I have been to funerals for people who lived long and happy lives and who died peacefully in their sleep at a ripe old age. I have been to funerals for people who suffered and for whom death was a mercy.

Today was not one of those funerals.

It has been a difficult week for the T-G newsroom. On the one hand, we’ve had the celebration of Kay Rose’s retirement and the welcoming for our new editor, René Capley. But we also grieved with one of our pagination technicians, Carol Spray — a long-time employee who is essential to what we do here — over the death Wednesday of her three-month-old grandchild.

We were supposed to have a potluck today, Kay’s last day, but Kay asked for it to be postponed and we all went to the funeral. The Rev. Mark Ashley did a wonderful job, but this was the type of funeral where there were family members weeping openly.

Vincent was buried in the little cemetery right next to Mt. Lebanon UMC, in a quiet rural area. The sight of little Vincent’s father carrying his tiny gray casket to the grave site, by himself, with both hands, was heartbreaking.

I ask your prayers for the family.