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Teen gives up fancy bat mitzvah to hold service with dying grandpa
By Kim Hone-McMahan Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:35 a.m. EDT, Aug 09, 2007
Ally Willen nestled close to her grandfather and spoke just above a whisper.
``Do you have it all down?'' Stuart Willen asked the 13-year-old about the upcoming service.
Ally nodded.
Nearby, a tent began to fill with guests. Earlier in the day, it had rained, making the ground soft in the magnificent gardens at the Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service in Copley Township. Some women's heels sank into the ground. But a few hours before dusk, the clouds were clearing, allowing the sun to peek through.
``Stand up and turn,'' Willen, whom Ally fondly refers to as ``Bop,'' told the girl. ``Are you happy with this outfit?''
Ally gave Bop a grin and spun in a circle.
This is a story about love. It's about a girl whose admiration for her grandfather is so great, she chose to be with him on one of the most important days in her life -- even if that meant making sacrifices. She could have waited to have an elaborate bat mitzvah celebration with 200 guests and all the fanfare, but it might not have been the same.
Earlier, the Revere Middle School student told her mother, Michelle, that she didn't care about a party.
``I just want Bop to be at my bat mitzvah,'' she said.
Bop has always been an active part of Ally's life. He taught her many things, including the importance of giving to charity and the appreciation for different cultures. Now Bop is dying of leukemia, and in his final days, the selfless child with a grateful heart wanted him near. That meant working doubly hard to prepare for the service, which was originally planned to take place a month later.
During the ceremony, the proud 70-year-old's wheelchair rested in the front row. There, he could get a good look at the girl who meant the world to him. He listened intently as she read the Torah and led an intimate group of family and friends in prayer.
``Not only did you do something special for Bop, Bop did something special for you,'' Ally's father, Todd, said during the service. ``He gave you the chance to give him honor.... ''
Bop, who insisted that the day's events focus on Ally rather than himself, slipped a finger beneath his glasses and brushed away a tear.
Of course, there were some tears. But any sadness of the days to come was washed away by laughter and song.
According to Jewish faith, when boys and girls become bar and bat mitzvah, they reach a milestone in their lives, at which time they begin to think about the kind of people they want to be.
Ally has already shown the kind of adult she will become -- one of grace and giving.
Kim Hone-McMahan's Sketches are short tales you can read before finishing your first cup of coffee. Know of a behind-the-scenes person or unheralded happening? Call 330-996-3742 or write kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Ally Willen nestled close to her grandfather and spoke just above a whisper.
``Do you have it all down?'' Stuart Willen asked the 13-year-old about the upcoming service.
Ally nodded.
Nearby, a tent began to fill with guests. Earlier in the day, it had rained, making the ground soft in the magnificent gardens at the Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service in Copley Township. Some women's heels sank into the ground. But a few hours before dusk, the clouds were clearing, allowing the sun to peek through.
``Stand up and turn,'' Willen, whom Ally fondly refers to as ``Bop,'' told the girl. ``Are you happy with this outfit?''
Ally gave Bop a grin and spun in a circle.
This is a story about love. It's about a girl whose admiration for her grandfather is so great, she chose to be with him on one of the most important days in her life -- even if that meant making sacrifices. She could have waited to have an elaborate bat mitzvah celebration with 200 guests and all the fanfare, but it might not have been the same.
Earlier, the Revere Middle School student told her mother, Michelle, that she didn't care about a party.
``I just want Bop to be at my bat mitzvah,'' she said.
Bop has always been an active part of Ally's life. He taught her many things, including the importance of giving to charity and the appreciation for different cultures. Now Bop is dying of leukemia, and in his final days, the selfless child with a grateful heart wanted him near. That meant working doubly hard to prepare for the service, which was originally planned to take place a month later.
During the ceremony, the proud 70-year-old's wheelchair rested in the front row. There, he could get a good look at the girl who meant the world to him. He listened intently as she read the Torah and led an intimate group of family and friends in prayer.
``Not only did you do something special for Bop, Bop did something special for you,'' Ally's father, Todd, said during the service. ``He gave you the chance to give him honor.... ''
Bop, who insisted that the day's events focus on Ally rather than himself, slipped a finger beneath his glasses and brushed away a tear.
Of course, there were some tears. But any sadness of the days to come was washed away by laughter and song.
According to Jewish faith, when boys and girls become bar and bat mitzvah, they reach a milestone in their lives, at which time they begin to think about the kind of people they want to be.
Ally has already shown the kind of adult she will become -- one of grace and giving.
Kim Hone-McMahan's Sketches are short tales you can read before finishing your first cup of coffee. Know of a behind-the-scenes person or unheralded happening? Call 330-996-3742 or write kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com.
