My Dad passed away on Thursday morning at 7:30. His battle with heart disease, leukemia and emphysema finally were over. He passed away with a nurse by his side. Somehow I think he wanted it like this. I don’t think he wanted Mom or Mel, to have to remember him in those last moments.
Today I want to share a few pictures of dad over the years. The first picture is from a newspaper article about our family back in 1966 when Dad did the music for The Sound Of Music and Mel, Mom and I were in the cast. Yes, that is me sitting next to Dad. I was 7 years old.
The next picture is Dad and me when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I was going through a chubby phase.
This is a picture taken on the one and only trip I took alone with my parents. We went to Bermuda to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Notice that Dad always had on a tie. He wore one every day until after he retired from teaching.
This is a picture of Dad with my two girls, Katie and Mandy. Dad didn’t travel much, but he and Mom came one day to visit us in New Hampshire. It was so great to see them.
This picture was taken before I started Weight Watchers. It didn’t matter to Dad. He always loved us no matter how we looked.
And this is the last picture of all of us taken at their 60th wedding anniversary last July.
And this was the invitation to their party. We used what I thought was the nicest picture of my Dad and Mom from their wedding.
My Dad was born in Boston on January 12th 1927. He was the only child of my grandparents, Sam and Elsie.
He met my Mom when they were 13 and 14 years old. Dad was a pianist and Mom was a ballerina. She loved his smile and his musical ability and he loved her dancing and her red sweater!
They married in 1948 in Brighton, Massachusetts. My brother Richard was born in 1951, Mel in 1953 and I came along in 1958.
Dad was the music teacher for the school system we attended on Cape Cod. He also played the organ for church services and for weddings and funerals all over our home town. During the summer he worked on the desk at the local police station.
The end of his life was difficult and painful. We were all so relieved when he went to Hospice because his suffering was finally over and was no longer in pain.
As I stood by his bed on Sunday and held his hand I looked around at my sister and mother and father and realized that this was the last time the four of us would be together. The next chapter of dad’s life would be spent with my brother and daughter, Katie in Heaven.
Rest in peace, Dad. I love you.
What a beautiful, beautiful tribute to your Dad, Maribeth! The photos are gorgeous.
It must have been a good feeling to know that you could all be together one last time on Sunday!
And what a nice thought that he’ll be with your brother and your daughter Katie now!!
*Hugs* my friend.
I can only imagine how hard that must be!
This is a wonderful post and tribute to your Dad, Maribeth. What precious memories, you had beautiful times together.
May your Dad rest in peace.
Keeping you in my thoughts.
((Hugs))
The ending of a life is always so sad, but what a gift to know that it was well lived and well loved.
My thoughts are with you and your family in this difficult time.
Oh, how I know the feeling. So double sided. Finally someone dear to you get to rest in peace and yet there is great sorrow for the loss of a beloved person that you will miss. My deepest sympathies for you and your family. Now the memories will be golden moments, like your wonderful photo post tribute…
((hugs))
I am sorry. I know this was written with tears…but you did a lovely, lovely job. Peace.
🙂 What a great blogpost. My dad is 84 and this terrifies me rather much. 🙁
I’m sorry to hear about your dad, and I wish all y’all peace.
So sorry Maribeth. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
It was neat to hear more about your Dad’s life. I love the pictures 🙂 I’m glad he is able to be in peace now. My thoughts are with you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers Maribeth. You did, indeed, do a wonderful tribute to your father. I am sure he would be very pleased. It truly is a comfort knowing your father is with loved ones gone on.
Hugs to you,
Trish
Hi Mom,
My thoughts are with you and the family. I thought this was a very nice post, and love each of the pics that you put up!
xo
Lots of Love,
Mandy
On this wedding picture you look very much like your mom !
Nice memories you have and you can be thankful for that. I don’t miss my father at all, that’s horrible to say but it is the truth. Your dad went away peacefully and this is the best. You know that my best friend past away on thursday 3 weeks ago ? I can’t still believe it.
What a beautiful tribute to your Dad. I will miss Uncle Jim very much!
In the second picture he looks so much like Papa Sam…
May peace and blessing be with you and your family.
This was so well-written, you can not help but feel included in the celebration of life and the sadness of his departure.
Thanks for sharing the pictures, they were lovely.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
What a sweet sweet tribute Maribeth. He is home now… for eternity. Whole and well and happy. I know he will be missed.
Congrats to Anneliese!
We are so sorry to hear of your loss…
I lost my fater way back in 1993, and still miss him terribly today. But, in the month from when he was dignosed with cancer to the day he died, he was in so much pain and to see him in peace and pain free the night he died, was so comforting as this was my last memory of him.
May he rest in peace with your much loved family members. Now make sure that you, and your family, take care of yourself and each other…
B&L
Maribeth,
I am so sorry to hear about your Father’s passing. It helps a little to remember that he is not suffering anymore. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Kristin (Krush)
I am sorry about the loss of your Dad. I lost my sister back in October. It’s hard, I know. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as well as your Mom & sister and the rest of the family. That was a wonderful tribute to your dad. Beautiful pics of a beautiful family.
God Bless~
Debbie Jean
My dear sweet friend, I am so sorry about the passing of your daddy. Even though we know that is the circle of life, we are NEVER prepared. The fact that Hospic was there, should make you feel so much better because they do not let our loved ones suffer with pain. My brother’s and mother’s passing is still so raw, I can barely talk about them, so I know how deep the wound is on your heart…but, Daddy is in God’s hands now, and always is with you in your heart, like your beloved daughter and brother are.
Hi Maribeth, sorry to hear about your dad and I apologize for my late comment. Somehow your feed was not working well with Bloglines so I missed out on this story.
May your dad rest in peace. From what you wrote, he’s a remarkable man! Sixty years of being married is a feat and I truly admire him for that!
I apoligize for reading backwards here, Maribeth…I’m pulling up your posts (which were all saved) that I missed while away, on FeedDemon.
I very much enjoyed your photos here and again, my sympathy to you and your family.
I don’t think I realized you grew up on Cape Cod or that you have lost a daughter.
Thank you for sharing all of this…it makes me feel like I’m really getting to know you.