Family Reunion Slide Show

This photo slideshow customized with Smilebox

The DeGruccio Family Reunion and Dad's Final Resting place

Last weekend, which happened to be Mom and Dad's 51st anniversary, the family joined together in Mendocino for a Family Reunion. There were 23 of us. (with five missing) As a young family we would spend time in Fort Bragg and it has always been a great memory for all of us. It's a beautiful peaceful beach with lots of wildlife, wildflowers and rocks.

We had chosen this as the final resting place for Dad's ashes. I'm sure he would have approved.

We all arrived at various times on Saturday the 25th, without phone service we were able to get everyone there safely. The home we stayed in was built in the 1800's and we all loved it.

We played games and hung out together the first night and of course ate. It wouldn't be a complete family get together without lots of food. We've decided we need to go back to Fort Bragg and start up our Reunions again.

We had a great breakfast on Sunday, cooked by Kathy the next morning with fresh homemade cinnamon rolls. We packed everyone up, including Dad, and headed up the coast to Fort Bragg.

It was the most beautiful day with the perfect temperature.

Mom prepared some sweet words to share and we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever"

The six of us (Mom, Kathy, Rick, Jenny, Mike and Annie) joined in an inner circle holding hands as we prayed. The rest of the family was joined around us holding hands. The spirit was so strong and it was much more emotional than I think we all anticipated. I could feel Dad's presence and joy as he watched his posterity join together to celebrated not only his life but the knowledge that life does not end on this earth. We were standing on a rock in the ocean and after the prayer Mom was the first to scatter his ashes. Then each of the siblings followed her. Finished up by the rest of the family. We also scattered rose petals and the children blew bubbles. It was a sweet moment that I will treasure forever.

As I walked away, I saw rose petals floating in the tide, that had quickly spread from where they were placed. I thought about how Dad's ashes were there in the ocean but we could not see them. It was a beautiful sight and thought to think that his life will live on in the beauty of his posterity and all the lives that he touched. That rock that our family stood on,

which was a rock we had stood on so many years ago, was a symbol of the great foundation our Father and Mother built for our family. It was built upon our Savior Jesus Christ and their unconditional love. This cannot be shaken and has for me personally sustained me through the storms of life. I know I can always go back to that "rock" and be comforted and feel strength no matter what life throws at me. I can be sure my siblings would say the same. We are truly blessed to be our Father's children and carry out his legacy of love.