I was at the cemetery for the funeral of my beloved soulmate, my husband Lenny. As his coffin was lowered down in the grave, I felt I could no longer bear the pain. I was almost breaking down, when my sister-in-law, Linda called out to me and said, "Look up." My tears changed to smiles and joyfulness, when I saw a solitary white bird soaring in the sky just above Lenny's grave. It came out of the blue on its own, gently circled around the grave 3 times and then just disappeared, just as it had come. It was as if the large bird was gliding and gently dancing. In the last few days before he died, I had asked Lenny to give me a sign and he had said, "I do not know if I can give you a sign, because I have not died before and I do not know if I will be able to do it." Then when he passed away, he gave me numerous signs, but this sign at the cemetery was witnessed be a large number of people. I was filled with a tremendous joy and in my heart I felt Lenny speak to me, saying, "I am free now, look at me dancing".  

On the day of the funeral, there were no other birds in the sky. This one bird came exactly over his grave, exactly when his body was being lowered. It was white in color. It hovered circling over the grave and disappeared into the sky just as suddenly as it came.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        Perhaps one to two minutes.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         the beginning of sudden. I was told to look up by my sister-in-law. This bird appeared from nowhere and then after it circled the grave 3 times, it suddenly took off into the skies and vanished. The end too was sudden.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

He seemed to be at peace and free

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           It was witnessed by a large number of people who commented on it.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was in such deep pain, I could not longer bear it and almost at the verge of breaking down into uncontrollable crying. However when I saw the bird and felt Lenny talk to me in my heart. my tears changed to smiles and joyfulness and I felt a deep peace come over me.  I was filled with a tremendous joy and I was once again smiling.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Uncertain

felt much loved and at peace

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The worst part was the lowering of the coffin into the grave when I realized that Lenny would be no more with me, it was final. The best part was that I realized that he was now free and would be with me forever. The peace and joyfulness I experienced as I saw the bird gliding and felt him speak to me in my heart is indescribable.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Uncertain                  Describe:            I think that Lenny's death and the way he died made me realize that life is just a puff and that dying is new life. I now look forward to living that new eternal life with my Father in heaven.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No       Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes            God loves me and allowed my husband to comfort me.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        Uncertain

we never made a promise but in the last few days before he died, I had asked Lenny to give me a sign and he had said, "I do not know if I can give you a sign, because I have not died before and I do not know if I will be able to do it." He however told me he would send me a sign if he could.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes this entire episode was verified by many others who were at the funeral.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            joyfulness, peace and much loved.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           Yes

It was witnessed by a crowd of people at the cemetery

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Uncertain

Sometimes, I feel as if I know something about someone else -like telepathy, and it always proves to be true.

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           Uncertain

I am not certain but I feel I saw some light around the bird.

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     All who heard of this were touched by this episode and told me that it was a sign of Lenny's deep love and caring for me and that he would be with me in spirit always.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

But will be sharing it with Chicken soup for the soul

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       There were many more experiences that happened after my beloved passed away. I will try and enter them here when I can

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Yes 

I have had spiritual events when I have been healed.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes

To the best of my ability 

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    I think your questionnaire had many questions that collected all the info needed.