ForeverMissed
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Thursday time day

October 2, 2018

Jerry and I would go to my cousins for lunch every Thursday  big fight pizza I liked mushrooms never won funny thing every so often with I am somebody  telling first time jerry and I where on job shut down kid I need matches  I don’t smoke  we are going to fix elevator  we did  after that tool box always had  matches I tell that story a lot 

Friday Pizza Night at Phillies

October 5, 2013
We, the sisters (Gloria Jean, Bunny, Maureen and me - Eileen) and significant others would go to various pizza places for dinner on Friday nights. Phillies is one of our favorite places. We usually sit in the back room because we're sometimes a big group (when other family members & friends join us) and lets face it - we're loud. No one ever wanted to figure out the bill, tip and how much each one owed. Jerry was always amazing at it (a numbers savant), figuring it out in a couple of minutes. He did make a mistake or two along the way and when we overpaid, Bunny made sure that he paid us back the next week with interest (maybe a beer or a glass of wine). Not too long after he passed away, we went to Phillies and sat in the back room. It never seems the same without Jerry there with us. But on this night, we were all being simpletons trying to figure out the bill and saying that we wished Jerry was there to help us out. Next thing we know there is a loud knocking on the door. The thing is, as many times as we were in that back room, none of us ever knew there was an emergency exit door. We all turned around to see where the knocking was coming from and then we all turned back and faced each other with shock on our faces. A few of us at the same time said "It's Jerry, lets let him in". We thought maybe he was inpatient with us trying to figure out the bill and wanted to be let in to help us. We sure do miss you Bro.

Jerry is still with me!

October 2, 2013
I have to share this story. It's a year today that you are gone Jer and you are in my every thought throughout this year. Today I knew it would be even more difficult so I made up my mind that I would stay very busy. I decided to take the covers off the kitchen chairs and freshen them up a bit. This required removing some unusual screws. I was so happy because I found a weird screwdriver in the garage and removed the first cover from the chair. When I tried to get the other covers off the screwdriver was not working on those screws. I went to Ace Hardware and they told me I needed an Allan key. Knowing Jerry had some someplace at home, I decided not to buy the one I needed. Well, after an hour of searching through every tool box and drawer in the garage, basement, and closet, I found three that were too big. I was totally frustrated and upset. I was in no mood to go back to Ace because I was looking at the clock and it was 2:40 and I was reliving the events that led to his passing at 3:00 last year. I gave up and I went into the garage to put the tools away in his tool drawer. As I opened the drawer, I pushed a plastic packet that Jerry kept small emery boards in and the packet fell on the ground....and there it was...the perfect size Allan key!!! I knew Jerry was there with me at that very moment...and that is what got me through the day!!

Opps teaching Olivia to drive

February 6, 2013

Don't know why this is sideways!!!  February 2012 Jerry teaching Olivia to drive.

Spooky Unc

November 24, 2012

Three stories: So, as the first of the next generation I got a lot of early time with Auntie Bunny and Uncle Jerry including sleepovers and a vacation trip to Springfield, Illinois. As the only one around, it was easy to be their favorite. I must have been 7 or 8 on our trip to Springfield and it was probably the first time I slept overnight in a hotel, a Sleepy Bear Inn. We visited the state capital and Lincoln's house but Uncle Jerry was always the kidder and he decided to hide in the woods and scare Auntie Bunny and me when we visited Lincoln's tomb in the evening. I hope I had nightmares and they couldn't sleep that night. :)

Fast forward to when Nina was just born and, boy, was she a screamer. Cheryl and I were terrified that Nina would wake up, but of course, that wouldn't stop Uncle Jerry from getting a chance to hold her. He had quite a laugh giving Nina right back to Cheryl after she started one of her crying fits. All Auntie Bunny could do was shake her head, a common occurrence.

Like many others, Unc would get late night calls from me as a young homeowner wondering if he could come over some time to fix something. He went through our first home like a home inspector to make sure their were no hidden problems. So many times he would drop everything and come over to help. The worst of the home disasters was actually at my parent's house on Mason Ave. We had just moved in and everything we owned was in the basement. Of course, torrential rains hit while we were out and a flood of rain and sewer water that was at least several feet deep came in to the basement, destroying everything. All we had to do was put the drain pipe in, but no one warned us. I remember him fishing out my CB radio from the water, saying it will be all right, just let it dry out. So a few weeks later we set the thing up in the basement with a huge attenna in the backyard. I asked if the attenna was safe and he said, "Sure, give it a touch." I did and found myself flying through the air with a shock you couldn't believe and landed with a thump. He goes, "Yea, looks like that thing needs to be grounded." I still laugh about it but never quite trusted to touch anything when he was done working on it....

He is missed.    

    

      


  

A Special Gift From Opps

November 4, 2012

In the final years of my dad's life, he would sometimes talk about his "wishes" following death. It was always a difficult discussion, because of the sadness associated with this topic. At the same time Opps was adamant about a few things. First and foremost, he wanted to make certain that the top priority for Mark and I would be to make sure that "our Mother was completely taken care of"... obviously this wish will be granted forever.

Opps also had another wish...one that he only shared with our Mother. He wanted to become a donor. Realizing that most of his organs would not qualify for donation, he told my Mom that he wanted to donate his eyes. (Throughout his life, he was always very proud of the fact that he retained 20/20 vision and never needed glasses...other than for reading.) After my dad's passing, we honored his wish. And last week, we received this amazing letter regarding a special gift from Opps! We love you Dad!


Dear Mrs. Hacker

All of us at the Illinois Eye Bank want to extend our condolences to you and your family over the loss of Gerald. As time passes, we hope that you and those close to him will be comforted by his decision to help others through eye donation. To see beyond one's own grief, in the hopes of helping another, is a tremendous act of generosity and true compassion. Your loved one's final act of charity is a testament to all that is good and kind in our world.


Because of Gerald's compassion, a second chance for sight has been given to a woman from Paterson, New Jersey and a man from Westlake, Ohio. The restoration of site can change a life forever, as Gerald's precious gift has done. 

Thank you for joining our mission to restore site by giving this precious gift.

Sincerely,

Diane M. Hollingsworth
Execuive Director

  

October 4, 2012

the first time i met jerry<hack > just a kid i guess ,we were doing a mod job at the board of trade  i walk into the machine room right next to a generator sleeping on a rag blanket was this guy i ask the mech who was that some guy off the street no he said thats hack the troubleshooter he been working all night  all i said was ok as the years past are paths crossed my times working with the hack ,we called him matches he could fix anything with them  we were bosses together and my fond time every thursday time day the hack ,joe sullivan and me coffee and then lunch  you will be missed ,and when i go on westinghouse jobs and still see matches i will think of you

van

Chocolate...the Ford Focus...and Sammy

October 3, 2012

I have so many memories.....just don't know where to start.  I think one of the most memorable is how bad Unc wanted to give Thomas chocolate....I remember at the hospital when I delievered....he asked can I give him some chocolate....just a little.   When I finally gave into Unc we were at their house and he gave Thomas an Oreo cookie.  I have a picture of Thomas in the big square high chair...for those of you who remember that one; and he had that Oreo cookie all over his face.  I will post a picture when I get it scanned in.  But what I really remember about this day is Unc was so excited it was like the best moment of his life.  When I brought up this story to him on  Saturday on our  last visit...you should have seen how his face lit up at the memory of that story

He always loved seeing the reaction of the kids when he gave them a treat...it was like he was eating it.  When he found the "Best Beef Sandwich" or pizza slice....it didn't mean a thing until he brought us all there and we tasted it.   Again...our first bite ....he was watching our reaction and smiling ear to ear....and thinking "I'm so right...this is the best"

Next is when Justin was young and he and Aunty Bunny (Justin's Bina) took him for the day.   Justin looked forward to this day soooooo much and Unc was as excited as he was.  Of course there was a favorite breakfast place he took Justin and then of course dinner.  It was a highlight of Justin's year.   I will never forget when Justin came home at the age of about 6 and said "mom...I'm going to get the Ford Focus when I grow up because Unc said that was the best car".  And he said it every year.

Sam and Unc became really close when she was in college....he was so proud of her and her acomplishments and called and emailed her all the time.  She felt in her heart the same way I have always felt with Unc....that she was truly loved and that he was so proud of her.

As far as myself....it is so hard to lose such an important man in my life.....I have been blessed because of my Uncles love and my heart hurts for my beautiful wonderful Aunt and cousins.

Jerry, thank you for creating this site.  It really helps me right now and I will add more pictures soon.  All of my love to you all.

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