Eulogy to Murph, as written and spoken by his son Michael.
"DAD"
This is a story about a man named Alexander. Most people knew him as "Murph", his mother called him Junior, to all his grandchildren he was Grand Pop, to his nieces and nephews he was Uncle Murph, but to his children he was good old "DAD"
I have vivid memories of how my father shaped my childhood years. Dad worked very hard to provide for us all and even took on the resposibility of two seperate jobs to make ends meet. Looking back I sometimes wonder how he managed and I am grateful for the numerous sacrifices he made and now appreciate how truly selfless he was. Our youthful years were defined by simple pleasures which never left me wanting for anything more. Dad always made sure we went on one special trip each year. The early years were spent mostly at the New Jersey shore, but he soon became more venturous and purchased a pop-up camper. We explored such destinations as Eastern Canada, Maine, Vermont, Mt Washington in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washinton DC. As my mom still says today-"boy, did he like to drive!"
Dad also enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada with a few of the neighbors. As a kid I remember he would return home with a number of large fish and some special gifts for us all. In his later years he enjoyed walking along the beach and always commented on the pleasurable feeling of the sand between his toes. After relocating to Clermont, Dad became an avid golfer, a game he always enjoyed but didn't play much till he moved to Florida. He was easy to be with and that is why so many people call him a friend. He was a simple man with simple pleasures and most of all enjoyed being with his family and the companionship of others.
As we grew older and involved with our own individual lives Dad took on a different role. Yes, he was still our dad but he became more of a friend, someone you would call in a time of need. No matter what we did, what our need, he was there. He didn't make assumptions, didn't ask questions, just did whatever he could to help us through our times of need. Oh yes he was not afraid to voice his opinion, but that never prevented him from helping us.
The first weekend my sister Nancy and I were visiting dad in the hospital, we attended mass on Sunday morning. The sermon that day was a biblical story about a RAG MAN. When the rag man saw people in need or pain, he transfered the pain to himself by giving them a new, clean rag. Eventually the rag man gave all he had to others so they could realize a better life for themselves. This sermon proved to be uniquely appropriate and reminded me of my own father because it seem as though he lived his life by this story. Not only was he a selfless father but also a loving and dear husband. He took great care of my mom, and for the last year and a half as she battled breast cancer, he was there helping her every step of the way. Even during the past few weeks as he lay sick in bed, he thought only of the ones he would be leaving behind. He continued to remiond us of mom's next doctor's appointment and made us promise to care for mom after he was gone. My father took so much pride in taking care of his family- he was our RAG MAN. But that helping hand was not just reserved for his family, it was also extended to anyone he knew needed help. I can't tell you how many of my parents neighbor's and friends have echoed the same thoughts of friendship and kindness about my dad.
On Monday afternoon when dad passed away peacefully he had a smile on his face and my mom said that was because he saw the angels and I believe this is true. But there was a special angel helping him these past six weeks in his time of need. Someone who was at his side to give him the love and support he freely gave to others. That angel is my sister Nancy.
As many of you know, we were planning on celebrating Dad's 80th birthday. But instead we are celbrating his life as a gentle, simple man; an loving and devoted husband; a reliable friend; and a selfless father.
Eighty years ago when Alexander was born, his father had died two months before his birth. Sadly, he never had the chance to know his real father. I am happy to say, and I am sure I speak for everyone here, that we did get the chance to know this loving, kind man I call DAD.
Cause Of Death... Cancer
"DAD"
This is a story about a man named Alexander. Most people knew him as "Murph", his mother called him Junior, to all his grandchildren he was Grand Pop, to his nieces and nephews he was Uncle Murph, but to his children he was good old "DAD"
I have vivid memories of how my father shaped my childhood years. Dad worked very hard to provide for us all and even took on the resposibility of two seperate jobs to make ends meet. Looking back I sometimes wonder how he managed and I am grateful for the numerous sacrifices he made and now appreciate how truly selfless he was. Our youthful years were defined by simple pleasures which never left me wanting for anything more. Dad always made sure we went on one special trip each year. The early years were spent mostly at the New Jersey shore, but he soon became more venturous and purchased a pop-up camper. We explored such destinations as Eastern Canada, Maine, Vermont, Mt Washington in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washinton DC. As my mom still says today-"boy, did he like to drive!"
Dad also enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada with a few of the neighbors. As a kid I remember he would return home with a number of large fish and some special gifts for us all. In his later years he enjoyed walking along the beach and always commented on the pleasurable feeling of the sand between his toes. After relocating to Clermont, Dad became an avid golfer, a game he always enjoyed but didn't play much till he moved to Florida. He was easy to be with and that is why so many people call him a friend. He was a simple man with simple pleasures and most of all enjoyed being with his family and the companionship of others.
As we grew older and involved with our own individual lives Dad took on a different role. Yes, he was still our dad but he became more of a friend, someone you would call in a time of need. No matter what we did, what our need, he was there. He didn't make assumptions, didn't ask questions, just did whatever he could to help us through our times of need. Oh yes he was not afraid to voice his opinion, but that never prevented him from helping us.
The first weekend my sister Nancy and I were visiting dad in the hospital, we attended mass on Sunday morning. The sermon that day was a biblical story about a RAG MAN. When the rag man saw people in need or pain, he transfered the pain to himself by giving them a new, clean rag. Eventually the rag man gave all he had to others so they could realize a better life for themselves. This sermon proved to be uniquely appropriate and reminded me of my own father because it seem as though he lived his life by this story. Not only was he a selfless father but also a loving and dear husband. He took great care of my mom, and for the last year and a half as she battled breast cancer, he was there helping her every step of the way. Even during the past few weeks as he lay sick in bed, he thought only of the ones he would be leaving behind. He continued to remiond us of mom's next doctor's appointment and made us promise to care for mom after he was gone. My father took so much pride in taking care of his family- he was our RAG MAN. But that helping hand was not just reserved for his family, it was also extended to anyone he knew needed help. I can't tell you how many of my parents neighbor's and friends have echoed the same thoughts of friendship and kindness about my dad.
On Monday afternoon when dad passed away peacefully he had a smile on his face and my mom said that was because he saw the angels and I believe this is true. But there was a special angel helping him these past six weeks in his time of need. Someone who was at his side to give him the love and support he freely gave to others. That angel is my sister Nancy.
As many of you know, we were planning on celebrating Dad's 80th birthday. But instead we are celbrating his life as a gentle, simple man; an loving and devoted husband; a reliable friend; and a selfless father.
Eighty years ago when Alexander was born, his father had died two months before his birth. Sadly, he never had the chance to know his real father. I am happy to say, and I am sure I speak for everyone here, that we did get the chance to know this loving, kind man I call DAD.
Cause Of Death... Cancer
Eulogy to Murph, as written and spoken by his son Michael.
"DAD"
This is a story about a man named Alexander. Most people knew him as "Murph", his mother called him Junior, to all his grandchildren he was Grand Pop, to his nieces and nephews he was Uncle Murph, but to his children he was good old "DAD"
I have vivid memories of how my father shaped my childhood years. Dad worked very hard to provide for us all and even took on the resposibility of two seperate jobs to make ends meet. Looking back I sometimes wonder how he managed and I am grateful for the numerous sacrifices he made and now appreciate how truly selfless he was. Our youthful years were defined by simple pleasures which never left me wanting for anything more. Dad always made sure we went on one special trip each year. The early years were spent mostly at the New Jersey shore, but he soon became more venturous and purchased a pop-up camper. We explored such destinations as Eastern Canada, Maine, Vermont, Mt Washington in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washinton DC. As my mom still says today-"boy, did he like to drive!"
Dad also enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada with a few of the neighbors. As a kid I remember he would return home with a number of large fish and some special gifts for us all. In his later years he enjoyed walking along the beach and always commented on the pleasurable feeling of the sand between his toes. After relocating to Clermont, Dad became an avid golfer, a game he always enjoyed but didn't play much till he moved to Florida. He was easy to be with and that is why so many people call him a friend. He was a simple man with simple pleasures and most of all enjoyed being with his family and the companionship of others.
As we grew older and involved with our own individual lives Dad took on a different role. Yes, he was still our dad but he became more of a friend, someone you would call in a time of need. No matter what we did, what our need, he was there. He didn't make assumptions, didn't ask questions, just did whatever he could to help us through our times of need. Oh yes he was not afraid to voice his opinion, but that never prevented him from helping us.
The first weekend my sister Nancy and I were visiting dad in the hospital, we attended mass on Sunday morning. The sermon that day was a biblical story about a RAG MAN. When the rag man saw people in need or pain, he transfered the pain to himself by giving them a new, clean rag. Eventually the rag man gave all he had to others so they could realize a better life for themselves. This sermon proved to be uniquely appropriate and reminded me of my own father because it seem as though he lived his life by this story. Not only was he a selfless father but also a loving and dear husband. He took great care of my mom, and for the last year and a half as she battled breast cancer, he was there helping her every step of the way. Even during the past few weeks as he lay sick in bed, he thought only of the ones he would be leaving behind. He continued to remiond us of mom's next doctor's appointment and made us promise to care for mom after he was gone. My father took so much pride in taking care of his family- he was our RAG MAN. But that helping hand was not just reserved for his family, it was also extended to anyone he knew needed help. I can't tell you how many of my parents neighbor's and friends have echoed the same thoughts of friendship and kindness about my dad.
On Monday afternoon when dad passed away peacefully he had a smile on his face and my mom said that was because he saw the angels and I believe this is true. But there was a special angel helping him these past six weeks in his time of need. Someone who was at his side to give him the love and support he freely gave to others. That angel is my sister Nancy.
As many of you know, we were planning on celebrating Dad's 80th birthday. But instead we are celbrating his life as a gentle, simple man; an loving and devoted husband; a reliable friend; and a selfless father.
Eighty years ago when Alexander was born, his father had died two months before his birth. Sadly, he never had the chance to know his real father. I am happy to say, and I am sure I speak for everyone here, that we did get the chance to know this loving, kind man I call DAD.
Cause Of Death... Cancer
"DAD"
This is a story about a man named Alexander. Most people knew him as "Murph", his mother called him Junior, to all his grandchildren he was Grand Pop, to his nieces and nephews he was Uncle Murph, but to his children he was good old "DAD"
I have vivid memories of how my father shaped my childhood years. Dad worked very hard to provide for us all and even took on the resposibility of two seperate jobs to make ends meet. Looking back I sometimes wonder how he managed and I am grateful for the numerous sacrifices he made and now appreciate how truly selfless he was. Our youthful years were defined by simple pleasures which never left me wanting for anything more. Dad always made sure we went on one special trip each year. The early years were spent mostly at the New Jersey shore, but he soon became more venturous and purchased a pop-up camper. We explored such destinations as Eastern Canada, Maine, Vermont, Mt Washington in New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washinton DC. As my mom still says today-"boy, did he like to drive!"
Dad also enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada with a few of the neighbors. As a kid I remember he would return home with a number of large fish and some special gifts for us all. In his later years he enjoyed walking along the beach and always commented on the pleasurable feeling of the sand between his toes. After relocating to Clermont, Dad became an avid golfer, a game he always enjoyed but didn't play much till he moved to Florida. He was easy to be with and that is why so many people call him a friend. He was a simple man with simple pleasures and most of all enjoyed being with his family and the companionship of others.
As we grew older and involved with our own individual lives Dad took on a different role. Yes, he was still our dad but he became more of a friend, someone you would call in a time of need. No matter what we did, what our need, he was there. He didn't make assumptions, didn't ask questions, just did whatever he could to help us through our times of need. Oh yes he was not afraid to voice his opinion, but that never prevented him from helping us.
The first weekend my sister Nancy and I were visiting dad in the hospital, we attended mass on Sunday morning. The sermon that day was a biblical story about a RAG MAN. When the rag man saw people in need or pain, he transfered the pain to himself by giving them a new, clean rag. Eventually the rag man gave all he had to others so they could realize a better life for themselves. This sermon proved to be uniquely appropriate and reminded me of my own father because it seem as though he lived his life by this story. Not only was he a selfless father but also a loving and dear husband. He took great care of my mom, and for the last year and a half as she battled breast cancer, he was there helping her every step of the way. Even during the past few weeks as he lay sick in bed, he thought only of the ones he would be leaving behind. He continued to remiond us of mom's next doctor's appointment and made us promise to care for mom after he was gone. My father took so much pride in taking care of his family- he was our RAG MAN. But that helping hand was not just reserved for his family, it was also extended to anyone he knew needed help. I can't tell you how many of my parents neighbor's and friends have echoed the same thoughts of friendship and kindness about my dad.
On Monday afternoon when dad passed away peacefully he had a smile on his face and my mom said that was because he saw the angels and I believe this is true. But there was a special angel helping him these past six weeks in his time of need. Someone who was at his side to give him the love and support he freely gave to others. That angel is my sister Nancy.
As many of you know, we were planning on celebrating Dad's 80th birthday. But instead we are celbrating his life as a gentle, simple man; an loving and devoted husband; a reliable friend; and a selfless father.
Eighty years ago when Alexander was born, his father had died two months before his birth. Sadly, he never had the chance to know his real father. I am happy to say, and I am sure I speak for everyone here, that we did get the chance to know this loving, kind man I call DAD.
Cause Of Death... Cancer
