The Lawler Family

Please join us for Craig’s memorial service:
Saturday, October 4th 10AM
Saint Thomas Episcopal Church
2201 Dexter St., Denver.
Reception to follow.

~E

True to form, Friday ended in a bang. Following protocol, shortly after Craig passed, we called hospice to help “move the process along.” With a pregnant stare, all hell broke loose. The hospice nurse, friendly as she was, gave Emily a look that, in better times, would have been easy to overlook. But, lacking sleep [...]

To say this has been hard is an understatement. And I doubt we’ve seen the end of it. The loss of C is a different kind of pain, and a different kind of grief. I miss my brother. I miss my best friend. I miss his laugh and the way he kept things in perspective. [...]

Since Friday, sounds are louder, spaces are smaller, disappointments are grander, that pit deep in my soul is blasted open further by the unspeakable reality that my brother is gone. Since Friday, I find myself wandering. I wrote a “ditty” not too long ago that somehow speaks to this:

I find myself wandering in cobwebbed places, [...]

September 12th, Craig meandered from a question of pleasant, recurring visions to that of his memorial service:

C: …That’s how they celebrate the passing of the dead in their culture. With music, drink and food all through the night and everyone’s welcome. That instilled in me a sense of generosity, that when you go, it can [...]

Craig,

I’ve been waiting to be ready to say goodbye and the feeling just isn’t there. I can still feel your chin on my shoulder and your hands on my arms. I’m so sorry this ever happened. I miss you, love you and will learn how to let you go.

D

I can’t believe you’re gone. Just three days ago, we were talking about life, dreams, and how we’d like to be remembered. I’ll miss your voice, and your wisdom; your smiling eyes and your contagious laugh; your charm and big-brother sass. I’ll miss our travels and late night conversations. Mostly, I’ll miss you. Mom was [...]

Craig passed away in his apartment at 5:45 this evening in the company of his sisters, father and girlfriend. His passing was peaceful, beautiful and the way he wanted.

Craig is one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. He is my best friend, my brother, my role model and I will miss him beyond description.

I love [...]

Craig and I are sharing what may be our last sunrise together. And it’s beautiful, as sunrises go. I’m buzzing Craig’s hand as an amber glow casts a large shadow on his bed and walls. His head drifts gently to the left with each sporadic breath. As the sun’s glow takes [...]

It’s 4:00am, September 26th. Craig’s raspy breaths fill an otherwise quiet room — a stark contrast to our hours of laughter and chatter earlier this evening. As he slept, we sat around his bedside and shared memories of Mom and Craig while harp music played in the background. We sorely missed Craig’s witty contributions, and that acknowledgement quieted the tenor [...]