A message from Auntie Barb:
We've decide on next Tuesday, April 26 for the date to have our small remembrance for Dad. I thought 10 a.m. a good time, we can meet at Dad's resting place or the Queens Park Cemetery entrance at that time, we'll go for a lunch after......the place undetermined as yet.
It would be great for all of you to attend, share your memories, photos, and stories to help us say goodbye to Dad. Without him, we wouldn't be here, have those genetic 'Dogger' traits that make us the unique people we are. We are aware that some of you are unable to attend because of work commitments, travel distances, if you have a special memory you'd like to relate, e.mail it to me, we will be sure to include it with ours, the more the better. I'm hoping that any family members not shown in the e.mail addresses above will be notified by their parents or siblings, I don't want to leave anyone out.
Dad's spot is in the Field Of Honor at Queens Park, Section P, Block 90, C13.
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ReplyDeleteWe as his Bio Family were denied any contact with his urn his cremains (as if!) And were denied all attendance at his Military service in Calgary Queens Park Cemetary.
ReplyDeleteWe feel there has been no dignity forthcoming from his other family, so in mourning we also feel a huge misrepresentation has been made. We know our Dad would never deny us this last dignity and respect . I spoke with him 6 weeks before his passing, we had a great conversation, he spoke of Beryl moving to the residence he was in, he spoke of renovations being made to the building, we said our farewell with me saying as I do *Dad I love you* which flusters him so!
Years ago Dad and Beryl were in Holland and connected with some family. They were warmly greeted as guests given tea and had a meal together. All this took place in broken English and Dutch. When they took their leave this kind gracious family asked "Just who did you say you were anyway?" Thank God for the hospitality of the Dutch! ~~ Sandra
ReplyDeleteDad gave us such gifts! As a woodworker I loved to see the shavings on his shop floor. Still to this day I think of him when I see wood shavings.. One day he called us to see an avenue of windows all lit with golden sun. On one visit I requested we make a kite together as we had done when I (We)were small. Beryl said "Oh your dad will be so pleased to be asked that.." So Dad and I made a kite of butcher paper balsa wood and string... There was a good wind that day. The kite flew well! If I could I'd go to Queens Park Cemetary to fly a kite again.. I'd pass a message up the string as we used to do. Those messages never returned to us..
ReplyDeleteA jackrabbit came to visit us as we had our service for our dad and Granddad.
As his only son Ken was being viewed in his coffin, Dad took my arm and said *I'll walk with you, Sandra* I've walked with you since Dad and yet that walk is the one I remember best..
ReplyDeleteThere was one other *online* walk we took together, the one which connected us back to all Doggers since 1600. The ship you see here is a primitive painting I did of a Dogger ship. Doggers were men who fished on the Dogger Banks with Doggerland underneath the sea. Dad didn't know all details of this..
Now Dad as the Elder in our family has joined the ancestors. We have no living boy children to pass on our family name in Canada. We know we have a whole new 'crop' of Dogger boys in Australia ,and Delft Holland. They know of their ancestors thanks to Miriam Klaassen in Texel Island N Holland
Warm Hugs Sandra
Dear Future Ancestor
ReplyDeleteHis tombstone stands among the rest;
Not neglected nor alone.
The name and date are chiselled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
He did not know that you'd exist
He died and You were born.
Yet each of us are cells of Dad
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Dad, the place you filled
Not very long ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
Future Ancestor:
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you had
Idea someday you would find this spot,
And come to visit our Dad.