Dad's health withers away with each passing day...
We can't shake him out of his blue funk. To top it all, his physical health goes from bad to worse in no time. From March to June he is in and out of the hospital or recovery home because of his diabetes. Unfortunately in June, while he is finally back home and seems to do better both physically and mentally, he hurts his left foot during a fall. That foot turns bad, and by the end of August, the doctors have to take it off to stop the gangrene from spreading. The recovery is hard but Leo never gives up. He wants to go home. After a few weeks in physical therapy and rehab, he learns he will return home as soon as his wound is clean. We are ALL happy at the good news. However, a couple days later, the doctors find new gangrene growth on his right foot and immediatly arrange for him to go to the hospital. But once again Dad has other plans. He passes on that same day before transport even reaches him. He found a better place to go to...He found his own transport...He found Mom's hand and took it. Be happy Dad. Be happy Mom. We love you both.

Dad is happy in his new place. He makes friends but unfortunately they don't last. That depresses him a lot. That and the fact that Mom has been gone for a while and he STILL misses her like crazy. We try to cheer him up. We visit him as much as we can. He visits us too. Life goes on...Around the Holidays we make sure we are all together...We love it. We make tons of happy memories. 

Dad's health is not doing well. He misses Nadine so much, he physically aches for her. Jeff and Mike spend more time taking care of him than being with their own respective family. The miles take a tall on everyone. We decide to move Dad closer. By mid-December it is done. Dad finally moves to Corona where we can take better care of him. The entire family rejoices. 

Unfortunately, that year was a very difficult one for not only Leo but all of us. The year starts with Dad's health deteriorating at the end of Spring 2012. We spend an entire summer worrying about him. Mom is scared to lose him (we all are). But Dad has other plans. He makes a full recovery and returns home by the end of summer. Then, Mom starts being sick. She finally decides to go to the doctors in September. And in October, she receives the bad news: stage 4 cancer. Dad is devastated. Mom is crushed. Yet, she will grace us with her presence for a couple more months. She passes on December 1st, 2012. We are ALL extremely SAD.

Once again Leo and Nadine are blessed with the birth of a last (but not least) grandchild: Sarah. She is born on March 22nd, 2011. Her mom and dad (Jen & Mike) are excited to have a little girl.  

Both, Leo and Nadine are thrilled to become grandparents of twin boys: Henry and Charlie born on November 17th, 2008 (children of Mike & Jen).

Leo and Nadine are proud to announce the wedding of their youngest son Michael. Mike will marry Jennifer on July 31st, 2004.

Leo decides to retire in February of 2000. 

On April 18th, 2000 Leo and Nadine are once again blessed with the birth of a third grandchild: Jenny-Lynn (last child born of Nat & Jeff).

Leo and Nadine become the happy grandparents of Tiffany born on January 10th, 1998. Wow, Nathalie and Jeff can't believe their blessings: another beautiful baby girl to add to their family.

Leo and Nadine become the proud grandparents of Nathan born on August 13th, 1996. Meanwhile Jeff and Nathalie are thrilled at the birth of their first child.

Leo and Nadine are proud to announce the wedding of their oldest son Jeffrey. Jeff will marry Nathalie on September 14, 1991. 

Leo and Nadine buy a house in La Habra, California where they live with Mike who is just fresh out of High School and Jeff fresh out of College. 

Due to the bad economy, Mom and Dad decide to start anew in the West. First, they stop in Arizona for a year. Then, they finally end up in Southern California where they will start building a new life. 

Having their perfect little family, Leo and Nadine decide to build a new home in Sussex, Wisconsin, a special place where they will raise their two boys and be happy for many years. 

Leo and Nadine are blessed again with the birth of their second son, Michael born on December 7th, 1969. Just in time to celebrate the birth of Jesus :)

Leo and Nadine are blessed with the birth of their first son, Jeffrey born on June 25th, 1964. Half-way to Christmas as Dad would always tell us :)
 

Leo and Nadine commit to each other in front of God on September 23rd of 1961. 

Nadine and Leo met a little over 50 years ago. Leo loved to recount the story of that first moment when his eyes fell onto Nadine. He would candidly tell us how all he could think of was: "I want me some of that." And did he ever. Dad worked hard at courting Nadine who at first ignored the young "wolf" he was then. But Leo never stopped. He persevered. From that first magical sight to the end Dad was ALWAYS with Mom. Always together through thick and thin, in good and not-so-good times. Always together. Until death came almost three years ago and took his beautiful angel away from him. He was devastated. He put up a good front for us, for his grandkids, for Mom (in Heaven). Leo was brave. He went on, but his HEART wasn't in it. Because we loved him so much, we could feel it. We could see it. Thank you Dad. Thank you for hanging with us a few more years. We surely appreciated every minute you gave us. We love you for it. However, lately we knew his HEART was too lonely, Dad was missing Mom too grandly. His love was calling him home. He had to go back to her. And today, Nadine and Leo are finally reunited once again. Mom, Dad, may you be FOREVER and EVER happy together. We will ALWAYS love you.