Hi everyone,

We wanted to give you an update and let you know about our plans to celebrate our Dad’s life.

Well, actually, we aren’t exactly sure yet, but we know we will be doing something in the Spring, some kind of gathering with friends and family.

When we know more we will share it with you as many people are inquiring.

We aren’t the kind of family to have a funeral in the traditional sense, but we will have a celebration and a gathering, most likely in an outdoor setting.

A lot of people are asking what happened as he was getting better, but never quite all the way there.

We had already experienced so many close moments over the last two months, many difficult days, weeks, months…

He stayed strong the entire time, doing what he was supposed to do.

The nurses and staff adored him. We were all excited to have him come home to start the long recovery

process.

But after many almost moments, fighting through pneumonia and an assortment of infections from post-surgery hospital complications, his body just couldn’t take it anymore and he knew it; we knew

So he chose to have the assisted breathing removed and let go. You know our dad, when he makes up his mind, his mind is made up.

He was in control the entire time, making decisions for himself and he did, all the way until the end.

We gathered together in his hospital room on Sunday evening, tears flooding our eyes and a calm love in our hearts.

He said goodbye to all his grandchildren and his children. Hours earlier he was cuddling with our mom one last time in his hospital bed and now she, too held his hand weeping with love and loss.

You know, before they gave him any drugs to ease his discomfort we asked him if he had anything else he wanted to share.

He said, “Love each other. Just love each other”. He also said that butterflies were fluttering about the room.

We said, “Just like Herbert the giant butterfly”.

He used to always tell the story of Herbert the giant butterfly, a loving butterfly that would find itself in precarious situations, sometimes saving children, sometimes keeping kids company, a spirit to talk to.

Herbert the giant butterfly, the friend we all need in our life.

It was a magical moment as terrible as it was, as sad as it was.

We are all grateful for the time we had with him and we are fully aware how fortunate we were to have the opportunity to say goodbye, and even more so to have man like him in our lives, a friend, a grandfather, a dad, and maybe more than anything a husband who was forever in love with our mom.

Blessed we were and blessed we are.

Dad, Grandpa, Richard…

Was ready to fly…

But I can tell you all, he loves you and really wants you to be happy and to know you are perfect as you are.

Hugs and love from us all, and love from Captain Zarkon, our dad.