Myers - Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd.

Portal to Heaven: After 12 days in the cardiac intensive care unit, I held my mother?s hand and caressed her forehead as she left this existence and went to be with the Lord and to be reunited with my father. My father had passed just 2 ½ years ago and we had been satisfied with the services of the Myers Funeral Home in Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania. I asked the nurse to call the new Myers-Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory to pick up my mother?s body. Bob Buhrig called me later for confirmation and we agreed on a time to discuss the arrangements. From the start Bob was caring, comforting, and reassuring, and he maintained that demeanor throughout my life?s most painful experience. I will always be grateful. The rest of the staff followed Bob?s lead. It were as if a detail of angels had been assigned to tenderly declare mom?s passing and to provide comfort to all that came to her viewings and funeral service. Prior to the public viewing, my daughters, girlfriend, mom?s best friends, and I were allowed to see mom for approval. Bob met us and escorted us into the viewing room. Yes, there were tears at first for our hurtful loss, but after examining her body, the weight of the world seem to lift off my shoulders. She looked beautiful! Nothing like the last time I saw her in the ICU. She looked more than at just peace. She looked happy. Then I knew and could visualize being happy in the heavenly realms. I was thankful that this would be my memory of the last time I saw my mother in this life. We also got to see the DVD made to commemorate mom?s life with her favorite hymns playing in the background. I had provided 50 digital pictures to make this DVD and had selected 3 to be made into a portrait which was displayed by the casket. The portrait showed the phases of my parent?s life: when they were married, mid life, and their aged picture from Emmanuel Baptist Church. There was also a candle with a picture of the portrait of it. Both my daughters wanted a portrait and Bob was able to get two more made. Now my daughters too have a lasting treasure of the life of their grandparents. Bob was always there for me, explaining every detail and taking care of everything to eliminate all interference with my farewell to my mother. There are things we cannot control, but Bob and the staff of Myers Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory were both commentating and flexible. As we left for the Sunday night viewing, a down pour began and I just knew we were all going to get wet. The staff however; waited outside in the rain to direct us to the side entrance which allowed us to enter the funeral home dry. Then there was an additional unexpected event. Fifteen minutes before the viewing was to end, the funeral home received calls saying that a few distant relatives from Baltimore and New Jersey were on their way. We had planned for the extended family to attend a viewing and service at the Whitemarsh Memorial Park Chapel on Monday, but some unexpectedly came that Sunday. Myers-Buhrig was most accommodating and with genuine care kept the funeral home open at no cost for an additional hour.I felt compelled to feed my out of town and unexpected relatives and Bob was there to assist me again. I told him where I wanted to go and he made the arrangements. We were met by the manager and seated upon our arrival to dine. Whew! The next day after the viewing and right before the service, Bob allowed those closest to my mother to remain behind to say our final goodbyes. His instructions during this sorrowful time were most tender. He asked if we wanted, and only if we wanted , to lower my mother completely into and close the casket. My oldest daughter and I did and Bob was again by our side providing assurance as we did. All the relatives and friends that came to the Whitemarsh Memorial Park Chapel for the final viewing and funeral said how wonderful the arrangements were and what a important message that Pastor Richie had delivered during the service. Upon the gravesite conclusion, Bob and the Myers-Buhrig staff provided the guests with bottle water and the flowers from the top of the casket. I have preserved some of the flowers and placed them in a vase from the flowers I gave her Mother?s day as another lasting tribute to her. I had no complaints with my father?s arrangements, but I can?t imagine anyone doing a better job than the new staff and ownership of Myers-Buhrig. They did the impossible by providing me comfort in helping this old warrior through the worst loss of his life. Saint Peter may or may not stand at the pearly gates, and the streets of heaven may or may not be guarded by United States Marines, but an earthly Portal to Heaven definitely is located at Myers-Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg Pennslyvannia. Major Stanley H. Evans Jr., USA, (ret.)