Our family held a small outdoor service at the cemetery today. We look forward to a celebration when we are all in a more stable state of mind, safe environments, and can share some stories about Ken. We wanted to share some personal words about him, even though our service was cold and quick. This was the prayer shared before the service led by Father Ceville.
Dear Heavenly Father -

Please hear the cry from so many of your children suffering the heaviest of hearts as we unite in mourning over the passing of a great man.

To Nancy, Ken was a devoted, faithful, compassionate husband and BEST friend for more than 57 years.

To myself and Jessica, our Dad was a loving, strong and brave, involved, firm, and amazing role model.

To his 8 siblings, Ken was a caring, thoughtful, considerate, and conscientious brother and peacemaker who was present and loving.

To his mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, so many nieces and nephews, Ken was responsible, reliable, considerate, caring, and passionate. To his adored grand and great-grandchildren, Ken was a fun, giving, wise, instructional grandfather, who always lent a knee and had a hug.

For his many friends, Naval brethren, students, YMCA and fishing pals, neighbors, fellow parishioners, and anyone else blessed to share life with him, Ken was admirably different, with such a high caliber of discipline, intelligence and wit, humble and modest, respected and never too busy to help anyone in need. He was naturally confident in his own skin, genuinely interested in anyone’s problems, with an enlightened perspective of love and equality for all.

He had an impeccable character of the utmost integrity with his natural ability to be a true inspiration by way of his daily, consistent way of living life. 

His death is not a blessing for us. His life was…

His life was not large gestures of grandeur. Instead, he did all the small things, all the time for all of us.

Honoring him means serving and loving God first and holding up everyone else around us through that strength. And having some fun, ice cream, and trying to catch a fish along the way.

May God Bless him for his long life of serving and pray for his loved ones in their time of grief.

AMEN