We started our vigil on Sunday evening when we noticed that Rick’s breathing had changed. We began by lighting a candle that we had just received that day from a group of students at St. Agnes in Houston, where I went to high school and where our close family friend, Sandra, teaches. On the candle is an image of "The Boss." We then did a short communion service at Rick's bedside, concluding with Springsteen's "Land of Hope and Dreams."

As we continued to keep vigil through the night into Monday, we worked on making a keepsake plaster mold of Rick's hand entwined with mine. It turned out beautifully. We ended the day again with night prayer: "Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep; that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace."

Rick passed peacefully at 4:11 am this morning, Tuesday, November 7. We were gathered around him as he took his last breaths. It was what we had hoped for.

Please see the attached image for the wake and funeral details. All are welcome to join us for the celebrations of his life. Know how deeply grateful we are for the outpouring of support from all of you during the last twenty months since Rick's diagnosis.

His "life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). 

Dum spiro, spero.

Diana