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| Grandpa's Funeral Pictures |
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A Great Man is Gone
As most of you likely know by now, my grandfather, Ralph Duarte has passed out of this life. My mother wrote a very heart felt message to all and had entered it as a comment under the original blog, but it seems much more fitting that it be here in front of you all as you first see the page. To that end, I have removed the original and am posting it below, in quotes. Memorial service information is published at the bottom of the post.
"Thank you from all of us for your prayers and kind thoughts. We know you loved him, too, and will miss him. He was one of a kind and already the void is felt.
Up to a very short the time before his passing (4 days), his vitals were good, he was eating, talking, and of clear mind and memory. Though he suddenly got very weak and had trouble communicating verbally, his eyes and eyebrows and expression plus the clasp of his hand helped get his feelings and thoughts across, some times very clearly. It was only Tues the 9th, the day before he passed, that the nurse indicated that it would be soon because of his sudden weakening and high fever. Almost all of the family close by, immediate and extended, spontaneously came to see him and talk to him one more time. ( Mom had only spoken with one of her sisters and the word just spread.) None of us knew he would pass so soon; even his nurses were surprised as he was such a fighter and had astounded them time and again.
Tita Chari had come to see him two days before and he had awoken when I gave him his meds and he was able to talk to her and even sang "Cucaracha" with her. That was Monday the 8th. Tuesday he began to run a high fever which broke about 2a.m. and/ or prayers Wed. morning only to return later that morning. Mom and I were in the process of giving him his afternoon meds and trying to make him more comfortable when he suddenly just stopped breathing about 1:35 pm , Wed. the 10th of September.
It was the way he wanted to go, quickly and quietly.
That afternoon and evening, the family, again as many as were able, gathered around to mourn, to comfort each other, to say good-bye and I love you one final time in person, and to celebrate the wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend he had been, to share stories, to say the Rosary, to be thankful for the gift he and we had been given of time to share our feelings for each other and to say whatever we wanted and needed to say to each other. Thankfully, you also were able to share in this gift of time with your frequent calls, letters, and e-mails, with your contributions of comments and pictures to his blog,"loveralphduarte.blogspot.com, which is still open. He was always so happy to hear from and to talk to each and every one of you. You were often in his thoughts and always in his heart.
When you remember him, remember him laughing and with a smile on his lips and a glint of mischief in his eyes. That is how he looked at his best of times and how he looked at his end. Truly. All who came to say good-bye noticed at once that he had a glint in his eyes and a smirk of mischief to his lips. My aunts swear they thought we were wrong and he was going to get up and talk to them...Later in the evening Mom called me in to see how his look of mischief had changed to a real smile. I like to think that he was smiling in happiness as he was met by all the loved ones who had been waiting for him to join them, family and friends...even his beloved pets.
His Memorial Mass will be at St. James here in Redondo Beach OCT 4th at 12:30 pm followed by the "Wake" at the church hall. I
Dad being the kind of man he was, we expect 150 to 200+ mourners, much too much for Mom's or Jo's homes to accommodate. Mom's immediate family members, our families and her sisters' families, number 87+. If you include all her living cousins and their families whom my father was instrumental in helping to settle here as well as helping in other ways, plus his friends and even just acquaintances, such as the Postal Delivery lady whom he always spoke to and remembered at Christmas, his nurses who became part of our family, and who all have requested the memorial info so that they can attend, the numbers could actually be staggering. Mom doesn't expect it to be quite that large as many of her cousins and family friends of their generation are either dead, sick, or live too far away to attend easily. Still...
Thank you, Tita Lydia and Tito Adolfo, Carmita and all who are having Mass and/or prayers said for Dad and creating an opportunity for his family and friends to mourn him and celebrate his life.
He was not only a kind and good man, a loving man, but also a man with the gift of laughter, of joy. He made friends easily and was always willing to extend a hand of friendship to all he met. He loved having a good time and making sure all around had a good time, too. He was always able to turn a party, a gathering into an occasion, to bring people together and make all become part of the whole. He was a Pied Piper to all the children and made Easter, Christmas, birthday parties, any party, a celebration of laughter and fun.
He was always willing to help all who needed help in any way he could and often saw and offered help quietly and before one could or would even ask. As a realtor he didn't "sell" houses but rather enabled people to realize their dream to own their own home. Mom has said that she never knew the full scope of his goodness and loving heart until so many friends and family called or came to visit and shared their stories with her.
Family was very important to him, not just his immediate family but all his family, his generation and all the generations born and yet to come. He so enjoyed visiting and having family (and friends) visit. He asked that we try to all keep in touch and have our children and childrens' children know one another or at least of one another, to keep all the branches in touch and aware of their "family" connection.
He would have wanted to be remembered with "Raffy" stories, the fun, the good times, the good deeds, the mischief. He knew he was loved and that as long as "Raffy" stories were told, he would be remembered by this and other generations and thus help to keep these generations connected. So I am passing on this request to you and to all the family so we can all help to try to make these wishes come true.
All in all he was an amazing man, one who loved and was love. We will miss him dearly
Love to all from Mom and all of us,
Tess"
MEMORIAL SERVICE INFO:
St. James Catholic Church
415 Vincent St, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Saturday, October 4th, @ 12:30 pm
Reception to follow in church hall.
"Thank you from all of us for your prayers and kind thoughts. We know you loved him, too, and will miss him. He was one of a kind and already the void is felt.
Up to a very short the time before his passing (4 days), his vitals were good, he was eating, talking, and of clear mind and memory. Though he suddenly got very weak and had trouble communicating verbally, his eyes and eyebrows and expression plus the clasp of his hand helped get his feelings and thoughts across, some times very clearly. It was only Tues the 9th, the day before he passed, that the nurse indicated that it would be soon because of his sudden weakening and high fever. Almost all of the family close by, immediate and extended, spontaneously came to see him and talk to him one more time. ( Mom had only spoken with one of her sisters and the word just spread.) None of us knew he would pass so soon; even his nurses were surprised as he was such a fighter and had astounded them time and again.
Tita Chari had come to see him two days before and he had awoken when I gave him his meds and he was able to talk to her and even sang "Cucaracha" with her. That was Monday the 8th. Tuesday he began to run a high fever which broke about 2a.m. and/ or prayers Wed. morning only to return later that morning. Mom and I were in the process of giving him his afternoon meds and trying to make him more comfortable when he suddenly just stopped breathing about 1:35 pm , Wed. the 10th of September.
It was the way he wanted to go, quickly and quietly.
That afternoon and evening, the family, again as many as were able, gathered around to mourn, to comfort each other, to say good-bye and I love you one final time in person, and to celebrate the wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend he had been, to share stories, to say the Rosary, to be thankful for the gift he and we had been given of time to share our feelings for each other and to say whatever we wanted and needed to say to each other. Thankfully, you also were able to share in this gift of time with your frequent calls, letters, and e-mails, with your contributions of comments and pictures to his blog,"loveralphduarte.blogspot.com, which is still open. He was always so happy to hear from and to talk to each and every one of you. You were often in his thoughts and always in his heart.
When you remember him, remember him laughing and with a smile on his lips and a glint of mischief in his eyes. That is how he looked at his best of times and how he looked at his end. Truly. All who came to say good-bye noticed at once that he had a glint in his eyes and a smirk of mischief to his lips. My aunts swear they thought we were wrong and he was going to get up and talk to them...Later in the evening Mom called me in to see how his look of mischief had changed to a real smile. I like to think that he was smiling in happiness as he was met by all the loved ones who had been waiting for him to join them, family and friends...even his beloved pets.
His Memorial Mass will be at St. James here in Redondo Beach OCT 4th at 12:30 pm followed by the "Wake" at the church hall. I
Dad being the kind of man he was, we expect 150 to 200+ mourners, much too much for Mom's or Jo's homes to accommodate. Mom's immediate family members, our families and her sisters' families, number 87+. If you include all her living cousins and their families whom my father was instrumental in helping to settle here as well as helping in other ways, plus his friends and even just acquaintances, such as the Postal Delivery lady whom he always spoke to and remembered at Christmas, his nurses who became part of our family, and who all have requested the memorial info so that they can attend, the numbers could actually be staggering. Mom doesn't expect it to be quite that large as many of her cousins and family friends of their generation are either dead, sick, or live too far away to attend easily. Still...
Thank you, Tita Lydia and Tito Adolfo, Carmita and all who are having Mass and/or prayers said for Dad and creating an opportunity for his family and friends to mourn him and celebrate his life.
He was not only a kind and good man, a loving man, but also a man with the gift of laughter, of joy. He made friends easily and was always willing to extend a hand of friendship to all he met. He loved having a good time and making sure all around had a good time, too. He was always able to turn a party, a gathering into an occasion, to bring people together and make all become part of the whole. He was a Pied Piper to all the children and made Easter, Christmas, birthday parties, any party, a celebration of laughter and fun.
He was always willing to help all who needed help in any way he could and often saw and offered help quietly and before one could or would even ask. As a realtor he didn't "sell" houses but rather enabled people to realize their dream to own their own home. Mom has said that she never knew the full scope of his goodness and loving heart until so many friends and family called or came to visit and shared their stories with her.
Family was very important to him, not just his immediate family but all his family, his generation and all the generations born and yet to come. He so enjoyed visiting and having family (and friends) visit. He asked that we try to all keep in touch and have our children and childrens' children know one another or at least of one another, to keep all the branches in touch and aware of their "family" connection.
He would have wanted to be remembered with "Raffy" stories, the fun, the good times, the good deeds, the mischief. He knew he was loved and that as long as "Raffy" stories were told, he would be remembered by this and other generations and thus help to keep these generations connected. So I am passing on this request to you and to all the family so we can all help to try to make these wishes come true.
All in all he was an amazing man, one who loved and was love. We will miss him dearly
Love to all from Mom and all of us,
Tess"
MEMORIAL SERVICE INFO:
St. James Catholic Church
415 Vincent St, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Saturday, October 4th, @ 12:30 pm
Reception to follow in church hall.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Share your love
If you are at this page then you know that a great man, Ralph Duarte, has recently been given a rather gloomy diagnosis – aggressive, metastatic gastric cancer. Now, we all know he’s a fighter, and he swears he’ll be around for many years more. “Here, here!” to that. But, since we know he is here now, and not when he will leave us, we would like to take this time to share with him in some small way how much he means to us. This page is meant to be a living tribute to him, and our love for him. A way for us all to let him know that we care and that, whenever he does go, he will be remembered. To do so, please click on “Comments” at the bottom of this post, or "Post a Comment" at the bottom of the page, and then type what you would like to say into the box provided (at the upper right of the page). To ensure that you don’t have to sign up for an account, we have allowed anonymous comments. Please sign your name at the bottom of the comment so that he will know who you are.
Additionally, Cynthia Osejo, a valued member of the family, my cousin, your....something else or same... has put together a great little photo album page that we can all contribute photos to, or just peruse for our pleasure. I know we all have stashes of memories in photo form that we would like to share. I encourage you to do so here. This is a great way for us to pool our family memories together and to show Mr. Ralph Duarte how much we love him and have valued our involvement in his life, and this family. Please see the link, "Unforgettable Family Photos" to the photo album at the top right of the blog page.
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