RIP, Dad
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I flew into Missouri Saturday the 6th expecting to be able to spend some quality time with my Mom and Dad, a few days before the other two siblings and their families were coming in, for a large family get-together. My dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about a year ago, so everybody knew the clock was ticking. He chose to do a surgery because his oncologist dangled the words "possibly curative", and my dad really wanted to watch more of his grandkids lives. The surgeon disagreed and told him the surgery would not extend his life expectancy regardless. But he had the surgery last September, a very risky and painful one. He squeeked through it, but then in January 2021 they scanned him again and the cancer was in his liver, so it was just a matter of time. When I got there on the 6th, he had deteriorated drastically over just the recent few days. He'd gone from walking around, alert and relatively chatty, to being unable to stand or easily process or pronounce words. I'm still not sure why the cognition declined so much. Maybe it's a natural part of the dying process as the whole body shuts down, or the other theory my family has is that the cancer had spread to his brain. I don't know how it could have grown so fast, just a week or so, if that was the reason. Hospice got him a hospital bed for the living room on Sunday the 7th, and mom and I were giving him water through a syringe because he could no longer drink out of cups. He would fall asleep between sips. On Sunday night it was clear he would probably not make it to Wednesday to see the rest of the kids, so I called my siblings to get there as soon as they could. They all got there Monday night, but my dad had by that time fallen asleep for the last time. My sister was there for his last breath but my brother arrived a little later. They wheeled him out that night, feet first, as he had sometimes expressed was his wish. To die at home.
Education is extremely important.
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https://obituaries.joplinglobe.com/obituary/dan-houser-1081777219
So sad that he's passed on, Horace.
Sending you, and all your family, a virtual hug.
And yeah, what Brenda said - a wonderful obituary that gives you a sense of the man.
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Sorry for your loss, pancreatic cancer is a heavy burden to bear, for the patient and his loved ones.
May you have no further sadness in the future.
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I'm very sorry to hear this, Horace. My condolences.
As others have said, that's a very nice obituary - a life well lived.
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In Hebrews, it is written that is appointed unto men once to die. It is inescapable, but a life well-lived may be the best revenge a mere mortal has against Death.
Your Dad had a well-lived life. From the woman he loved, to the children he fathered and raised, the sights and sounds he experienced the world over and even his death, surrounded by a loving family in his own home, is the definition of a life many wish they had.
Requiescat in pace. May God grant your family comfort in this time of sorrow.
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I'm really sorry to hear that, Horace. That was indeed a wonderful obituary.
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What a beautiful obit. Yes, he had quite a life, and he knew what was important. Codolences to you and all your family, Horace.
