Oh Liz . . .. I'm so sorry . . . you will all miss him dreadfully. It's difficult to put into words . . . but there seems to be such a strong bond between many couples of yours and my parents' generation. A quiet sense of Love, Devotion, Duty and Dignity that's really very special. It was great that you could all spend so much precious time together. Bestest thoughts and (((((HUGS)))) to you and your Mum Jennifer Liz Graydon wrote: > Just to let you know that Dad died peacefully on 3 July, aged 87, after 4 > long months in hospital. He had had a series of mini strokes (small vessel > cerebrovascular disease) and we saw him pass through many different stages > which caused him a great amount of frustration and anxiety. My mother > visited him each day and only missed three in the whole of this time, > despite her physical infirmities; her devotion was a lesson in true love but > that added to the family's concerns and worries and our hearts break for her > too. He was on diamorphine for his last 5 days and so was lifted above his > anxiety and pain and enabled us to see him prepare to leave us in comfort > and peace and that was a great source of comfort for us too. As importantly > to all of us was that the afternoon before he died we had all been there > together; his priest had been to anoint and offers prayers and we all laid > on hands of healing;during a small songs of praise (held each Sunday in the > hospital) we had sat and sung the hymns and said the prayers around him and > then there was Songs of Praise on the television that we all joined in. > > Mum wanted to be there at his end to hold his hand as he passed from life to > death - but she missed it by 10 minutes; she wanted him there for their 60th > wedding anniversary, as he did, but he went just 3 days too soon. My sister > and I have been there supporting her this week, to comfort her in her pain > of grief and to help make those painful decisions and to try to be strong > for her. I am sure the reality will now set in as we are now in a period of > no decisions or mad rushing round making arrangements until Sunday 16th when > his body will be taken to Church for vespers and then on the 17th there will > be a Requiem Mass followed by private cremation. > > It may just be another date in our genealogy for future generations but for > now his memories will be very much alive for us. His faith and his family > were his life and I was blest to have him as a father. > > Liz > > >

Oh Liz, our thoughts and prayers are with you all hugs Dave, Pam and Nikki