Herb's Godmother took many pictures of him over the years but this is the last picture she took. It seemed whenever they got together it always revolved around getting something to eat.

Today is exactly two months Herb left us.

Herb was a special person in many people's life's and for me of all the gifts in life, having Herb as my son was the greatest gift of all.

It saddens me to know that there were siblings he had planned to meet but now never will.  He spoke about them all the time and how great it would be to finally meet them in person and also meet his nieces and nephews.  Sadly the Covid-19 virus delayed their meeting.

Herb spoke of the similarities between them in so many ways especially since only being connected to them after his father's passing.  It just shows how important it is to do things now and not put them off as we never know what tomorrow brings.

I hope they all know how he enjoyed the times he spent speaking and being with them.

Herb's godmother is 98 and will be 99 in four months.  Since she is technically challenged as many her age are, she insisted I place her favorite picture of Herb on his memorial site.  I said "yes ma'am".

During Herb's life she was always there for Herb whenever he needed her.  She attended all the important events in his life and visited him almost every time he was in the hospital.  Of course Herb couldn't wait for her visit as she always came with lots of goodies and things she thought he would need during his stay.  Before going to the hospital his godmother would stop somewhere to get a meal for him since she knew he'd be hungry.  The hospital many times put Herb on a restricted diet when he was supposed to be on a normal diet and would sometimes take days to correct the problem.  Some of the hospitals were far from where his godmother lived but she would still get on the bus or buses and bring things to him no matter the distance.

Herb was always there for her as well.  Whenever she needed help with anything technical or anything else, he was there for his godmother too.  Holiday's and birthday's they never missed making sure each had something for their special day.  Herb loved his godmother and she loved him.

MY SON
It broke my heart to lose you,
But you did not go alone
A part of me went with you
The day God called you home.
A million times I’ve thought of you
A million times I’ve cried,
If loving could have saved you
You would have never died.
Forgive me Lord, I’ll always weep
For my son I loved so much
But yet I could not keep.

                Submitted by: Sonya
       *********************************

Dear Brother Your Memory Will Never Fade Away

My dear brother now that you are gone
You’re no longer here to share
The bond we had together -
A bond of love and care.
Yet, somehow something tells me
You are watching over me -
Now that from Worldly cares
You finally are free.
I miss you so very much,
And my tears I can not hide
Yet, within my heart, I feeling
You are always by my side.
Ever since you went away
Life has never been the same
Yet, it comforts me to know
That one day we’ll meet again.

             Submitted by: Chrysyn
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Bridge of Love
There is a bridge of memory.

From earth to heaven above.
It keeps you always near us,
it’s called the bridge of love.

May you always walk in sunshine
and God’s love around you flow,
for happiness you gave us,
no one will ever know.

It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you did not go alone,
for part of us went with you.

The day God called you home.

             Submitted by: Sonya
       ***************************************

My time has come to say good-bye,
I’ve earned my wings, now I have to fly.

Family, friends and all of God’s love, is
waiting for me up in heaven above.

I’ll see you all again someday soon,
but in the meantime you’ll see my star
shining closest to the moon.

Though I am no longer present to feel your touch,
just know my time on earth I’ve love you all so much.

                   Submitted by: April
       **************************************

In Our Hearts
We thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new
We thought about you yesterday
And the day before that too
We think of you in silence
We often speak your name
Now all we have are memories
And your picture in a frame
Your memory is our keepsake
With which we’ll never part
God has you in His keeping
We have you in our hearts

                  Submitted by: Sonya
       *************************************

I’m Home.
Now I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears;
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.
I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have shown.
But now it’s time I travel on alone.
So grieve for me for awhile if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for awhile we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I won’t be far away, for life goes on;
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can not see or touch me, I’ll me near.
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you, soft and clear.
And then when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile,
And say, “Welcome Home”

             Submitted by: Carol
       ***********************************

I Only Wanted You
They say memories are golden
Well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories
I only wanted you.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.
If tears could build a stairway
And heartache make a lane,
I’d walk the path to Heaven
And bring you back again.

              Submitted by: Sonya

Herb was so excited when his older sister invited him to her wedding. Due to COVID-19 it was only a small group of family and friends, held outside in the park.

The wedding was beautiful and Herb said he was so very happy for his sister. She looked wonderful and married a great guy. He wished them the best life together.

It also gave them a chance to see each other and his niece for the first time since their father’s funeral, almost ten years before.

Herb graduated from Robert E. Lamberton HS where he was on the honor roll, managed to skip 11th grade and received a college scholarship that he applied to Cabrini College.

Herb was using crutches initially but when Osgood Schlatter’s disease went in the other knee, he ended up using a wheelchair. I can not count the times the principal called asking that he stop racing down the hallways and doing wheelies.

Herb was part of the Variety Club as well as other organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Police Athletic League (PAL).

He attended summer camp, special games and activities and learned about how different yet how similar we all are.

It taught him that learning is not only something children do, but adults continue to learn during their lifetime as well.

These organizations taught him many things about people that would mold him into the man he became. Compassion, empathy and the acceptance of the differences in individuals; that is what makes people unique and special. That most people deal with challenges in their lives we are never aware of so do not judge.

Herb believed in treating everyone the same no matter who they were or what their profession or lack of one was. He tried to be supportive and helpful wherever and whenever he could to everyone.

During the fund raising for these organizations Herb liked meeting and talking to the different celebrities that were there.

The yearly auto show was a place for Herb to experience all the new and exotic cars he so loved and hoped to own at least one of them one day.

Lamborghini was one of the first cars he really loved. Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, McLauren, Viper, Aston Martin and Maserati just to name a few of those that he read about and kept himself updated on their latest models.

The auto show had other cars as well from all the different manufacturers and dealerships. Though he looked at all of them, it was the exotics that intrigued him the most.

There was nothing better than racing for Herb, didn’t matter what the vehicle was. Cars, bikes, skateboards, boats; the faster the better. He was always careful to do so, for the most part, in a safe manner.

If he didn’t beat someone in a race, he would race them again until he did. For the most part, he won the first time. That’s how competitive he was.

Like most people Herb couldn’t get enough of the amusement parks, carnivals, and fairs. Roller coasters were his favorite ride. The higher, the faster the better. He also liked the log rides or any ride that would have him wet by the end of the ride.

If they had a haunted house he was always first in line. He likes being frightened and frightening others as well.

Those that had arcades with Street Fight, Mortal Combat or a good racing game would distract him for a while away from the rides.

The day was never complete without a funnel cake and winning some stuffed animals.

The first boat Herb was in was a row boat which he didn’t like at all, but he did like the canoe. Canoeing down the river was relaxing to him, surprisingly he never tipped it over. Occasionally he would also fish from the canoe rather than from the bank. He would always release the fish after catching it.

Many times he went to FDR Park where they had peddle boats, in fact; Herb caught his largest fish when the fish jumped out the water into the peddle boat.

A friend of the family had a yacht but he preferred being closer to the water where he could reach out and put his hand in.

Herb loved horseback riding though sometimes the horse didn’t seem to like him as much, but he would always bring a treat in his pocket for them. He learned about the responsibility and cost of owning and caring for a horse and the importance of cooling the horse down after a ride.

National parks like Tyler offer beautiful open spaces to ride, as well as trails and streams. It gave him the chance to ride freely and really enjoy the horse.

Like all animals, horses don’t always do what you want them to do. During one ride when crossing a stream Herb’s horse decided he wanted to just stand in the stream and not go any further. The horse would not move until Herb got off and led him to the other side of the stream. Then he was able to get on him and ride again.