...please pray for my family, especially my aunt and cousin - and my mom. My mom is now the only one left of her immediate family - as she was the younger of two kids, growing up with their parents. My mom is heartbroken, as we all are. My Uncle Dick was a wonderful man, brother, husband, father (to Doug), grandfather and uncle. His 43rd wedding anniversary to Aunt Pat was coming up in September.

He was diagnosed with having polio as a young boy back in the 50s and never really overcame all the health complications that followed. In fact, my grandmother cried the day the news came of the Salk vaccine - knowing it was too late for her son.

Just please say a prayer and keep my family in your thoughts today. Thank you!

I'm so sorry to hear that, Monika. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

I'm so sorry Monika. Your whole family are in my prayers. :(

Wow, Monika. That really sux. I'll keep y'all in my prayers. :)

I am so sorry Monika. :bighug: I will be praying for you and your family.

Here's to you and your new gaurdian angel.

Thanks, everyone. Here's a pic of Uncle Dick with my mom - happy siblings taken at Christmas 2007:

I'm very sorry to hear this. You and your family will be in my prayers.

More pics:

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your uncle, Monika... I will keep you & your family in my thoughts and prayers...

Thank you - here's another pic of Uncle Dick and Mom (Christmas 2008). The last pic is of Danielle (my cousin's wife), Doug (my cousin), Dave (my brother), Uncle Dick and Aunt Pat at my nephew's baptism in August 2009.

My sincerest condolences on your loss, Monika.

Your uncle sure seems to have been loved a lot.

I'm sure your paths will cross again one day. Until then, take comfort in the knowledge that you were a great niece to your uncle, and that he no doubt knew how you felt about him.

P.S. You sure do look like your mom! :)

I am so sorry to hear this, Monika. You and your family are in my prayers. :(

I'll be praying for you and your family.

I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

I'm so sorry, Monika. May he RIP. :(

I'm sorry about your uncle. Your family is in my prayers.

im so sorry for you loss monika:( my prayers to you and your family

I am very sorry about the loss of your beloved uncle...you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Your uncle, mom, and other family members look like such nice folks.

Monika, I'm so sorry to hear about your Uncle. My condolences to you and your family (sorry for not responding sooner but I haven't had access to a computer until just now)

Thanks again, everyone, for the prayers and kind words. As far as I know, the calling hours will be Friday and the funeral Saturday. I'll keep everyone updated.

I'm so sorry to hear that Monika, my prayers are with you and your family :( :hug:

Those pictures are adorable. Thanks for posting. :) And it's cool how you're using one as your avatar.

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

My dear Monika if I were there I would put my arms around you and give you a big hug. My deepest sympathy on your loss.

Those pictures are adorable. Thanks for posting. :) And it's cool how you're using one as your avatar.
Thank you - of course, I almost always used Bewitched avatars, but this is a special exception. It's odd, but it really hasn't sunk in yet. I'm sure it probably will on Friday and Saturday for the calling hours and funeral.

I'm sorry for your loss, Monika. Our aunts and uncles become very special to us. My mother's brother, my uncle Bobby, died of a heart attack very suddenly in 1994. I was extremely close to him, and I can cry to this day just thinking about him. Both of my parents come from families of eight children, so I had plenty. Add in their spouses; and my husband's aunts and uncles, and I had dozens.

As you get older, it's unreal. I lost an uncle two months ago. I lost three last year. Both of my parents only have two siblings left. It's just so sad. The generations before us, leave us. They lived their lives just as we are now. As morbid as it sounds, our time will come too. I didn't mean to go on like this. Just thinking out loud, I guess. May God watch over your family during this difficult time.

Thank you so much, everyone. Your kind words and prayers mean so much to my whole family. :bighug:

Sorry to hear the sad news about your uncle monika. My prayers are with you and your family

Sorry to hear the sad news about your uncle monika. My prayers are with you and your family
Thank you, Sol. I posted his obit on my Facebook page.

I'm sorry for your loss Monika, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I'm sorry for your loss Monika, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Thank you - we got through the calling hours, and the funeral is tomorrow. So we're bracing ourselves for that. Please keep those prayers coming, folks!!

Thank you - we got through the calling hours, and the funeral is tomorrow. So we're bracing ourselves for that. Please keep those prayers coming, folks!!

I'll be thinking of you, I hope you all give him a great send off. Be strong!

Thanks! Uncle Dick was a huge Neil Diamond fan, so Neil Diamond songs were playing in his room at the funeral home. So hearing upbeat stuff that he loved like "America", "Cherry Cherry" and "Yesterday's Songs" helped cheer us up.

Thanks! Uncle Dick was a huge Neil Diamond fan, so Neil Diamond songs were playing in his room at the funeral home. So hearing upbeat stuff that he loved like "America", "Cherry Cherry" and "Yesterday's Songs" helped cheer us up.

Aww that's lovely. My dad liked Neil Diamond too. You have to stay positive and think of those good times. Celebrate his life. :)

Plus, being a scrapbooker, I took on the task of compiling photos from his/my mom's childhood on and attaching them to posterboard to put on display. I also found a beautiful 8x10 color picture in a frame taken of them as children, which I knew would be perfect to show as well. It wasn't much, but I'm happy I was able to do SOMETHING to show my love and appreciation for my uncle.

Plus, being a scrapbooker, I took on the task of compiling photos from his/my mom's childhood on and attaching them to posterboard to put on display. I also found a beautiful 8x10 color picture in a frame taken of them as children, which I knew would be perfect to show as well. It wasn't much, but I'm happy I was able to do SOMETHING to show my love and appreciation for my uncle.

That's sweet Monika. The photos you posted are lovely, you all seem like such a close family..which I just love.

Thank you, sweetie. :bighug:

We got through the service today - it was short but sweet. Our pastor delivered a beautiful sermon. It's also the only funeral I've ever been to that began and ended with a Neil Diamond song (opened with "Cherry Cherry" and closed with "America").

After the employees at the funeral home ushered everyone but the immediate family out to their cars (to get the procession ready), a couple of us stayed in a little room off to the side of the funeral room (the rest of the family went out to the lobby). They didn't close the curtain all the way - so my 4-year-old nephew, Andrew, peeked through and asked his father and I why they were taking the flowers down from the casket. Then Andrew burst into tears and cried, "I want Uncle Dick!" over and over. Even though I didn't see it, I'm pretty sure Andrew saw them close the casket and that's what set him off - poor thing.

My brother-in-law handed 11-month-old Ryan over to me so he could comfort Andrew. Poor kiddo.

Otherwise, everything went smoothly. My brother was a pallbearer, Pastor led us in prayer at the grave site, and there was a lovely luncheon served back at the funeral home. It WAS nice to see relatives and friends I hadn't seen in EONS (sad that it always seems to be at funerals whenever you reconnect), so that was the upside.

Sorry to hear it Monika.

I'm sorry for your loss, Monika. Our aunts and uncles become very special to us. My mother's brother, my uncle Bobby, died of a heart attack very suddenly in 1994. I was extremely close to him, and I can cry to this day just thinking about him. Both of my parents come from families of eight children, so I had plenty. Add in their spouses; and my husband's aunts and uncles, and I had dozens.

As you get older, it's unreal. I lost an uncle two months ago. I lost three last year. Both of my parents only have two siblings left. It's just so sad. The generations before us, leave us. They lived their lives just as we are now. As morbid as it sounds, our time will come too. I didn't mean to go on like this. Just thinking out loud, I guess. May God watch over your family during this difficult time.

I'm sorry you have lost so many people Janice. I know it's never easy losing a family member.

That is so sad about your nephew. The poor kid. I've lost so many family members over the years and I've just become numb to it after awhile. I lost my favorite Uncle and Aunt during the last few years and I think about them alot. God bless you and your family Monika. I'm keeping all of you in my prayers. :(

Thank you, Jenny. :)

So sorry about your loss Monika :(

Aunts and Uncles are great, and I'm glad you got to spend a lot of time with yours. The bad news is, you'll miss him. The good news is, you'll see him again.

Looks like you have some wonderful pictures to remember him by.

It really seems as if you are a wonderful source of comfort and strength for your family, Monika. You always do so much to make people feel better and to make bad times just a bit easier.

I'm very sorry for your family's loss. But it sounds like the memorials went as well as possible. Like Sonny, I have lost all of my immediate family, and at this point only have one surviving aunt and uncle, plus a niece and nephew and many cousins. I'm glad your family is close and able to support each other. I know you won't ever take it for granted, but it's nice to think about how fortunate one is to have family around in times like this, and well, always.

Best,

That is so sad about your nephew. The poor kid. I've lost so many family members over the years and I've just become numb to it after awhile. I lost my favorite Uncle and Aunt during the last few years and I think about them alot. God bless you and your family Monika. I'm keeping all of you in my prayers. :(
Thank you, Sonny. Andrew seems to have bounced back, but he became almost hysterical yesterday. Even for an adult, that's not a sight you want to see.

So sorry about your loss Monika :(

Aunts and Uncles are great, and I'm glad you got to spend a lot of time with yours. The bad news is, you'll miss him. The good news is, you'll see him again.

Looks like you have some wonderful pictures to remember him by.
Yes, and he's out of pain - he suffered from numerous health problems his whole life. Thank you.

It really seems as if you are a wonderful source of comfort and strength for your family, Monika. You always do so much to make people feel better and to make bad times just a bit easier.

I'm very sorry for your family's loss. But it sounds like the memorials went as well as possible. Like Sonny, I have lost all of my immediate family, and at this point only have one surviving aunt and uncle, plus a niece and nephew and many cousins. I'm glad your family is close and able to support each other. I know you won't ever take it for granted, but it's nice to think about how fortunate one is to have family around in times like this, and well, always.

Best,
Thank you so much - I am doing my best to be strong for my mother, aunt, cousin, and my cousin's daughters (who are heartbroken at the loss of their grandpa). You're also right that people should never, ever underestimate family.

The song that opened the service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mAtYVM-uBw

The song that closed the service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii0b2rpXJ5s

Plus, during the calling hours the day before, Neil Diamond's music was playing continuously - so besides these two songs, people found themselves humming "Sweet Caroline", "Yesterday's Songs", "Forever In Blue Jeans", "I Am I Said", etc. Neil Diamond was Uncle Dick's favorite singer.

Sorry for your loss, Monika

My mom said he personified the phrase "making lemons into lemonade". Uncle Dick couldn't run track (due to the fact that his body was never the same after the polio), so he became the statistician for the track team during high school, and his work with numbers ultimately led him into a career in accounting. He played French horn in the jazz band.

His childhood illness left him sterile, but he was still able to become a father in 1972 when he and Aunt Pat adopted Doug. Doug and HIS wife, in the years to come, gave Uncle Dick three girls who just adored their grandpa.

After the sudden and unexpected death of his father in June 1974, he stepped into the important role of walking his little sister, my mother, down the aisle at her wedding 3 1/2 months later. My mom still finds that hard to talk about - that her father died right before her wedding. He was all excited about getting to wear a tuxedo and give his little girl away. But Mom said that her big brother was the best possible sub in that case.

His life was nearly ruined due to alcoholism, but after giving up drinking he was able to help many people through AA. He fought SO many demons, both internal and external, but in the nearly 31 years I knew him, I never ONCE heard him complain.

I'm sorry to hear that. May he R.I.P.

I'm sorry to hear that. May he R.I.P.
Thank you!!!!

My mom said he personified the phrase "making lemons into lemonade". Uncle Dick couldn't run track (due to the fact that his body was never the same after the polio), so he became the statistician for the track team during high school, and his work with numbers ultimately led him into a career in accounting. He played French horn in the jazz band.

His childhood illness left him sterile, but he was still able to become a father in 1972 when he and Aunt Pat adopted Doug. Doug and HIS wife, in the years to come, gave Uncle Dick three girls who just adored their grandpa.

After the sudden and unexpected death of his father in June 1974, he stepped into the important role of walking his little sister, my mother, down the aisle at her wedding 3 1/2 months later. My mom still finds that hard to talk about - that her father died right before her wedding. He was all excited about getting to wear a tuxedo and give his little girl away. But Mom said that her big brother was the best possible sub in that case.

His life was nearly ruined due to alcoholism, but after giving up drinking he was able to help many people through AA. He fought SO many demons, both internal and external, but in the nearly 31 years I knew him, I never ONCE heard him complain.

It sounds like your uncle was an amazing guy who made it through a lot of ups and downs. I know this is very hard on your mother, and on you as well. I'll be keeping your whole family in my prayers. I am so sorry for your loss.

It sounds like your uncle was an amazing guy who made it through a lot of ups and downs. I know this is very hard on your mother, and on you as well. I'll be keeping your whole family in my prayers. I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you - Mom is holding up pretty well, but I'm not sure if it's really sunk in yet. When it does, we'll all do whatever we can to help.

Sorry to hear about your uncle Monika. :( Hope everything's ok.

Sorry to hear about your uncle Monika. :( Hope everything's ok.
We're hanging in there as best we can, Leigh Ann...thank you so much for your kind words!! :bighug:

When my uncle died a year ago, it hurt so badly. I wish there was more I could have done for him. He suffered so long. We were expecting something to happen, but not that soon. You are never really prepared.

I am sorry for the loss of your uncle. :(

He was in the hospital and then an inpatient home for months in 2008 - I thought for sure we would lose him then. But he pulled through! Then a couple of weeks ago, my aunt called and said he had a cold and he also had to go to the hospital and get some X-rays done. Next thing we know, the cold had turned into full-blown pneumonia.

So I know what you mean, Jason - and I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your uncle. It sounds like you were very close.

AWW really sorry monica.....may his soul rest in peace....