he collapsed. Laurie called 911 but there was nothing that could be done despite a high speed trip to emergency. Manuel died as the result of a pulmonary embolism.
What a shock. He just retired a year ago, a brand new grandchild had just arrived a short time ago, and they were looking forward to many wonderful years together. Instead, she found herself in a strange city with no family or relatives nearby, and her husband suddenly gone.
Sarah was able to talk with her for a short time and offered to come up to the Lake House where she wanted to go and spend some time with her. Laurie was in too much of a shock to really say yes or no but was happy about the offer. The kids all wanted to fly up but she told them not to - that she would continue on and see them again in June when she returned and they would do a memorial at that time. But all that could change - only time will tell.
But what a loss for Laurie, her children and grandchildren and all of us. We were just really getting acquainted as a result of the cousin weekends we started a couple of years ago at the Lake House. Now we will be one short.
Becky posted this photo of herself with Manuel at a game last fall. It truly reflects his love of life.
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