It has been a very hectic July and August. My Dad died on Aug.10th, 2007, after a very short fight with cancer. But July started with my nephew’s wedding on July 7th. Jay, Ted and I drove to Fayetteville AR for the wedding and family reunion. We stopped at my parents for an overnight visit Sunday on our way back to Arlington. Dad had no idea that his life was about to change. It was a great visit, and my parents had been able to visit with all of my siblings and the grandchildren who had traveled for the wedding, either before or after the wedding. Upon our arrival in Arlington, Ted took the entrance exam for the Navy and was accepted and currently has a delayed entry date of Dec. 11th. We arrived back in Westcliffe on Thursday and Dad went to the hospital with chest pain on Saturday, one week after JD’s wedding. By Wednesday, a diagnosis of Esophogeal Adenocarcinoma was given, which had spread to the liver and lungs already. By Friday, he was moved to a brand new inpatient Hospice facility and my out of town siblings and I with our children were on our way back to El Dorado. We had a full Saturday and Sunday being together and being with Dad/Grandpa. We took the opportunity to do a family blessing and celebration of his life, which Jay videotaped, where we all thanked him for his love, guidance, shelter, and for being an outstanding model of a terrific person. We had the time to make plans for the future, to comfort one another and to spend time with him.

My sister, Mary Beth, and I stayed on after the other out of town family members left on Sunday evening. We stayed at the hospice overnight, giving the local family members (Margaret, Laura, Colleen and Mom) a chance to rest, since they had spent all of their nights at the hospital. During this week, Dad rallied enough to move to my brother’s home. Dad felt he might conquer this illness or at least have several months. We moved Dad to Joe’s with outpatient hospice services the following Saturday. Mary Beth and I left for our homes on Monday. It was a great setup, but Dad gradually declined and by the following weekend, it was decided to move him back to inpatient Hospice. My sister, Mary Kay, and I arrived back in El Dorado on Thursday evening. My Dad died Friday evening, surrounded by family in a beautiful facility only four weeks after his first inkling that he had a problem.

The good news was that he had very minimal pain, was surrounded by his family at all times, had the opportunity to visit and talk with all of the family and many, many friends and was at peace spiritually. My brother, Tom, has been diligently scanning family photos, particularly of my Dad. My brother in law, Mike, has created a wonderful webpage www.owenpauldoyle.net in tribute to my Dad with these photos and the comments from so many people has been so rewarding to read. My Dad was a humble man, who didn’t see his own greatness or impact on others, but his presence was well noted in the world and he will be missed.

I was able to spend the time after my Dad’s death until the services with my Mom, helping her take care of business and going through the financial/legal/insurance forms needed. We had his memorial services last weekend, the 24th and 25th. My brother, Paul and his wife Maggie, will stay a few more days this week with her – helping as well. We had a great party Friday evening after the Vespers service, with a wonderful slide show, again prepared by Mike and Tom, but the best part was being together and having so many people that you love help you through. There were 33 immediate family members together, my siblings, their spouses, grandchildren (3 with spouses or almost spouses) and of course Mom, who was our focus and our strength.

I hope you take the opportunity to check out the website. Thank you to everyone who has already left a comment. I’ll be sure to leave a message on similar occasions from now on, I was too shy before to do so. Having been on the receiving side, I know how it helps. Thank you to all of my siblings and our spouses. Everyone has a different strength or talent and everyone’s talent was used and relied upon during these past two months. Thank you to my family, especially Jay, for supporting me and allowing me to stay in El Dorado to do what I could to help. I love you all.