Todd's Death (Part 6)

By Kay Heitsch

We had Todd's calling hours in Dover for Todd's friends. We felt it was necessary for these teenage friends. But no one knew I desperately needed to see Todd's body, too.

We had Todd's body moved to Michigan and had calling hours and a funeral where Todd's body would be buried.

Since we moved often, we didn't have a home base. Bill's dad and stepmother had lived in Michigan for years. Todd and I walked around the cemetery there, so it seemed the best choice. We decided to buy several plots.

These calling hours were much different than the ones in Dover. Most people were friends of Bill's dad, and I didn't know many.

Now I'm going to share an upsetting experience.

I was wondering what was up when a priest walked up to me as I stood in front of Todd's casket. I noticed immediately that he smelled like booze and was drunk.

Slurring his words, he started to go off because Todd's casket was open instead of being a half casket. He said something insane about this type of casket being only for the Pope.

As I said in a previous post, Todd's face had to be remade with molding clay. Toland-Herzig told us not to touch Todd's face.

This drunk, obnoxious priest suddenly said, "I need to bless him." I said, "Don't touch Todd's face!" He did not listen and left his handprint on my precious Todd's face.

I was so angry!