Below is what I have written to say at his funeral on 6 June. My cousin is doing the main eulogy but I am going to share this experience with everyone there.
Dad and I had a strong bond right from when I was a baby. Mum has said to me over the years that when I was sick Dad was the one I’d call out for. And Dad always came and looked after me. Even when I started drinking, when I was still living at home, I’d come home a bit too drunk and Dad would go and get a bucket, some water, a towel and a pillow and blanket and set it all up on the lounge for me. He would look after me because he knew what it was like. Mum on the other hand thought I should suffer because I had done it to myself but that was okay Dad and I found that quite amusing.
The strength of my bond with my father was so strong that there was no way I was leaving him alone in the hospital the last 2 nights of his life. Although at that stage I didn’t realise his passing was so close. I thought we had another few days. At around 8.10pm, while I held his hand and was talking to him, I played some of his favourite music. He liked old time Crooners. I opened up Spotify and searched Crooners. Bing Crosby’s name was the first one I saw and I remember as a child dad loved to play Bing Crosby’s Christmas album. I can’t tell you the name of the album I chose or what the first song was but the second song was “I’ll be seeing you” And it was while that song was playing that my dad passed away. When I had started the music he was breathing quite deeply which was different to the last few days when his breathing was very shallow. I had no idea he was transitioning right then. It was just after the second song finished that I realised there was no sounds from him. I looked at him, kissed his face, kissed his hand and knew that he’d already gone. He passed over so quickly and very peacefully, for that I am so grateful. I sat with him for about two minutes before I called in the nurse and in that two minutes I pictured dad running into Jesus’s embrace. I stayed with Dad for another 2 hours, holding his hand, crying my eyes out over him and really truly seeing him because I knew that this was the last time I would see his handsome face in person. This was the most precious time of my life and I felt honoured and privileged to have been able to be with him as he transitioned into the Afterlife, that he, without question had complete faith in.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally broke down. I was now staring into a future without him in it, well physically at least. This fact hit me with such force, I couldn’t breathe for a few seconds. I couldn’t and still can’t comprehend a world without him in it. I am completely heartbroken 💔 shattered. But I know he’s at peace and reunited with his parents and siblings but mostly he is back with my beloved youngest sister, his precious daughter Tanya.
Dear Jesus, please take care of my dad. 🙏❤️
I will love you forever and so grateful that God gave me you as my earthly father. Bye Dad and Thank you. 🙏 💔❤️
