The funeral was challenging, but really beautiful. With a little pushing, I was able to get up and say a few words about my father. This is what I said:
He had a military burial, it was lovely.- When Father Lopez asked me to write down a few things about my father, I realized how hard it is to summarize a man like Dick Blade in just a few sentences.- Career Military- Lifelong civil service- Member of the Knights of Columbus, ARCC, and American Legion.- Loved his wife, Sue, and they just celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on Wednesday, January 25th.- He loved his 2 children, Michelle and Matthew and his two dogs, Molly and Millie.- Just became a grandfather to twin boys – Jonathan and James. He and Sue would babysit them 3 days a week. He would sneak them popsicles and pretzels – all the things Mommy wouldn’t give them. He felt the sun rose and set on these boys.- But, the most important member of the family – the one that tops all others – is Misha the horse.- He was lucky enough to have a “barn family”, who he became very close to and really enjoyed their company.- He had many hobbies, one of which is wood working. He would make heirloom quality chairs, cradles, toy boxes and rocking chairs. You always knew when he was working because he would whistle.- He had a passion for old cars. Driving down the road, he knew the make, model, and year of any car older than 1979.- He was a collector of – everything! He had at least 4 of everything – 1 he used, 1 for back up, and 2 in the box “just in case.”- If I had a nickel for every time I needed something, and he would dig it out of the basement and say “see, aren’t you glad I saved that?”, I’d be a billionaire. It would be anything from empty coffee cans, to replacement Christmas lights – if you could think it, he had it.- He always wore a pocket t-shirt with a box of tic tacs in the pocket.- He was a member of this parish for 43 years, never missing a Sunday mass. Both of his children were baptized here, made their first communion, and confirmations here.- He collected coins. Any trip I went on, I knew if I brought him back coins, it would make his day.- He had a huge garden, with tons of tomato plants.- Sometimes I felt like he was a 2 year old, because his favorite words were “Mine” and “No”, but he would give you the shirt off his back in a second – he just wanted it to be his idea.- So here’s to Dick Blade – Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, co-worker, barn mate, neighbor and friend. He was a grumpy old man, but he’s OUR grumpy old man.- It’s an honor and privilege to be your daughter.
