For memory sake. Finishing the several pages of this time in my life. I want to remember my Dad’s funeral services and all the really unique and personal, special touches my family and I did to honor and remember my Dad’s life. Even though his life ended suddenly, and the last few years were so sad, he lived an incredible life full of laughs, love and so many memories! I can’t forget all the hard work! My dad was the hardest worker. Grateful for the memories to hold onto forever, and to know that I will see my Dad again one day!
We used large foam boards from Dollar Tree to adhere pictures to, Brittany and I thought it would look so nice with a blue trim. Loved how the navy blue ribbon looked!
My Dad owned Union Service and was a mechanic, until a couple years before he passed away. He rarely missed a day of work.
That tire clock hung in his station and was a gift from my mom to him. More often than not you could find him wearing a hat at the shop!
We had a few different tables, one work related, one family related and one for his younger years and accomplishments. This family table was so special! He loved his family and loved to tease his grandkids. He was always passing treats to them and wanting to feed all the babies as soon as they could eat. Brittany had the sweetest idea to have each grandkid draw a picture of a memory with Papa.
We also had a few of the gifts we gave him throughout the years. I thought it was pretty sweet that I could still find several things from when we were kids that we made in his den that he kept up that he could see every day.
Around the viewing room We had framed pictures of our family with our dad and other things that interested him like National Geographic. He was always learning always!
So many wonderful pictures! Brittany and I were both crying while we were making these boards!
The kids loved to look at all of Papa’s things. My dad was a ballroom dancer and won so many trophies when he was a young adult. He loved wood working and had such a talent with it! He made each of my mom’s sisters and her mom a small wood box for a gift for being a part of their wedding party when my mom and him got married. I mentioned that in my talk and my sweet aunt gave me hers.
He was a sterling scholar in high school and was always the one to go to if you needed any help! He always knew the answer!
Our incredibly sweet and generous friends gave us the flowers for the funeral. They were so incredible! Exactly how I envisioned them to be!
The wreath from the grandkids and ribbon saying sweet papa! So so sweet!
My Dad had so many friends and brothers!
It’s so surreal to be sitting right in front of your Dad’s casket on the day of his funeral. It was such a whirlwind. I think it’s finally starting to sink in a little deeper but it’s still so hard.
Before we closed the casket we added our notes to Papa. I took a picture of the girls to remember how old they were and what they drew for Papa. They already miss him so much!
A few of my favorite arrangements that were sent to our family. I wanted to add a couple more but my pictures our being a little weird. So many beautiful arrangements!
This scene will forever be in my mind. My Dad’s brothers, sons and sons in law and his best friend in life and death.
When they took the casket out to the chapel area for the funeral service/program, Liv said, “Where are they taking my Papa!!” very upset! It’s so much for adults, I know it’s a lot for kids!
After was the luncheon at the same building that my family and I would go to church in. I have been extra sentimental since my Dad passed away so it felt so special being in that building.
The girls wore pearls for Papa! I have a story about pearls and maybe I’ll get to it later, but had to have the girls wear matching pearl necklaces for my Dad.
My Dad loved Heath Bar cake. I thought it was so special they served it for a dessert option! They didn’t even know that was one of his favorites!
A MONTH after my Dad passed away he was finally able to lay to rest. His doctor wasn’t able to sign the death certificate because he was a nurse practitioner so another doctor at the clinic needed to sign off on it. The funeral was planned, weeks passed, our family and the funeral home tried to reach out to them several times and final the paper work was completed. We were able to have his burial in December before Christmas with our immediate family.
It’s crazy how you want to cry all the tears and somehow you can’t cry at all. That’s how I was this day. Just numb. I feel that way a lot since his passing. We did our balloons for the grandkids to send to Papa and they loved it. Emma noticed that Grandma’s balloon was the highest of them all!
I wish I was better with words because life is so wonderful and tragic all at the same time. I should find a poet that just gets me and quote him. haha I think I’m ready to post lighter topics that will hopefully lighten my heart, I just wanted to complete this memory. I know this isn’t the end for Papa memories. I still see him in small ways all the time! I am so grateful! Whether it’s in a “randomly selected” picture of him on my iPhone that appears on my main page, I don’t have many of him so it’s wild to me that since his passing it has been of him more often than not. I know it’s not a coincidence. Our little Papa Pine tree my sweet neighbor gave me. My girls little stuffy puppy dog they named ‘Ralphie’ that my Dad gave to Liv after he won a Bingo game in the Rehab center a couple years ago. Or many other little ways that I know my angels are watching over me and with me and my family.
Forever grateful for this family of mine and for the silly, popsicle loving, rough and tough, teddy bear Dad that is watching over all of us from heaven!