I am sorry to share that yesterday morning, my Dad passed away. We can rejoice knowing that Dad is at peace and reunited with his loved ones that preceded him in death. In my grief and reflection over the last 24 hours I am trying to focus on the positive. Grief can be all consuming if we allow it and really is a selfish process. After all we are grieving for ourselves and each other on how our lives are impacted with the absence of our loved one. We grieve what could have been and not being allowed to make future memories. We guilt ourselves about what we could have or should have done differently. Trust me when I say that if I focus on the impact it has on my kids and I losing both my Mom (Jane) and Dad in a two year span, I could crawl into a hole and curl up in a ball without ever wanting to come out. So if it helps any of you in your grief, let us focus our thoughts and energy on celebrating Dad's life and death. Rely on your faith and let it guide you. I believe that my parents are reunited with our creator and are living in the most perfect place. I believe that they hear us, protect us, and guide us in our times of need. Our life here on earth is not easy. We experience triumphs, heartbreak, and everything in between. I believe we are here to learn lessons so that when we do pass on and experience perfection that we do not take it for granted. Live your life and learn your lessons. Rejoice and reflect on the impact my Dad had on your life and take away any lessons you have learned from him.

My family was talking last night that since his diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer in March 2019 we have viewed every minute with him after as our "bonus time." My Dad fought an amazing fight all the way to the end. This bonus time gave him time to reconnect and reunite with friends and family. He loved visiting with his friends and reminiscing about the past. He got to eat all the foods he was craving and loved. He spent endless hours listening to his favorite doo-wop artists. I can't thank you enough for bringing my Dad so much joy this last year. After my Mom's death he entered a dark time and we were very worried about him. It has brought us tremendous peace seeing him return to himself and enjoy life again.

For those of you who need closure and have questions about his death, I will try to provide you with a brief summary. So many times in the last few months we were back and forth between continuing treatment and accepting palliative care with hospice. We got as far as an intake with hospice when Dr. Dan (Dad's oncologist) convinced Dad to try another treatment of immuno-therapy infusion. We were encouraged to see that the treatments were preventing the cancer from progressing with minimal side effects. However, in the last couple of weeks Dad began having nausea and vomiting. He was in the hospital for several days for a bowel obstruction. Tests and scans did not give us any information about what was causing the obstruction other than his intestines were not functioning as they should. He was hydrated and they were able to clear his intestines of all the sludge that was backed up into his system. He was released and we had hoped that the treatment cleared any obstruction. Unfortunately, we believe that the obstruction was not resolved and that quite simply it was a matter that his intestines were not functioning. Again, he began to experience the back up which created nausea and vomiting. Very quickly he became weak, tired, and short of breath. Yesterday he was transported to York Hospital by ambulance where they confirmed that his body just began shutting down. We are blessed that during this time of the COVID 19 pandemic that York Hospital permitted my Aunt Cindy (Strobeck) and I to come into the hospital and be at his bedside. He was not alone, we got to say goodbye, and Dad died quickly and peacefully.

The plan all along was not to have a formal service. My Dad will be cremated and we will inter his ashes at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. When the time is right, we will schedule a Celebration of Life so that we can all come together to share my Dad's life. When that time comes I will post the details here on his Caring Bridge Page.

Thank you for all your support and love.
xoxo Amy