Saying Good Bye!

Celebrating Uncle Tom's

life!

He wouldn't want it

any other way.

Since my last post,

my life has been somewhat

like riding a roller coaster,

some highs,

followed with some 

gut

wrenching

lows.

My dear, sweet, Uncle Tom,

the Patriarch of our family,

passed away(peacefully)

Sunday evening.

But this post is not going to be about

sadness...

NOPE,

It's hopefully going to convey

the message of  LOVE,

and

to remind ourselves

how each moment counts...

Hold your loved ones close,

and tell them YOU LOVE  THEM,

let them know how much

they mean to YOU!

I was able to visit my Uncle in

the hospital, and I was one

of the lucky ones to

see him when the pain

he had, was for a short while,

 under control. 

Before I left, we both said,

"I love YOU",

he took my hand and kissed it!

When we left, he was smiling and visiting

with family and friends,

my Aunt Mary (his soul mate),

at his side.

He, along with his family at his side,

chose to move on to palliative care,

 they specialize in relieving and

and preventing the suffering of

terminally ill patients.

All we wanted,

was for him not to

 be in pain anymore.

Uncle Tom's wish

was to go home.

On Sunday afternoon,

his family,

along with hospice,

arranged for Tom

to go home,

to his beloved beach house.

With his family by his side,

he passed away peacefully.

It's hard to imagine a

family event without him.

He was so much to all of us,

I'll miss his roar

of

La Familia

or his

famous

Group Hugs,

after a family get together!

Here are some pictures of

my Uncle Tom,

a Husband, Father,

Brother, Grandfather,

Uncle, Father in law,

Brother in law,

Good friend, Mentor,

teacher, hunting buddy,

a Marine

and so much more!

~Tom with some of his Granddaughters~

Most likely out crabbing!

~Tom the head Pirate~

Every summer we look

forward to going to the beach

for the 4th. of July!

The street is closed off and

the neighborhood has their own

parade...Our Familia have always

been the pirates, because

of Uncle Tom!

~Tom loooved anything to do with family~

~the kids loved being his pirates~

~my brothers adored him~

~the day of my son's wedding~

Always, the famous smile!

~at Dad's birthday party in May~

Forever

and

Always

in our hearts,

each of us carry's

a lifetime of memories of

our (my Uncle) Tom

and what he was to

each and every one of us!

I love you Uncle Tom!

Debbie~