I would imagine that most of us, if asked about the last moments before our death, would say we hope for a peace-filled passing into the hands of God through His angels or saints.  We pray they would lead us through any purging that is necessary before we come into God's presence and see Him face-to-face.  While it may be presumptous to say this, I am confident that Saint Padre Pio was the one who came to take 96-year-old Ruby Krimm, formerly of Fairfield Bay, on her journey to the Lord's presence and peace.  Ruby was the wife (of over 60 years) to Joe who met Padre Pio as a young American soldier during World War II.  Padre Pio told Joe that he would live a long life, be in a happy marriage for many years, and would cooperate with God and his wife to bring a son and daughter into the world.  All of that came true and I was blessed to minister to Joe before and after he died in 2007.  Immediately after Joe died (at 2:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning), Ruby called me and I went over to their house and found her very much composed and at peace.  We prayed the prayers for one who had just died, and then Ruby handed me a rosary and invited me to smell it.  Not only could I smell the scent of roses as I got close to the rosary, I continued to smell the roses throughout the room where Joe had died.  It was the scent of Padre Pio and it told Ruby that he was there to take Joe (as one of his spiritual children) home to heaven.

While I wish I could have been present when Ruby died in Texas at her son's home, to pray for her and to smell the roses again, I am confident that she died a peace-filled death and was ready for Saint Padre Pio to take her on a a final journey to her (and our) true and lasting home.  Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!