.The Service.

My fathers funeral was yesterday. It was a beautiful service and a beautiful day and a wonderful celebration of my fathers life. It was also one of the hardest days of my life.

A few weeks ago I found, online, this story about a dragonfly. I read it and tucked it away. When my father passed, my mother said "I just wish he could give me a sign that he's okay......why can't he do that?" and I instantly thought of the dragonfly story and said "I know why......" and I read it to her. At that moment, I knew I had to include it on the programs for the Church Service. Here is the story....

**double click on image to view larger

After I decided to use that story I was seeing dragonfly's everywhere I turned. Flying around me at the Church the day we made service arrangements, I drove by "Dragonfly Cafe" where there was a big dragonfly on the side of the building and when I came home I saw Delaney's pink bike helmet in the garage that has dragonfly's all over it. I took it as a sign that my father's soul had made it's journey to Heaven and he was letting us know he was okay. Then at the service when Deacon Hawk did the Homily I was touched to hear him use the story and build upon it. At the cemetery, as we gathered around for final prayers and goodbye, a dragonfly came, flitted around, landed and hung out on the flowers atop my father's casket. That dragonfly stayed the entire time we were out there.

The Eulogy I gave my father, it's short but I was asked to keep it 3-5 minutes long by the Catholic Chruch:

If my father were here today, he'd say "look at this beautiful day God has given us" because that's how he started his day, whether it was 20 below or warm and sunny. Today, is the perfect kind of day to celebrate his life. Thank you all for coming.

I remember when my Grandfather passed away and my father was preparing his eulogy. He was so nervous about getting up in front of everyone and wondered if he'd make it through it without breaking down. Today, I completely understand how he was feeling. Like father like daughter with the fear of public speaking.

The fact that you're here means my father has touched your life in some way and I know I don't need to tell you what a wonderful man he was or how much he loved his wife and best friend of 40 years, his children, his grandchildren and the rest of his family, the Red Sox, Sunny days, a walk on the causeway or a glass of wine with his friends.

I know every little girl thinks their father is the best dad ever---but mine truly was. He was the kind of father who played the guitar and sang silly songs to us, who made homemade fudge on Christmas Eve and the best pizza ever. He told the silliest tall tales. He once got his then 3 year old granddaughter to watch an entire Red Sox game by telling her the catcher was Barney the Dinosaur. Those of you who knew him well knew he had an innate ability to tell a story. He could take a 5 second story and make it last 5 minutes, with his arms going and all kinds of expression in those kind blue eyes of his. We'd all smile and roll our eyes, grandchildren included. This morning, I asked my daughter, Delaney, "what's something silly you remember about Poppy?" and without hesitation she said "remember how Poppy would always pretend he was missing a finger and he would tell me that a turtle bit it off?" I'm going to miss those stories.

We can't forget his sense of humor, which we saw glimpses of, right up until the end, even though he didn't have much to smile about. For example, 2 days before he passed away I sat and did a crossword puzzle with him. I said to him "horse blank, 4 letters". He held up his hand and put up four fingers, one by one and said "crap". So Dad.

The other night my 8 year old son, Carter, came to me and sat on my lap and cried and said "why did God have to take Poppy?" and as I searched for something to tell him, to help his broken heart feel better, I felt a sense of peace as these words came out of my mouth, because I knew, in my heart, it was true.......

"God loves Poppy so much that he took him home to be with him. Poppy tried to get better, to come back to us, to be with us but he was just too sick. He's in a better place now and he's happy and I know he's looking down on us. He'll always be with us in our hearts and minds but we're sure going to miss him being here with us."

My wonderful friend Jan sketched this portrait of my father for me. I will treasure it always. Thank you Jan!

**click on photo to view it larger

The arrangements........

You can read a full obituary in tomorrows Burlington Free Press.

Visiting hours will be on Friday, September 4th from 4-7 p.m. at the Mountain View Funeral Home on Pinecrest Drive in Essex.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 5th at 11 a.m. in Holy Cross Church in Colchester. Burial will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers we would like donations to go to the Youth Center at Holy Cross Church.

Homesick

sent to me by a friend. thank you. it's perfect xo

Finally Home

My Dad passed away at 2:45 this morning surrounded by all of us. We are going to miss him so much but we know he is whole again, no more suffering, no more pain.I'm certain he is out for a nice long walk right now w/ his father---who is showing him around heaven.

We are making arrangements and I will post them later.

Xo

Bad News

My Dad had another bleed this morning. Bigger than the last one.He is back at the hospital and they are keeping him comfortable.There is really nothing they can do. It is just a matter of time.He'll be going "home" soon. Pray for strength for all of us as his journey comes to an end.

It's been so long.......

since I've seen my Dad like this that when Delaney said "mom, look at Poppy" while this flashed across my computer screen it stopped me in my tracks. It's hard for me to remember him any other way than the way he is right now. I am going to print this and put it by his bed side as a reminder to the staff that THIS is my father and as a reminder to my Dad to SMILE. I know he doesn't have much to smile about these days but a little positive energy can go a long way! Funny thing is......I've never seen these photos before. They are from Carter's birthday last summer and were still in RAW format tucked away w/ the other unprocessed shots from the day. I'm not sure why it came up on my slideshow, as it's not in the slideshow folder, but it did........and I needed to see this........I think the whole family did.

I'm not quite sure what he's doing---although I think it's his version of "hang 10" turns "call me", lol. He's a goof.

Day 64

So many signs that the summer is coming to an end. School starts in 3 days. The pools are closing. The days are getting shorter and cooler (I noticed last night it was dark at 8:00). The fair is in town. Tuesday is September 1st. The summer of 2009 is one I will always remember.

Yesterday I took my dad down to the kitchen/waiting room. I told him there was a computer in there and would he like to do anything on it. He said that he'd like me to pull up redsox.com and then I asked him if he'd like me to find some information on Remdog for him (Remdog is an announcer, for the Redsox, who has been away since May w/ lung cancer and depression. My dad LOVES him). He said yes. He hates having to wear that helmet (he will need to wear it anytime he is out of bed, until the bone is back in place and we are not sure when that will be) but I kept reminding him that all great athletes wear a helmet to protect their heads. Ivan---thanks for the Redsox sticker.

My dad continues to make progress. yesterday he was making his chair go by himself w/ his foot and hand. He grabbed the handrail and put his foot on the floor and thought he was getting up. I told him all in due time. Of course he's frustrated and confused at times. Still trying to piece things together and make sense of it all. He's hasn't been sleeping great either. He and I did a crossword puzzle together yesterday (he is a crossword guru) and he amazed me. I said "____ Moines, 3 letters" and he said "DES, D-E-S" and then I said "Air Force One......3 letters" and he said "jet" and "dispensable candy, 3 letters" and he said "Pez, they still make that stuff?" then I said "horse _______" and he thought for a minute and said "crap". Haha. That sense of humor shines through.

I know many of you have expressed your wishes to come visit him but we think he needs more time. We don't feel like he's emotionally ready to have visitors other than family right now. We'll let you know when he feels up to it. In the meantime, your continued prayers mean the world to us and him.

xo