If you have that special someone in your life, you likely dread the day you’ll have to say goodbye for the last time.
Losing a partner is a bitter, but inevitable part of love since none of us can live forever. Coping with the loss of a loved one is deeply personal, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
If you’ve read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, you’ll remember that after losing his beloved Sonja, Ove turned to routine and stoicism, withdrawing from the world and showing disdain for those who tried to reach out to him.
In contrast, 90-year-old Gary Pitel from Bridgeton, New Jersey, adopted a vastly different approach to grieving. Here’s his story!
man touching cat
Gary was married to the love of his life, 86-year-old Joan, for 59 long years. Together, they shared many joyful moments, supporting each other through sickness and health, and loving one another deeply.
Their love nurtured a wonderful family that grew to appreciate the simplicity and beauty of their relationship and mutual respect.
Losing Joan broke Gary’s heart, but he refused to succumb to grief and become bitter or grumpy.
So, at the lunch following Joan’s funeral, Gary stood up and shared an interesting plan with his family: He intended to adopt a cat to help cope with the loneliness.
man looking at cat
The Pitel family wasted no time and immediately headed to the nearest PetSmart in Bridgeton.
As Gary looked at the many adorable cats, his attention was quickly captured by a beautiful two-year-old white cat named Evita.
Just as he had been certain years ago that Joan was the love of his life, he now felt sure that Evita was the perfect feline companion for him.
He approached her and interacted fondly with Evita, who seemed to reciprocate his affection.
However, a small problem soon arose…
man touching glass of cats shelter
Before bringing Evita home, Gary had to pass the shelter’s adoption checks.
His family, aware that he was an elderly man living alone, feared the shelter might not view him as the ideal match for a cat like Evita.
Concerned, they tried to persuade him to consider other ways to cope with the loss of his beloved wife.
However, it soon became clear that they had nothing to worry about!
an older man with cat
Just a day later, the shelter informed Gary that his application had been approved – meaning he got a green light to take Evita home!
Overwhelmed with joy and emotion, Gary impulsively renamed his new feline friend Joansie, after his late wife’s nickname.
But after some thought, he decided to settle on the name Eva instead.
senior man holding cat in arms
Today, this adorable duo shares an incredibly strong bond! Little Eva loves spending every moment with her new dad, following him around her forever home.
Gary relishes the company of Eva, the beautiful cat who saved him from the potential claws of depression he was about to fall into after the loss of his wife.
It’s truly incredible how powerful pet companionship is in our lives. Our furry friends have the ability to transform our sadness into joy and brighten our days simply by being there for us.