Alex to be buried beside 'his papa'

While in the late stages of Alzheimer's Disease, 88-year-old Marion Jedd often didn't recognize his own son.

But he always recognized his 3-year-old grandson, Alex Jedd, who greeted him each morning by coming into his bedroom and saying, "Papa! Time for breakfast!" and then pushing his wheelchair into the kitchen.

The grandfather and grandson ate their meals together, and watched Alex's favorite TV shows, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and "Handy Manny" sitting side-by-side.

It wasn't unusual for Alex to climb onto his grandfather's wheelchair and sit on his lap, or curl up next to him on the couch or in bed.

Marion Jedd taught Alex words in his native language, Polish, which the preschooler delighted in repeating.

"Whenever Alex came in the room, he was so happy. They were really best friends," said Alex's mother, Brittany Meyer, who is engaged to Jedd's son, Mark.

Marion Jedd died in November 2009.

On June 12, when Alex died in a fire in his Prospect Heights home, his family immediately knew there was only one place to lay him to rest.

After his funeral Monday, Alex Jedd will be buried next to his best friend, his beloved Papa.

The thought of Alex and Papa together provides Meyer some peace.

"I keep telling myself that his Papa was there, holding his hand and walking him through," Meyer said, starting to cry. "His Papa was his best friend and he went with him."

Even though there was an 85-year age difference, the two shared a special bond, family and friends say.

"We couldn't understand Mr. Jedd sometimes, because he would mumble. But Alex always knew what he was saying somehow," Meyer said. "Sometimes little kids are afraid of old people ... but not Alex. He just loved his Papa."

Shortly before Meyer gave birth to Alex in July 2006, Marion Jedd was hospitalized for an assortment of health problems.

Doctors didn't expect him to live. Then Alex was born at the same hospital, and Jedd made a remarkable recovery and was able to go home.

The same thing happened last year, when Alex Jedd's sister, Rhianna, was born.

"He just wanted to be with his grandkids," Meyer said. "He loved them so much."