Archive Of The Funeral Service

Click here to see the archive file, which also includes the slideshow.

http://www.francogrillo.com/Video/VincenzoGrillo_1935-2009/index.html

God bless.

Interest From The Lima News

Some of you may have noticed a reporter and a photographer from the Lima Newspaper present at the funeral. Interest was sparked when the funeral director from Chiles called in the wording of my Dad's obituary. They noticed how we stated that the funeral would be broadcast live over the Internet and decided to write a story about web casting a funeral.

The funeral director asked me to call the reporter and when I did she asked me a few basic questions like, "When did we start streaming?" and, "Who set everything up?" I also told her that we knew of friends and relatives in England, Italy, and Canada that would be watching, as well as here in the U.S.A.

As a church we have been looking into running an ad in the Lima News to let the local community know about our church and the online service. It was amazing to see the Lord provide the advertising in a way we never expected.

Here is the link to their story: http://www.limaohio.com/articles/becoming-39382-funerals-lima.html

In the end, after checking the statistics collected from the live stream, there were a total of 534 hits. I never expected a number that high.

Funeral Service

The funeral was beautiful. Brother Jeff did an excellent job and so many wonderful things were said about Dad. Tom Davis and Tim Arant beautifully sang the songs that my Dad loved and the testimonies given by Jim Crook, Steve Smith, Deb Johns and Dave Cress were heartfelt and true.

The visitation before the funeral service was precious. Everyone that greeted and spoke to us had genuine, sincere, heartfelt condolences to pass on. There were many tears, but we were all grieving together and we truly felt like one big family. We were surprised to see how many people came to the service and appreciated everyone rearranging their schedules and taking time off of work.

The graveside service was brief but again precious. The pallbearers performed their duty with honor transporting the casket to its resting place. Brother Jeff spoke a few words, read a scripture and then lead us in song. Our chorus of Beulah Land rang out with victory in our voices as we all identified with the words of the song, "...And, some day, on thee I'll stand. There my home shall be eternal. Beulah land. Sweet Beulah land..."

There were smiles, there were tears, there were memories, and there were good things said, but at the end of it all we are left with an assurance that we will be together again some day. Thank you all so much for your love and support.

I will post the archive to the funeral service shortly. God bless.

Live Broadcast Of The Funeral

For those of you unable to attend the funeral service, you may click on this link to watch the broadcast today, live (from 10am EST onwards).

For Windows Media Player: Link closed

For Real Player: Link closed

The archive will be posted in a few days.

Again, we thank you all for your prayers and support as we grieve the loss of my Dad.

Click here to visit the church web site: http://www.bcfellowship.org/

Obituary

Vincenzo Antonio Grillo, 74, died at 2:30 p.m. July 12, 2009, at St. Rita’s Medical Center.

He was born May 7, 1935, in Alife, Italy, to Francesco and Antonietta Fragola Grillo, who preceded him in death. On May 22, 1963, he married Maria Farina, who survives in Lima.

Mr. Grillo was a member of Believers Christian Fellowship and very much appreciated the family of God. The most important things in his life were his walk with the Lord, his beloved wife and his children. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family. He loved gardening, enjoying flowers and vegetables. He was a military veteran serving for his native Italy.

Survivors also include a son Franco (Amy) Grillo, of Lima; a daughter, Vittoria Grillo, of Lima; and three brothers, Michele Grillo, Giuseppe Grillo and Salvatore Grillo, all of Alife, Italy.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Tonina Grillo.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Believers Christian Fellowship and can be viewed online at www.bcfellowship.org. The Rev. Jeff Jenkins will officiate. Burial will be in Bluelick Cemetery.

Friends may call one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Believers Christian Fellowship.

Arrangements are by Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, Lewis Eastside Chapel.

Funeral Arrangements

Dad's funeral arrangements are complete. Visitation will be for one hour beginning at 10 o'clock Thursday morning at Believers Christian Fellowship, followed by the service 11 o'clock.

The service can be viewed online at http://www.bcfellowship.org/.

Home to Glory

At 2:30pm Dad went on to Glory to be with the Lord. He's free. No more gasping for another breath. No more coughing and suffering, no more needles and tubes. He's with his daughter, Tonina, and the rest of the saints having a jubilee. One day we know we'll all be together again.

Thank you all for your prayers and words of support. We'll keep you posted about funeral arrangements.

God bless you.

A More Settled Day At The Hospital

After having had a restless night with lots of coughing on Wednesday night, Dad had a relatively quiet day on Thursday. His vitals remain much the same as the last post to this blog and the coughing has been less.

With camp having started now, Mum and Vicky are spending the bulk of the day with Dad, though Amy and I were able to look in yesterday afternoon and last night after the first camp service. Actually, Vicky and Mum were able to use the internet access at the hospital to stream the service in Dad's room. We're sure that Dad is able to hear and he has always loved camp.

We'd like to say thank you to the many people who have pitched in to help us with our responsibilities during camp. The load has been lightened and for that we are incredibly grateful. God bless you all.

Another Bedside Update

The last couple of days have been difficult. Yesterday Dad's care was turned over to hospice. These people are truly gifted and called to the work that they do. They've compassionately helped us understand the process that Dad is in. He will be staying in the room where he's been for the last week and a half, but the care that he is receiving is comfort care.

Over the course of today Dad's breathing has become increasingly labored and shallow, resulting in a decreasing blood oxygen level. At the same time his digestive system is no longer processing all of the nutrition being given to him; consequently the staff have reduced the amount.

This afternoon Brother Jeff, Brother Lonnie, Brother Peter Okeyo, Brother Paul Moffitt, Brother Jonathan Golf, and later, Brother Steven Strooh all came to visit Dad, to pray with him and to encourage us. This was much appreciated and a real blessing.

At the moment we are sitting at Dad's bedside. We have just read I, II, and III John, Jude, and Colossians to him. These books contain some of Dad's favorite verses.

It's very difficult to sit here and watch this all happen and hard for us to understand. Still, we know and believe that God does ALL things well. Whether in this life or the next, Dad will have the victory and all the glory will go to God.

On another note, Amy's mom (Jan Golden) had a total knee replacement here today. Everything went very well and she's resting comfortably 4 floors above us.

Holding Our Breath

The last few days have been an emotional roller coaster, to be very honest. Since last night at 11:00 Dad has had many episodes of no breathing. They have lasted anywhere from five minutes to eleven. Yes, eleven minutes of no breathing with an oxygen level so low it doesn't even register at times. From 2:00 this afternoon, until 10:30 this evening, they have happened, like clockwork, on the hour. Each time we have wondered if Dad will survive, practically holding our own breath, with our fingers on his pulse. Finally, to the amazement of all of us in the room, we begin to see faint breaths fogging the oxygen mask over his tracheotomy.

So far, for the last two hours, Dad has been resting comfortably, breathing regularly but shallow. We do not understand this process that we are in, but our trust remains in the Lord who does all things well. Although it is difficult for us to look beyond the circumstances before our eyes, we do still remind ourselves that even now, whatever we ask the Father, He can do for His glory. Our prayer remains that God raise Dad up, as from the grave, or take him home to a whole body. In either case it will mean freedom. We are asking you all to join us in asking God to perform His will for Dad's life.

Thank you all for everything. I simply do not have the words to tell you what you all and your expressions of love and concern mean to our family. May God bless each of you.

Our Strong Man

My Dad once told me a story about how his father, just after the 2nd World War in Italy, dug up all the farm land around his house with nothing but a pick axe. It took him weeks, but with strength and determination, he did it.

In the last few weeks I've learned that my Dad is just as strong as his Dad was. Over the past few days there have been a number of times when he has simply stopped breathing for 4 or 5 minutes. His complexion turns grey, his hands go cold, and his oxygen level plummets, but his heart just keeps on beating. Then, eventually, he begins to breathe again, much to the amazement of his nurses.

These episodes occur every five to eight hours, and are emotionally wrenching each time. Each day we're told that he probably won't make it to the next shift, but here we are. We've come to realize that down inside, Dad is still a strong man.

Thank you all for your continued love and support.

Bedside Update

About fifteen minutes after posting the last update from home, Amy and I received a call from Vicky to return to the hospital immediately. His nurse said that Dad's breathing had changed to a pattern called "agonal breathing." When we arrived, we could see that he was indeed breathing very differently from the early morning hours when we were with him. Twice throughout the day, we were certain that we were on the verge of seeing Dad slip away, but both times, he rallied.

His vitals have been all over today. At times his heart rate has been around 100 and at other times below 70. His blood pressure has been around 100/52 and then down to 67/43. He has also been running a temperature of about 100 throughout the day.

This is now the second night that Amy and I have sat at Dad's bedside, watching him, talking to him, and praying with him. Mum and Vicky are spending their second night in a hospitality room here at the hospital, trying to get a few hours of sleep before facing another uncertain day. We are all a little tired, but are so appreciative of your continued prayers and love. We have heard other people say in times of great need, that they felt they were being carried by the power of prayer. Now we are experiencing it. Thank you.

Free From The Ventilator

Yesterday around noon, Dad came off of the ventilator. Doctors were unsure how well he would do, but we are happy to report that his vitals have stayed good and his blood oxygen level remains high. He seemed to sleep very well through the night.

We have had another frank discussion with the medical staff and they have told us that dad is as good as he will get. The things that are wrong with him, have been permanently lost as a result of the stroke. He will remain bedridden, paralyzed in his right side, blind in his right eye, unable to swallow or talk. While we appreciate everything the Tree of Knowledge has done for us, our trust remains in the Tree of Life. With God all things are possible.

Dad's life is very tenuous and our prayer is still that God would raise him up entirely or take him home in peace. We do not want, and neither would Dad, for him to remain as he is. We know that God sometimes take us down to the wire, and we feel we're at that point. Thank you for your continued prayers for Dad and all of us.

Breathing Update

Dad has been pretty stable today and the respiratory therapist has been gradually weaning him off of the ventilator. He's gone from 16 breaths per minute (BPM) to 14bpm, then 8bpm, and closed off the day at 6bpm. Tomorrow they will try taking him off the vent altogether.

We know that Dad is in God's hands. Please keep all of us in prayer, especially Mum and Dad.