Farewell, Dad...

My father passed away Sunday morning. It all happened rather suddenly. He was improving last week and talking about going to the theatre and traveling. Friday, He had trouble breathing and my mother asked a hospice worker to come out Saturday to evaluate him. The hospice worker said he might not have much time left, so my mother called my brother to arrive on Sunday and I spent the night with my Dad so my mother could get some rest. When I woke up Sunday morning, he was gone. He was in no pain and passed peacefully in his sleep.

To make matters worse, their dog had cancer and got increasingly worse, so I had to take him to the vet to put him to sleep Tuesday. My brother has been here all week helping me and my mom and I went home last night to get some rest. We had one of the worst blizzards in Chicago history yesterday and today, so I've just been staying home with Betty and getting some rest.

Per my dad's request, we are not having a funeral service. My mother is planning his wake in the summer when the weather is pretty and everyone can enjoy his garden. And in his memory, we have requested in lieu of flowers, that donations can be made in his name to the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation at www.fightec.org/donate-today

He was a great father, a great role model, and my own personal hero and we will all miss him so much. But we're relieved that he is free of pain and has gone to a more beautiful and better place and has his dog to keep him company. And per his instructions, as they removed his body we played the song he chose for his personal sendoff:

Gotta dream boy
Gotta song
Paint your wagon
And come along

Where am I goin'?
I don't know
When will I be there?
I ain't certain
What will I get?
I ain't equipped to say

But who gives a damn?
Who gives a damn?
Who gives a damn?
We're on our way

Where am I goin'?
I don't know
Where am I headin'?
I ain't certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way

When will I be there?
I don't know
When will I get there?
I ain't certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way

Gotta dream boy
Gotta song
Paint your wagon
And come along...