It's been 8 years since you went to Heaven Dad. I just can't believe it because it feels like it was yesterday. I think of you and have you with me and us every day. I so strongly feel your presence with us for which I am so grateful. With every thought I have of you, the consistent thought I have and carry with me is, "Thank you for your Love". Thank you for loving me, Lori and Louie the way you did and I know still do. You carried and showed us such a pure form of unconditional, self-less, patient, supportive, encouraging, safe, fulfilling and warm, Fatherly love. You carried joy in everything you did and were a part of. You found the beauty and again "joy" in everything and everyone around you. You taught us that life is about the "little and everyday things" that are actually, the most precious. You modeled strength but also tenderness and compassion. 

Thank you for bringing all the wonderful things you did and continue to bring into my and our lives. Your presence among us is stronger than ever and we just thank you for that. Thank you for listening to me from Heaven as I promised I would never stop talking with you and that our "conversations" would forever continue, just in a different form. They have. I feel you listening and hearing me and appreciate ALL of the beautiful signs you send us!

I love you my sweet, dear Father. I miss you and miss your physical presence beyond measure. That feeling just does not go away or subside. You just learn to live with that hole. But please rest assured, that both Gary and I are stronger in our Faith than ever before which we both feel you had a hand in. Thank you for bringing and demonstrating and raising us with such a strong Faith as it is our and my Bedrock of life. I am forever Grateful that You are my Dad and I am your Daughter. Being your daughter is my greatest gift and blessing and what I am most proud of. Thank you for giving me life and then being the MOST WONDERFUL FATHER a daughter could be blessed with.

Please continue to accompany, guide and watch over ALL of us. I Love you always and forever.

My Eternal Love, Your Beloved Daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxo


Dance with My Father
Song by: Luther Vandross

… Back when I was a child Before life removed all the innocence, My father would lift me high And dance with my mother and me and then Spin me around till I fell asleep... Then up the stairs he would carry me, And I knew for sure I was loved...

… If I could get another chance, Another walk, another dance with him, I'd play a song that would never ever end... How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again...

… When I and my mother would disagree, To get my way I would run from her to him... He'd make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah, yeah, Then finally make me do just what my momma said... Later that night when I was asleep, He left a dollar under my sheet... Never dreamed that he would be gone from me...

… If I could steal one final glance, one final step, One final dance with him, I'd play a song that would never ever end, 'Cause I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again...

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy! 

I am a day late in posting this, but didn't want to rush writing down my thoughts to you...

You would have turned 80 years old today. Time goes by in a blink of an eye, that is for sure. It goes so fast that it scares me sometimes. However, through the blink of time since you have physically left this earth and transcended to the eternal, (We) have all felt your spirit with and accompanying each of us. Thank you for being with us.

Thank you for all of your beautiful signs and synchronicities, the songs coming on out of the blue or just at the right second, the flickering of lights even after we have changed the light bulbs, the flickering of lights combined with songs coming on Pandora radio, no matter the station. The kitchen table led lit candles that randomly turn on that we have in Nanny's (and Great Grandma Josephine's) crystal candle holders from Sicily... And the music that comes on at the nail salon! I feel like you show up there too!! Lol! I feel like these are from you and treat them as such, taking them in like they are a wink, a hug and a kiss from my Dad, serving as reassurance or validation after having just spoken with you in my head.  Thank you.

We feel you and have you with us in all that we do, and you literally show up in almost every conversation we have. Always bringing smiles to my and our faces and warmth in our hearts. Your memory permeates every where we go, especially places like Mt Vernon and PCC.

Whenever I think of you (which is like all the time), I am always blown away by the outstanding Man, Father, Husband, Uncle, Friend, and Mentor you were to us and to so many. You were and will forever be loved and celebrated by all who knew and loved you. You possessed this strong, brilliant and gentle spirit, always making whomever you were around at ease and eventually making them laugh or bringing a smile to their faces at some point. To me, you were are will forever remain, all things good. I feel so overwhelmingly grateful that I had a Dad like you that gave me the life you did and one that left me feeling this way. I know not everyone gets to experience that and I thank God every day that I did.

I hope you are in heaven or wherever our spirits go, learning, evolving, and doing all the things that your soul loves and thrives in doing. I hope you are celebrating and being celebrated by all your loved ones there.

I will never stop thanking you for giving me life and giving me the life you did and for being the Father you were to me. Thank you for your continued guidance in spirit. I am always open to receive it and appreciate all your signs that help point the way. Thank you for listening to me when I talk to you. I feel you and then receive your signs validating that you heard me. Thank you, Thank you!

Please continue to watch over Mom, Louie, Lori, Larry, the grandkids, the great grandkids, Gary and I. We love and miss you every day, combined with the everlasting celebration that we got the honor, privilege and blessing of being yours and you being ours.

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy!!

I love you forever and always.

With My Eternal Love, your adoring daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxoxoxo

Merry Christmas in Heaven Daddy!!! 

Thank you for sending me one of your signs early this morning! I knew it was you being the first one to wish me a Merry Christmas! Thank you for ALL your recent signs you have been sending to both Gary and I throughout this Christmas Season! We have felt you with us and have you with us always. Mom, Louie, Gary and I had such a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas together!! We shared our cherished memories of you and laughed and soaked in those beautiful and funny memories. 

I don't even know how it is possible that this is our 8th Christmas without you... I know you accompany all of us in spirit but the missing of your physical presence never goes away. I loved how you would call the night before Christmas Eve and leave voicemails playing Elvis Christmas songs. I always reflect on how special and magical you and Mom always made Christmas for us growing up and into our young adulthoods. Thank you! I carry those traditions on with Gary and I and always hold you in my heart and have you with us while we are celebrating. I love Christmas decorations and especially decorating our house because it reminds me of growing up with all of our beautiful decorations, Christmas tree and outside lights on our house. I think you would be proud of Gary and I's outside house Christmas lights and decorations! I feel beyond grateful to have the memories and the life I have and have had and to have you as my Dad. Having you as my Dad growing up and now in spirit will forever be my greatest life's gift and Christmas gift every year. I will never stop thanking you, ever. I felt you with us so much yesterday and today and as I write this to you now. My higher spirit is hugging you in heaven right now while singing Christmas Carols together. Gary and I are going to watch "A Christmas Story Christmas" now! I remember seeing A Christmas Story", the original, in the movie theaters with You, Mom, Louie and I, during Christmas time 1983! I remember how hard we all laughed together! Then tomorrow, Gary and I are going to go shooting at the gun range together and will have you with us!! Gary is such an amazing shot! I know you are smiling down on us from heaven! 

I love you for eternity Daddy. I live every day in your honor and will do so for as long as I walk this earth. Thank you for giving me this life!

Merry, Merry Christmas my Beloved Father!

With my Eternal Love,

Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Father's Day my Beloved Father! I will never stop celebrating the blessing of having you as my Father in this life and beyond. We are eternally connected by this divine, cosmic cord. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and celebrate the AMAZING and Larger than Life Father you were and still are. The love and bond shared between us will never die. I know and always feel you in spirit, right beside me. Thank you for that.

So many memories have been playing through my head this week leading up to Father's Day. It's just an inevitable thing to think of you. I feel so blessed to have the memories that I do of you. Getting to be Your and Mom's daughter is truly my life's greatest gift, outside of getting to be born in The United States of America and marrying Gary! 

I can't thank you enough for everything you did for and gave to our family ~ To Mom, to Lori, Louie and me. As I reflect, all I saw and remember is that I was blessed to have two parents who loved their kids with all their might, doing everything in their power to give us the best lives as possible. You Did. You hit it out of the park!

Thank you for always taking the time to teach us basic life values ~ to have and practice a strong Faith in God, a love and appreciation for our Country, to be kind and respectful whenever possible, that working hard does pay off, to enjoy and notice all the ordinary everyday things as something to savor and to be seen as beautiful, to be critical thinkers and resilient, to become the best at what we do and to live with integrity... I could go on and on with reflecting on all that you so gently, wisely and lovingly instilled in us and me. Thank for always caring as much as you did for our wellbeing and for helping each of us grow into adults. I seriously don't know how I would be surviving in the world today without all that you instilled in me. Omg, THANK YOU!

I love you Daddy!! Happy Father's Day in Heaven!!

I feel so happy to continue celebrating Father's Day, knowing I had and still have the most wonderful Dad Ever!


Below is the Song, Saturn (by: Sleeping At Last ~ Ryan O'Neal)

I always strongly feel your presence when this song comes on... It's one of the songs that is a part of the song compilation on your memorial site. It's beautiful and feel like we are listening to it together when it plays.

"You taught me the courage of stars before you left.
How light carries on endlessly, even after death.
With shortness of breath,
You explained the infinite,
And how rare and beautiful it is to even exist.

I couldn't help but ask for you to say it all again.
I tried to write it down, but I could never find a pen.
I'd give anything to hear you say it one more time,
That the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes.

I couldn't help but ask for you to say it all again.
I tried to write it down, but I could never find a pen.
I'd give anything to hear you say it one more time,
That the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes.

With shortness of breath,
I'll try to explain the infinite,
And how rare and beautiful it is to even exist.
With shortness of breath,
I'll try to explain the infinite,
And how rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist."

Today marks 7 years since your passing and I just can't believe how time has passed… Knowing that you left this earth physically, still makes me catch my breath... However, I feel your presence with me and us always and have especially been feeling you this entire past week. You were beyond a special Man, Father, Friend, et al. One of your dear friends, Dave S. described you as a "Prince of a Man", which I couldn't agree more with. Today, we are celebrating and honoring your beautiful life and memory but also your eternal spiritual life. Honored to have been your daughter in this go around. Grateful every day to feel and experience your spiritual presence.

Gary had planted a small grove of 5 evergreen trees in honor of you and as a living tribute to you in the Rio Grande Forest in Creede, Colorado. This commemorative service helps forests in need. The area is gorgeous and also has spectacular fly fishing which is perfect in honoring you.

Below are song lyrics from a song called, "When I Get There" by P!nk. She lost her Dad in 2021 and I really connected with the song and lyrics and couldn't help but think of you when I heard it. Anyone who gets to experience a Father-Daughter bond like we did is beyond blessed. I love you forever Daddy. xoxoxox, Gina Marie

Lyrics from the song, "When I Get There" by: P!nk

"I think of you when I think about forever
I hear a joke and I know you would've told it better
I think of you out of the blue
When I'm watching a movie that you'd hate
You'd say it, you were never one to hesitate
You were always first in line
So why would it be different for Heaven?
But I got a couple questions.

Is there a bar up there where you've got a favorite chair?
Where you sit with friends and talk about the weather?
Is there a place you go to watch the sunset?
And, oh, is there a song you just can't wait to share?
Yeah, I know you'll tell me when I get there.

Do you think of me? Do you wish that I would slow down?
Are there some things that you've seen that feel like home now?
Are you up there climbing trees, singing brand new melodies?
I hope you are, I know you are.

Is there a bar up there where you've got a favorite chair?
Where you sit with friends and talk about the weather?
Is there a place you go to watch the sunset?
And, oh, is there a song you just can't wait to share?
Yeah, I know you'll tell me when I get there
Yeah, yeah, you'll tell me when I get there?

Will you save me a place with all those pearls of wisdom?
Yeah, I'll make some mistakes and you'll watch me as I live them
'Til I'm through, 'til I'm with you.

Is there a bar up there where you've got a favorite chair?
Where you sit with friends and talk about, talk about the weather?
Is there a place you go to watch the sunset?
And, oh, is there a song you just can't wait to share?
Yeah, I know (I know) you'll tell me when I get there.

I think of you when I think about forever."

Happy Birthday Uncle Lou, I can still see your beautiful smile & feel your warm heart. You always made me feel special like I was the only one in the room! 

xoxo

Kelly

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy! You would have turned 79 today... I am continually reminded by your signs that our spiritual life is eternal even when our physical existence comes to an end. This gives me great solace.

Thank you for always being my ultimate HERO in every way while you were walking this earth, as well as, since you have been in spirit. Your love, protection, and care was beyond anything I have ever experienced or will ever experience. My appreciation and gratitude to have had you as my Dad in this physical go around is unending and is my life's greatest gift and blessing. This is absolutely not an exaggeration. Actually, there are no adequate words to fully describe your love and the love you showed and gave to me and our entire family. Your love was and still is pure heaven. It is what I continue to draw my strength from every day since you left this earth.

Thinking about the Man and Father you were inspires me every day to be my best even on the days it's hard for me to get out of bed... When I think of the caliber of person you were and how you lived your life, on my hardest of days, I straighten my crown and remind myself who's daughter I am. I am "Lou's daughter"! That right, there is my biggest claim to fame and the thing I am most proud of. You always taught me to shamelessly aim at becoming my own very best version of myself and to hone my talents and gifts so I too can be at the top of my profession like you but also to live my life with love, compassion and integrity in every aspect of my life. When the more difficult moments of life show up or when the "haters" come around to try to dim my/our light, I think of the countless conversation we shared with you always offering your encouragement and insight and to just focus on my life, blessing those difficult moments and people for what they will teach me, and to just keep moving forward. You also told me "to never let the bastards get me down", LOL! I still hear you saying all of this to me. Is it just in my head or is that you really talking to me? I like to think it's you still talking to me.

There has been a lot of both revelations and evolutions in this past year that I know both you and my team spirit has helped come to light. Thank you for your spiritual presence and guidance through it all and thank you for watching over and guiding Gary too.

Knowing that your spirit is truly living on inspires me and reminds me that life is eternal and that our earthly life is a school we come to for our souls to grow and evolve. I pray every day to you and my angels that I am leading a life that you would be proud of and one that is open to and embraces the learning that my soul came here to do. Thank you for bringing me into this world. I know that when I am missing your physical presence, all I need to do is look down at my hands or look in the mirror, as when I do, I am looking at a piece of you. I will never stop trying to live my life to it's fullest and to my fullest. I will never stop "becoming" as long as I am alive. Thank you for instilling this in me. Thank you for instilling the love and empathy in me that you did. I have come to realize that not everyone has these attributes nor the parents that instill these types of attributes.... Thank you for being the Father and Parent that you were as it was beyond a blessing. With all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations that is called life, I am reminded by your memory every day that this world is still a "Wonderful World". It's a wonderful world because you loved me and still love me....

I/we will be celebrating your life and the memory of your life but also, we will be celebrating your everlasting spiritual life too. God bless you my beloved Father.

I Love you always and forever Daddy. Happy Birthday in Heaven!!

With my Eternal Love,
Your Adoring Daughter,
Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Merry Christmas Eve (actually the night before Christmas Eve) Daddy! 

Christmas Eve was always such a special time for our family when you were still physically here. Reminiscing on our Christmas eve brunches followed by opening gifts at your and Mom's house. We then would go to Christmas eve dinner at The Fort (my favorite!)! Christmas eve was "The Day"!

As I reflect, I feel utter gratitude for being gifted with you as my Dad and Mom as my Mom. I know how truly blessed I was and we were to have such a loving, attentive father in you. You always made every holiday, but especially Christmas so much fun! You were king of the Christmas light decorating and the decorating you did on our house every year was always ones for the books! You won awards!! I am laughing and crying as I wrote that... I'm pretty sure I inherited the love for decorating for Christmas from you! Lol!!

I loved the Elvis Presley Christmas songs that you would play over voicemail, lol! I loved that you cared and wanted to share what you loved with us. I cherish these memories and again thank you for giving them to me and us.

You just always had a way to celebrate every aspect of every day and every moment. At least, that's what it looked like from my perspective. I know there were dark days that you faced, but even amongst those, you always still found a way to find a shred of a silver lining. I love that and believe that was part of the magic you brought to this world while you graced it with your sweet presence.

This will be our 7th Christmas without you physically here. I can't believe it.... I know your soul is very much still alive as I feel your presence with us everyday, nevertheless, my heart still aches... Thank you for watching over us and for guiding us. Thank you for every single one one of your signs that you send me, Gary and the both of us when we are together. Your presence and the signs you send us have carried us and myself through some of the most difficult times over the past 6 and half years and especially over the past few years.

Mom, Louie, Gary and I will be spending a Christmas Eve Brunch together and Mom and Louie are coming over to our house for Christmas lunch. We love you eternally and we'll have a chair there for you, my Dear Father.

Merry Merry Christmas (in Heaven) Daddy!!!

Love,

Gina Marie

Happy Father's day in Heaven my Beloved Father!! I think of you daily but on Father's day, I get a little extra ping in my heart in regards to both missing you but most importantly, marinating in the beautiful and loving memories I have of you.

Thank you for continuing to listen to me from where you are now. I know you hear me and I appreciate and cherish your signs you send me and us. Thank you for continuing to be "My Dad". We are eternally connected by our love and Father-Daughter connection and bond. I thank God every day that I was blessed with the Father that you were are still are.

I love you and celebrate the Father and Man that you were everyday. Your love and memory inspire me to live my best life. Thank you for loving me and showing me ALL of the love, safety and generosity in all of its forms, that you did. Thank you for showing and teaching me all that you did. Thank you for always making me laugh my hardest while offering me a safe harbor when I needed a shoulder to lean on. You are my forever Hero, Daddy!! Thank you for continuing to look over Gary and I, Mom, Louie, Lori and her family. I feel you with us. Thank you for watching over Gary. I know how much he loves and misses you too.

I'm forever so honored to be your daughter, "Lou and Eydie's Daughter" and strive ever day to live in a way that makes you proud. Wish I could jump into your arms for one of your Big Bear Hugs! As I close my eyes, I know you'll be hugging me from Heaven. Thank you. I love you always and forever Daddy!!!

Love,
Gina Marie
xoxo

My Dear, Sweet Father....

Oh how I miss your physical presence, while at the same time, rejoicing in all the signs you send us daily and the palpable feeling that your spirit is still with us.

What the last 6 years of grieving your physical death has taught me, is that our souls absolutely, 1000% survive our physical death. You have been instrumental in showing me that. Thank you for being there for Amy and making your presence known as she was making her transition. Thank you for bringing her the light-heartedness and comfort that she reported you brought to her during that time. Thank you Daddy. When she was describing you being there, I knew it was you by the way she spoke of you. It was beautiful, amazing, mind-blowing and comforting to be witness to her experience of you visiting her. Thank you for heeding my call to be there for her, as then when she reported, "that were you showing up", it was such a validation that our souls DO live on.

I always lovingly remind Mom to watch for signs from you.... Today, she told me, "how she really feels you around her and us and that your presence feels palpable". I absolutely agreed with her as I feel the exact same way and all I can say is again, Thank You. Please never stop watching over us. We love and appreciate you always and continue to celebrate your bright, beautiful memory, every day.

Every time I feel gutted by the reminder of your physical death and absence, I stop, take a deep breath, close my eyes and think of you... I think of how I am here because of You and Mom.. I'm a living piece of you both... A piece of both of you will forever live on through me and my life for as long as I live. I hold my life and the fact that I am your and Mom's daughter, to be the most sacred. Every day I strive to be the best I can be even when I am feel like I am fumbling. Your words of wisdom, your love, our sweet and safe conversations always ring in my head, inspiring me to shoot for the stars in all I do and pursue and to love with all my heart and soul. This is what I know.

Thank you for the safe, fierce and warm love you always showed to me, Lori and Louie and Mom and the whole family. Thank you for always making me laugh so hard. Thank you for showing me to seek out, respect and learn from different perspectives. Thank you for teaching me my work ethic... Thank you for always making every occasion, big or small, so special... I could go on and on and just always feel so grateful and forever blessed that I had (and continue to have in-spirit) you as my Dad. Life with you in it just seemed to go by so fast... But I do understand that (our impermanence) is what makes life so very precious....

Thinking of you today Daddy on your Heavenly Transition Day....

With my Eternal Love,

Your Adoring Daughter, Gina Marie

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy! You would have turned 78 today... I just can't believe this is the 6th birthday we celebrate without you physically here.

I feel your spiritual presence with me and us every day... Although I know without a doubt, your spirit IS still with us, guiding and directing us, I still miss your physical presence every day. There are days, even though it will be 6 years in March, that I still can't believe you're not on this earthly plane with us... I know Mom misses you so much too.... At our Christmas Dinner when she was over at our house, she saw our book on our hallway buffet that is titled, "Married for Life", she commented that, "Marriage, when you marry your soul mate, is not just for life. It is for Eternity. And that she still considers herself married". I very much understand her sentiment, as I would feel the same.... Thank you for your continued watch over her.

I miss your laugh, you're slightly inappropriate jokes and sense of humor. I miss your hugs, our talks filled with your amazing wisdom, warmth, and unconditional love and support. I miss having "my Dad" around... I miss hearing your voice. I miss your calls and voicemails. There are simply too many things about you that I miss to list. Although my heart still aches and I know it forever will until we meet again, all the precious things I miss about you, are also ALL the things and memories I hold so dear and near to my heart for which I am eternally grateful to have. Having you as my Dad and getting to experience your love as your daughter is truly, my life's greatest gift and has shaped and continues to shape the woman, person, wife, daughter, friend and doctor that I am.

Mom and I often share memories of you. She will share such funny stories and things you would say like, "You can never trust a fart", LOL!!

Literally, every day and every night, I think of you and everything you did for our family, for Gary and I and for me. Your generous and warm love, your kind, warm and jovial spirit, all the beautiful gifts and treasures you gifted us and me over the years... All the beautiful and magical places you brought us... ALL of it, I treasure so deeply and hold so close to my heart always...

Please give Nanny, Grandpa and my dear, Soul Sister, Amy, my love. Thank you again for being there for Amy during her process of transition. She mentioned how funny you are and how you were bringing lightness and beauty to a situation that was "very heavy" as she described it. She was telling me, "how your presence made her feel so supported in that realm". Hearing from her that you were there with her, was such a balm, as well as, such a validation that life continues on.... Death is but another birthing process into and "back" to the spiritual realm.

Holding your spirit so very close to my heart today. Gary, Zen, Zola and I are going to go on a fun walk today and have a beautiful day celebrating and honoring you and the memory of you Daddy!! I know Mom is missing you especially today and is thinking of you today. Know that Her heart is always with you. I know because she tells me it is.

The blessing of getting to have you as my Dad, experiencing the love you showed me and everyone around you, witnessing you as a Father, Friend, Husband to Mom, Grandfather, Uncle, Son to your parents, a Brilliant Financial Advisor - all of it, continues to inspire me on every level to live my life to it's fullest, savor every moment, be all that I can be, Love Gary with all my might, help as many as I can with my gifts and knowledge and to NEVER forget who's daughter I am.

Daddy, know that I celebrate you today and every day and I will continue to live my beautiful and amazing life in your honor.

Thank you always for continuing to send me and us your daily signs. Connecting with you and receiving your signs truly get me through my every day and are vivid and palpable reminders that our souls eternally live on and that our loved ones continue to be with us spiritually, as Love never dies.

Thank You for your continued guidance, support and protection.

I love you always and forever Daddy and wish you a Very Happy Birthday in Heaven!!!

With my Eternal Love, Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
XOXOXOXOXOXO

Merry Christmas Daddy!! I always loved how much you loved Christmas and the Christmas season! I always feel you close by during this time of year through all the signs you send us and through the music and places that ignite all of the beautiful and precious memories of you. Elvis and Frank Sinatra Christmas songs, Louis Armstrong, our song, "What a Wonderful World" (playing everywhere!), The Fort, Simms Landing, Mt Vernon, all bring such a flood of memories and feelings of your spirit surrounding us and me. Thank you. Thank you for ALL the amazing and magical Christmases you gave to us growing up, as well as, beyond, throughout our adult years. You're jovial, warm, generous and loving spirit was such a "match" to the "Christmas spirit" that abounds this time of year. You'd be proud of our outside Christmas lights and our Christmas tree too!! I feel like your with us when we decorate for Christmas! I miss you always but I also feel rest assured that you ARE STILL, VERY MUCH with us in spirit and hope you know how much I/we appreciate your spiritual presence that we feel surrounding us so much of the time. I love you always and forever my Beloved Father!!

With my Eternal Love, Your Adoring Daughter,
Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Hello my sweet, dear Father.... I can't believe I am writing this to you marking the 5th anniversary of your passing and returning 'home'.  It feels like just a few months ago, not a full year, that I was writing to you for the 4th anniversary...  This past year has just been such a blur and whirlwind for the entire world...

Gary and I, and I know Mom too, have felt your constant presence with us throughout this past year and I can't thank you enough for ALL of your support and spiritual guidance and presence. As always, thank you for every sign you send and give to us, showing us and validating your presence.  With every day since your passing, and especially with this past year, it is not lost on me that this beautiful and brief physical, earthly experience is such a divinely, precious gift that is the ultimate spiritual learning experience, so we must stay awake and strive to to be and become more awake with every day we are gifted with the breath of life.

Your Physical presence may be gone from this earth, but your spirit and memory strongly lives on, not only within our family, but within your community at large and all that knew you or even briefly met or encountered you. I continue and will forever be, so very proud of the man, husband, father, son, grandfather, uncle, friend and human being that you were and will forever feel honored to be your daughter.

I see and feel your presence in almost everything around me and us and it always brings warmth and a "calm" to my heart and a smile to my face while at the same time, can also feel gut wrenching.  I am sure that from where you are now, you are saying, "no Gina, don't feel the gut wrenching as I am still here with you.... Love never dies as our souls are eternally connected. You must live your life to it's fullest and I am right there beside you, guiding you every step of the way".

I know you live on through me and our family and I promise to always strive to live my best life and be my best self in honor of You and Mom, for myself, for Gary and for Gary and I, for my dear friends and soul sisters and brothers, as well as, for the people and patients I get to serve.  You have always inspired me and continue to inspire me, Dad.  I love you always and forever Dad, holding your spirit close to my heart and celebrating your life and memory daily!! Thank You for your continued guidance, support and protection.

With my Eternal Love and Gratitude, your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy! You would have turned 77 today... I just can't believe this is the 5th birthday we celebrate without you physically here.

Myself, Gary and Mom celebrate your memory every day. We continue to be so very proud of the Man, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Son, Nephew, Friend, Mentor, and Financial Advisor you were to your family and the people in your life. You achieved the highest of honors in your field of work which always inspired me and continues to inspire me to this day. I will forever remain inspired by you. But you also left behind a legacy of "Good", Warmth and Kind-heartedness. Upon connecting with one of your close friends, he referred to you as "A Prince of a Man" which warmed my heart, and I also couldn't agree more.

Whenever I get down on myself or feel like "I'm not enough", I remind myself that I am Your Daughter, "Lou's Daughter", and I am reminded that I am a piece of you and pieces of you will always reside in me which means you are always with me guiding, directing and protecting me to be my best and use my gifts to help the people I will serve, as well as, to be the best and most supportive and loving partner and wife to Gary, to be the best daughter I can be to Mom and the best friend I can be to my dear friends. Please know that I continue to strive to be my best and to make the most out of my life and to always strive for a work-life balance like you so often stressed to me. 

I often look back on emails you had sent to me that contained your beautiful, wise and warm words of wisdom, love, support and advice. I just came across a few of those this evening and it felt like you were right there with me saying those words to me in that moment. Thank you for leading me to those emails which by the way, were emails that were printed out and filed away in my filing drawer. I stumbled across them while I was filing away a file that was unrelated. I had a file named, "Special Emails" that caught my eye and so I pulled it and it's contents out to refresh my memory of the emails I had in this file. In that file were two emails from you back in 2007 right before I was due to graduate from Chinese Medical School. At that moment, my heart was terribly aching, missing you and then I stumbled upon that folder with those emails. Your words in those emails were relevant to me today and were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment from you. I believe you used those emails to get those message contained within to me today. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Today, Mom and I went to Breakfast today followed by going back to her (and Your) house to hang out and spend more time together. It was such a precious and beautiful time together. She gifted me some collectable items (her replica faberge egg collection), as well as, some other items such as some crystal, china and silver items (bowls, serving trays, gravy boat). A few of the crystal items and China bowls/serving dishes, were Nanny's which I was so excited to receive. I am so happy to have these and will cherish them and use them with care knowing they are family heirlooms. Mom also gave me a silver ornament bell with your initials LRM on it that also has a Rudolph engraved on it from 1980. She also gave me a silver medallion that was awarded to you in 1971 for outstanding achievement. Again, we were reminded of your greatness!! Mom also gave me the "Papa and Princess"nome. That always reminded me of you and I and she reminded me that she had been holding on to that for me. I so felt you in that moment. I was so moved and feeling so very grateful to be receiving these treasures that carry your memory and the memory of our family and life. I was grateful that Mom and I could share in this together. It was all bitter sweet.... It's so hard not to yearn to have you here. To want time to stop or at least slow down for just moment... But then, I know these feelings are just reminders of the preciousness and fleeting nature of life. Thank you so much for everything that you gave to us and to me as a Father and family provider. You truly gave us the world and showed our family a level of love and warmth that is rare to see and experience. I have always known and continue to know how very blessed and privileged I was and am to have had and have a Father, a Dad like you.

Thank you always for continuing to send me and us your daily signs. Connecting with you and receiving your signs truly get me through my every day and are vivid reminders that our souls eternally live on and that our loved ones (you) continue to be with us spiritually as Love never dies. I love you always and forever Daddy and wish you a Very Happy Birthday in Heaven!!!

With my Eternal Love, Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
XOXOXOXOXOXO

Merry Christmas Daddy!

I can't believe this is our 5th Christmas with you in Heaven. I miss you so much during Christmas but strongly feel your spirit with and beside us. I hold ALL the beautiful memories I and we have of you and of our time during the holidays. I loved how much you loved Christmas and how you always made it so special. I loved how much you loved Elvis Christmas songs, our Christmas Eve Fort Dinners, Simms landings brunches and opening gifts at your and Mom's house. I loved how much you loved decorating for Christmas, especially with the outdoor decor and lighting!! We have held you in spirit during our Christmas decorating this year for sure! Thank you for every Christmas we had together and that you and Mom gave to us and our family and families. Although we may not be able to physically celebrate Christmas together, I know that we are still together and that you are with us, smiling and laughing and blessing us. Thank you for sending Gary and I all of "our songs" today and for making it so obvious that it was you sending us those songs to let us know you were with us!! Thank you for always being so generous in sending us your signs as they are uplifting, inspiring and a comfort and balm to our souls. Gary and I Love you Daddy and Wish you a very Merry Christmas in Heaven!!

With my Eternal Love,

Gina xoxoxo

Happy Thanksgiving Daddy!!!

I can’t believe this is our 5th Thanksgiving without you physically here…. I miss you beyond measure Dad. Today and everyday I give Thanks and Praise to God for giving me the Father I had and still have in you and for both you and Mom. She misses you deeply, but I know you are right there beside her. I know you are with us all. Right there beside all of us, guiding, protecting and directing us. Thank you Dad. I hope that your spirit is happy and at peace and still constantly learning and growing. Thank you Daddy for ALL the blessings you brought into my and our lives and for the amazing love you always showed to me and us. I am forever grateful for all of our past, current and future blessings and again, for the gift of being your daughter and having you as my Dad. Happy Thanksgiving my beloved Father!

With Eternal Love and Gratitude,
Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Father’s Day my Dear Father!!

Missing you so much but also always celebrating your spirit, especially today.

Thank you for all that you taught me and gave me perspective on throughout my life. I reflect daily on all the lessons I learned from you and thank God for blessing me with you as my Father. You always reminded me and us of just how rare and beautiful life is. I feel like you still show and teach this to me from where you are now.

Whenever I get sad, discouraged or get down on myself, I remind myself that a part of you lives and resides inside me, indefinitely. This brings me great peace and inspires me daily to be my own personal best as I am always reminded that “I Can”, Thanks to the poem that I know you guided me to find amongst your parent's belongings and photos you left to me. Thank you again for giving and leaving all of that to me as it has helped me heal and also really learn about Nanny and Grandpa’s lives, our family and your early life.

There isn’t a day or really even a moment that goes by that I don’t think of you or are remembering a memory of you. The world can feel so lonely at times without you here. Thank you always for continuing looking over me, guiding, directing and protecting me.

Daddy, just know that you are forever “Unforgettable”. You embodied "La Vie En Rose”. Once again, Happy Father's Day and I love you always and forever Daddy!!!

With my Eternal Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxxoxoxoxoxox

Gosh, it’s been 4 years since you left this earth and we said goodby to your physical presence. I can’t believe it’s been 4 years as it still feels like just yesterday that you passed onto your eternal existence. They say “Time heals” and I do agree with that but there are still so many days that I miss you more than ever with your physical absence still feeling like a sting to my heart.

Please continue to guide, protect and direct me and us in all the ways you are able, as we walk through our earthly journeys. Thank you always for looking over me and us. We feel your presence and appreciate it more than you know.

I hold close to my heart all of the beautiful and wonderful memories I/we have of you and of our life. The memories of you will forever shine brightly and brilliantly and be my guiding light. I live my life in your honor and always want to live a life that you would be proud of and I strive for that every day.

Thank you for recently seeing me through my Dermatology diplomat program and board exam. I felt you with me. Thank you for being my “Silent Spiritual Partner”. On my darkest and most difficult days when I’m at my lowest, I remind myself whose daughter I am, and am infused with the inspiration that “I CAN”.

I will never stop thanking God for blessing me with you as my Dad, as well as, giving me the honor of being your daughter. You will forever be a part of me and I a part of you. Your spirit always accompanies me, this I know.

I will never stop celebrating your memory and will forever hold your presence and spirit close to my heart. I love you eternally Daddy with ALL my heart and soul!

Love never dies. It grows, changes, evolves and continues to create and connect us all to a larger force at play.

Thank you Dad for showing us how “spirit” continues to live on. It’s all pretty magical.

With Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy!

You would have been 76 today (1/29/2020)..

I will always celebrate the day the world was first graced with your presence. You are still a part of my everyday and I always have you with me. I hope wherever you are that your spirit is rejoicing and surrounded by everything love.

I truly can’t believe that this is the fourth birthday you have had in heaven… Everyday I have beautiful thoughts of you, thoughts about how you always could make me or anyone around you for that matter, laugh and smile. Your presence was such a warm, safe and loving presence. Whenever I run into friends, acquaintances, or clients of yours, they always marvel and reminisce on how you touched their lives. Know that your memory lives on in many people.

Thank you for your warm spiritual presence that I feel surrounding us, as well as, ALL of the signs you send me and us. It’s amazing and so validating that our spirits do live on and continue to be around loved ones. I still wish I could call you up and share in one of our talks or run into your arms for one of you big bear hugs while taking in the aroma of your old spice cologne. Hearing your laugh and chuckle following one of your slightly inappropriate jokes. Witnessing the Kind, Jovial, Respectful and Considerate ways you always treated people. You masterfully had a way of connecting with people and making them feel noticed, respected and validated. Just that alone, to me, were small acts of God shining through you. I personally experienced and saw the ripple effect it created in me and in all that you interacted with. That is and continues to be rare to see in people these days. I strive to authentically and sincerely carry that forward as I too, strongly believe in just being kind to others.

My heart still aches and misses your physical presence every day Dad. But I know and feel your spiritual presence and the guiding light it brings. Thank You Daddy. Please continue to watch over me and our family and please continue to send me and us your signs.

I was and will forever be, so very proud of you Daddy. So proud, honored and humbled to be your daughter.

Happy Birthday my beloved Father. I love you always and forever!

With Eternal Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter,
Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Father's day to my Wonderful Dad!
I have been thinking of you this entire week and of course, throughout the day today. So much is going on and there is so much I'm and we are going through and I feel your presence with us and me through it all. Thank you for being by my and our side. I will never stop celebrating and remembering your big, bright, bigger than this world spirit. Miss you every moment of every day but also hold all of the memories of you and of our talks and all that you taught me close to my heart. Please continue watching over me and us and know how grateful I always am to you for being by my and our side.
I thank God every day for blessing me with having you as my Dad. I love you Daddy! Happy Father's Day!
With Eternal Love and Gratitude,
Gina Marie
xoxo

You left this earth 3 years ago tonight, March 11th, 2016 just around 6:11pm to my recollection. It was just you and I… Your breathing became quiet and your spirit gently departed this earthly plane. Thank you for the gift of allowing me to be by your side as you made your transition from this world to the next. It has given me peace in the days since your' passing and is something I hold sacred beyond measure. I felt your spiritual freedom that night and continue to feel it every day. We feel your spiritual presence and guidance with us every day directing and giving us strength and the knowing to navigate our days. Thank you. 

However, although I have total acceptance and peace regarding your physical passing, I still miss your physical presence every day. It’s hard not to yearn to want to talk with you and hear your voice and wise, warm and loving words and to just be in your warm, jovial, calming and loving presence. All I know for sure is, that the world is a better place because you were in it and I was beyond blessed to have the gift of having you as my Father. You’re missed every day but your memory is celebrated and remembered, first and foremost, every day.

I will never stop thanking you for being the Father you were to me, Lori and Louie. Thank you for everything you taught me: to always be patient, kind, respectful and compassionate to those around me; To be a critical thinker but also to try and have an open mind and heart; Work hard but work smart and play harder; family and love is everything and conquers all... That is just what was at the top of my head but I could go on and on… One of the last things you had said to me was, “ I hope I have taught you enough”. You DID Daddy!! You taught me more than you can imagine. I learned from you every moment I was with you and I continue to learn from you in spirit every day since your physical passing. I see and appreciate all of your signs and take solace in knowing that you now are by my side as my “silent, spiritual partner”. 

Your light will never be forgotten and continues to eternally shine on brightly.

You were and remain forever, my Hero Dad. We are eternally bound and connected by our love.

With Eternal Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter and Biggest Fan,

Gina Marie
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday Uncle Lou,,!!!  I feel so blessed to have had you in my life, the love & warmth you made me feel has always been with me, until me meet again,,xoxo,,I love you always and forever.

Happy Birthday in Heaven my Beloved Father! You would have been 75 years old tomorrow (1/29/2019)…

I still miss your physical, earthly presence every day so much with my heart still aching daily… However, I feel your presence so strongly with us and surrounding us daily that it almost feels like if I were to turn around and look behind me, I’d see you standing there with your peaceful and comforting smile and presence, ready to wrap your arms around me in a big bear hug. God, what I would do to feel a hug from you…

I never stop reveling in and feeling eternally grateful for the blessing I was bestowed in having you as my father, “My Dad”… And in having experienced the kind of warm, supportive, unconditional love you always gave and showed to me, Louie and Lori. 

I am and will always continue to be so proud of every part of you and so proud to say that I am your daughter. It will forever be an honor to say that I am “Lou’s daughter”. I love running into people or talking to people who knew you as they always just go on and on about what a special and beautiful human being you were and how much you touched and impacted their lives. You always inspired me as a person and you continue to inspire me as my “silent spiritual partner” and guardian angel, to be the best I can be and to live a fulfilled life that you would be proud of.

I am forever grateful for the deep connection you and I shared and continue to share. Thank you for fulfilling your promise of sending me signs after you physically passed from this world. In doing so, I feel like I have learned so much about eternal, everlasting life, God, angels and the fact that we are all spiritual beings having this physical experience. Thank you for helping to bring me and Gary and I closer to all of that. Thank you for Guiding, Directing and Protecting us.

Daddy, tomorrow we will be celebrating your beautiful and amazing life and the memories we cherish of you and hold so close to our hearts. I love and celebrate you always and forever Dad. Your light eternally SHINES ON, BRILLIANTLY AND BRIGHTLY!!! Happy Birthday my Beloved Father!!!

With All my Eternal Love,
Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Merry Christmas in heaven my Dear Father!

Have been feeling your presence so much lately, first with my recent Birthday and now that it is Christmas. Missing your physical presence so much lately. Beyond measure really… But I know that having you as my Father both in life and now in spirit is and will forever be my greatest gift. And so today, as we celebrate our 3rd Christmas without you physically here, I remind myself of the beautiful and rare gift of having a Dad like you.

I always loved how much you loved the holidays and how special you would always make me feel on my birthday. I loved how you would always call me and send me texts the day before my birthday wishing me a “happy day before my birthday” and then always reminding me that I was “your Christmas miracle” and that I would always be “your baby” and “Daddy’s little girl”.

You loved so fiercely and so generously always with so much warmth. Thank you for loving me the way you did. The world can feel so lonely and cruel at times and miss so much being able to come to you for refuge from some of the world’s harshness. I just miss talking with you and our talks and at times feel lost without now having access to those oh so comforting and uplifting talks filled with all of your words of wisdom, care and unconditional love. However, I know that now, you and I are still having our conversations through all the signs you send me which always light me up inside. Thank you for being so spiritually present, letting me know that you are with me and us.

I remember getting voicemails and emails with your Christmas greetings usually always mixed with some type of funny and or inappropriate joke attached to it. You always could make me laugh and bring a smile to my face!! I loved how much you loved Elvis’s music and especially Elvis covers of Christmas songs. Hopefully, you are listening to his music in Heaven! I always loved and looked forwards to our Christmas eve dinners at The Fort Restaurant and to this day, still have the beautiful turquoise earrings that you got for me at the “Trading post gift shop” during one of our past Christmas Eve Dinners at the Fort, probably around 10 years ago. I remember it was just you and me. You always did little things like that and always made me feel so special and so loved. Your love was the ultimate love a daughter could feel from her Father. No one has or ever will love me as much or as thoroughly and unconditionally as you. Again, I am blessed and forever grateful to have been gifted with experiencing love like that.

Once again, Daddy, wishing you a Merry Christmas in Heaven and to ask that you continue to look over me and us, guiding, protecting and directing us. You always called me “your angel”, but now you are my Angel. I love you my sweet, dear Daddy.

Eternally yours,
Gina Marie
xoxoxo

Happy Father’s day My Beloved Father!

Daddy, Thank you for being the most AMAZING Father both in physical life and in Spirit! Thank you for always being there for me and for our family. THANK YOU for giving me life and then being the most Loving, Caring, Fun, Funny, Supportive, larger than life, Dad a daughter could have!!

I feel your presence all around Me, Gary, Louie, Mom and the family as a whole. Thank you for ALL of the signs you have sent me and us and for ALL the signs you continue to send me and us!! They never go unnoticed and I cherish every one of them as they remind me that you ARE still with me and us, guiding, protecting and directing me and us. Your signs and spiritual presence continue to be the magical heavenly presence in my days that helps me to continue to strengthen my relationship with God, Spirit, my angels and spiritual guides, as well as, my spiritual connection and relationship with you.

I remember You and Mom always taking us to Elitches for Father’s Day and what fun memories those are to cherish! I miss hearing your voice, I miss our special talks where you would always lend your beautiful perspective, wise wisdom and loving encouragement and support. I miss your warm bear hugs and kisses. I miss hearing your laugh, your super funny jokes and “Dadisms”. I am sure you have heaven laughing with you and enjoying your Big, Bright, Beautiful spirit!!

I know and feel your spirit shining and soaring and that gives me peace. Everyday I strive to live in your honor and be my personal best and live a life that you would be proud of.

Give Nannie and Grandpa a BIG hug and kiss for me. I feel their spiritual presence with me too!

Love and Appreciate you ALWAYS AND FOREVER my Beloved Father!! 

Forever my Silent Spiritual Partner and Guiding Light.

With Eternal Love and Gratitude,
Your Adoring Daughter,

Gina Marie
XOXOXO

Today marks the two year anniversary of your passing. How fast time goes by is mind blowing. Thank you for ALL of the signs you send to Gary and I. We love, cherish and appreciate our new found spiritual relationship with you and feel you constantly around us, guiding, protecting and directing us. That being said, I still SO MUCH miss your physical presence… Wanting to just pick up the phone and call you to hear your warm voice, share in one of “our talks”, get your always amazing advice and of course, share in a few laughs together… Wanting to run into your arms to get a big bear hug and kiss… Just missing your overall physical presence in my and our life…

“A life that was loved was a life that was lived”….

I am very much at peace knowing you are at peace, no longer physically suffering, however, often when I am alone and thinking of you, I get weepy or shed some tears. I don’t see this as weakness or not being able to “let go”. I see those tears as points of connection between me and you, Dad. My tears simply manifest in physical form all that emotion, spirit and love that you and I shared and continue to share. And having lost its regular release through physical contact and visual or verbal communication, from time to time, that love comes pouring out from your world into my world through my tears. 

I VERY MUCH feel your spiritual presence around me and us all the time and appreciate the knowing that you are with us. I am trying to do my best to live a life that you would be proud of. Knowing that I have you by my side as my “Spiritual Silent Partner” inspires me and gives me the strength to keep forging forward to achieve and be my best and to live by your example.

You will forever be my Hero. I am eternally grateful and thankful to you for being the Father and “Dad” you were to me and to both Louie and Lori. Thank you for ALL of the Special Moments and talks you and I shared over the years. Thank you for being the beautiful human being you were and soul you continue to be. Thank you for your warm and generous love and for always making us feel safe. Thank you for always believing in me and being my biggest cheerleader. Thank you for always making me laugh so hard with your corny jokes and comments! Thank you for sharing your brilliant light with the world… It continues to beautifully linger among those whose lives you touched.

Today and Everyday, I breath in all the beautiful memories of you. Never letting a day go by where your memory is not celebrated and remembered. Your light continues to shine ever so brightly Dad.

With Eternal Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter and Biggest Fan,

Gina Marie
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday in Heaven Dad. Writing this to you the night before your birthday. There isn’t a day I don’t think about you and or miss you. Dad, you always held the world to it’s best for us and defended our every breath. I thank God everyday for the blessing of having you as my Father. I celebrate you always and do my best to live a life that you would be proud of.

You taught Lori, Louie and I well and always encouraged us to follow our bliss. I found the poem, “You Can” in the box of pictures and personal belongings of Nannie and Grandpa’s that you gave to me before your passing. When I came across this poem after you passed, I felt like it was a message from you to never forget that “I Can” and to always strive to be my own personal best.

Thank you Dad for being my “Silent Spiritual Partner” and Guardian Angel, guiding and looking down on me and our family, continuing to inspire in the way you always inspired everyone you encountered. Your light continues to Shine ever so brightly! 

I feel your presence everyday and appreciate ALL the signs you send me and us! I live in your honor every day, always remembering, “I Can”. Happy Birthday my Beloved Father. Love you Daddy always and forever.

Your Grateful and Adoring Daughter,
Gina Marie
Xoxo

Happy Father's Day my beloved Father. I miss you every day since you left this earthly realm a year ago. It's been a "year of firsts" without your physical presence with us and my heart aches with how much I miss you. You always showed me, my brother and sister the most generous, unconditional, unwavering and purest love. You were and still remain the best Father someone could be blessed with. I feel your spiritual presence surrounding, guiding and protecting me everyday. Thank you for now being my "silent partner" as I continue to walk through my earthly journey. Your memory is forever celebrated and forever lives on in and through me and our family. Love you forever and always Daddy! Thank you again for always bringing everyone around you such joy and love and opening our and my eyes to "What a Wonderful World" we do truly live in.

With my Deepest Love and Gratitude, your adoring daughter,
Gina
xoxoxo

When Great Trees Fall


~ by Maya Angelou

When great trees fall,

rocks on distant hills shudder,

lions hunker down

in tall grasses,

and even elephants

lumber after safety.



When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.



When great souls die,

the air around us becomes

light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,

see with
 a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened,

examines,
 gnaws on kind words

unsaid,
 promised walks

never taken.


Great souls die and

our reality, bound to

them, takes leave of us.

Our souls,

dependent upon their

nurture,
 now shrink, wizened.


Our minds, formed

and informed by their

radiance,
fall away.

We are not so much maddened

as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
 of
dark, cold
 caves.



And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of
 soothing, electric vibration.


Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.

― Maya Angelou

Came across this poem the other day on 4/4 which also happens to be Maya Angelou's birthday and thought of you Dad. You were always the "rainbow in my clouds" and continue to be. Although your physically not with us, You continue to be "a great soul" eternally living on! We feel you all around us! Love, Gina xoxo

"My Uncle Lou"

Although time did not permit, this is a letter I wrote about my Uncle Lou for his memorial service.

Hello!

Well I see many familiar faces today.
For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is John McGinn.

My mother was a sister to Edyth Jane (Aunt Jane, as I’ve always known her), and that made Lou Mortellaro my Uncle – Uncle Lou.

I’ve known Uncle Lou for about as long as I can remember. I’d like to share some of my favorite memories from my relationship with my Uncle Lou.

How fortunate I was, as a young boy, who didn’t have a father in my household, to have an Uncle, and an Aunt, step in and invest time in a boy who quite frankly needed some attention, some encouragement, and some inspiration at a critical time in his life.
Aunt Jane, you’ve continued thinking of me over the years, and I appreciate that more than you know. Thank you. I love you.

My Uncle Lou invested considerable time with me during those early years. He was always such a kind, generous, and compassionate man. I’ve never really met anyone quite like Uncle Lou. He always had a smile on his face, always had such a hearty laugh, just so positive, and he always had an Italian kiss for me. Now for those of you that aren’t familiar with an Italian kiss – I’ll explain what that is. It starts with a big hug, a VERY big hug, and then you get a kiss, actually two kisses, one on each cheek. I’ve had hundreds of Italian kisses from my Uncle Lou over the years. Because it didn’t matter, young or old, every time I’d see him, I’d get a big hug, followed with an Italian kiss.

Well I loved that Italian kiss tradition so much that I passed it on to my own kids. I’ve given thousands of Italian kisses to my three kids over the years.
My two boys are sitting here today and they learned early on that the Italian kiss came from my Uncle Lou. Even they’ve had Italian kisses from Uncle Lou. In fact, if anyone out there wants a real world example of an Italian kiss, Matt and Jack are both available today to show you just how it works. They know it well!

Well I’m not a young boy anymore, and as I’ve grown up over the years, I’ve come to realize the many and valuable life lessons taught to me by my Uncle Lou.

Upon learning how much I loved football, I remember the day my Uncle Lou showed up at my Grandma Rose’s apartment building where my Mom, my two sisters, and I, lived. We all shared one of those two bedroom apartments. Well Uncle Lou arrives and he tells me has something for me, and he hands me a big box. It wasn’t even Christmas! That box contained his football uniform from when he played football in, I’m guessing, High School. I couldn’t have been happier. My goodness, I’d come home every day after school and put all that stuff on, pants, shoulder pads, everything – and I’d do what any 10 year old kid from Denver would do - just make believe and play around, pretending I was a Floyd Little of the Denver Broncos. Heck, for the longest time, I even slept with those pants on – thigh pads, hip pads, all in place. I remember my Mom said to me, how can you sleep in those pants, aren’t they uncomfortable? I said nope, Uncle Lou gave these to me.

Well there’s a great book I’d encourage everyone to read - it’s called The Book of Virtues. Chapter 2, speaks to the virtue of COMPASSION. Compassion is defined as having empathy for someone who has been negatively impacted, often by external events. What a wonderful virtue, and how blessed I was to have someone truly demonstrate the virtue of compassion at that time of my life.

Uncle Lou also knew I was a big fan of Elvis. As a young boy, I think we all had heroes – either real or imaginary. Certainly Elvis was a hero for me. I’d talk my Mom or Grandma Rose into buying me records, and I’d play those songs over and over and over again. One day I remember Uncle Lou and Aunt Jane were at the apartment, we probably had a record on, and all of the sudden my Uncle Lou looked at me, just as serious as he could be, and he said, “Johnny, you look like Elvis Presley”! Now my baby sister Kelly did all she could to hold back the laughter, but that would have been ok, because to a young boy who figured Elvis to be a hero, I certainly believed my Uncle Lou was on to something. Of course, many years later, upon reflecting on that event, I remember thinking, "What was he thinking?" Me, look like Elvis? But then I realized that this was simply another one of my Uncle Lou’s life lessons – The Art of a Compliment! He simply seized an opportunity – his only goal was to splash a little enjoyment into my day. He always did that kind of stuff.

I remember one day my Grandma Rose yelled out to me (I think I was out playing around on the front lawn) – and she let me know that Uncle Lou was coming over to take me out to lunch. Of course I’m like – YES, LUNCH with UNCLE LOU! It took me about 10 seconds to get ready and I waited out on the porch of that apartment building waiting for my Uncle Lou. Well soon enough he pulls up in his Cadillac, hops out, and just like every time for as long as I knew Uncle Lou, he gave me a hug and an Italian kiss! Well we jumped into that Cadillac and off we went. Uncle Lou told me he wanted to buy me a steak lunch! And off we went to the Sizzler Steak House. Some of you may recall, back then, you get in line, and they take your order, and then you slowly creep your way to the front where the chef hands you your steak, right off the grill. As we got closer to the front of the line, Uncle Lou said, Johnny, close your eyes, what do you hear? And I closed my eyes and I said, it’s very noisy, lots of people talking. He said, what else do you hear? Listen carefully.
I did, and then told him, "I can hear knifes chattering and I can hear steaks cooking on the grill" – and it’s making me hungry. Uncle Lou then told me, Johnny, I don’t know if you’ve decided what to do in your life, but if you decide to choose a career in sales, remember this memory right now. It isn’t the actual steak sitting on your plate that makes you hungry; rather, it’s all the events leading up to that. It’s the anticipation, the smell, the sights, and it’s the sound of the steak cooking. THAT, my Uncle Lou said, is what selling is all about. It’s not really the product that gets you excited, it’s the events and the circumstances surrounding the purchase that makes you crave that steak.

Well, there was my LIFE lesson in Sales! And it was probably no coincidence that I did choose a career in sales. Now I’ve hired and trained close to 100 Sales Reps over the years, and I often thought of that Steak House lesson from my Uncle Lou. And especially to those young Reps, I’d say, Guys, Gals, we’re not just selling software here; we’re solving business problems for people and the companies they work for. You need to take time to learn about these people, and learn about the issues affecting their day. I’d tell them to not simply rattle off a bunch of features and functions, but to take the time to understand what that buyer’s requirements and emotions are, and to then match our software solutions to their requirements. THAT is how we’re going to sell, THAT is how were going to do it on my team. In fact, Uncle Lou was my first sales mentor. And that Steak Lunch lesson was one of the most valuable business lessons I ever received.

I remember another time I was traveling around with Uncle Lou, just cruising around in that Cadillac and talking. I felt like a Prince. I remember the offices he worked out of – the one on Wadsworth and later the building he bought on Simms Ave. I used to love just driving around with my Uncle Lou. One time I remember we stopped at a 7-11 to get a couple of Cokes. Sometime after that, while stopped at an intersection, my Uncle Lou tossed his empty can out the window. Well he noticed that I saw that, and without missing a beat, he told me, “Johnny, that’s going to give somebody a job”. He was always so quick –just so quick-witted. Years later, as I reflected back on that memory, I think I concluded that to be a lesson in city economics – probably with a minor in jobs creation. He was so funny!

I also remember what might be the greatest lesson of all from my Uncle Lou. The last time Uncle Lou and I were both together at the farm, was for one of the family reunions; we were just sitting and talking. Some of you may have been in the conversation. We seemed to get on the topic of health. Well at one point, Uncle Lou mentioned that he’d recently seen his Doctor, and that the Doctor advised him to lose some weight. Now imagine him telling this story with a very straight & serious face. When he told a story, you didn’t realize you we being set up because he was so darn serious. So as he paused, I said, Well what did you say to that doctor Uncle Lou? And just as serious as he could be, and as he embraced his belly with both hands, he said --“Well I told that Doctor that the weight is certainly NOT the problem, it’s the HEIGHT that’s the problem”. And of course he led the way in laughing about that statement. Everyone laughed!!

And I could remember thinking to myself afterwards – Who does that? Who pokes fun at themself, providing laughter for others, at their own expense? Well Uncle Lou does that!

I’ve been watching all these Presidential Debates and for just once, I’d like to hear one of those candidates, any of them, make a little fun of themselves. JUST ONCE!

That’s the Uncle Lou I knew, always more interested in making others enjoy the moment, never really dwelling on himself.

Well I’m sure we all acknowledge that a life should be celebrated, not just mourned. And I know that my Uncle Lou would certainly agree with that.

I’ve been inspired by so many of Uncle Lou’s lessons, so I’m going to continue celebrating those lessons - always! I’m going to miss my Uncle Lou, but I’m never going to forget his smile, his laughter, his sense of humor, and I’m going to miss those Italian kisses. But more than anything else I will never forget his incredible acts of kindness and compassion to a young boy who needed that attention at an important time in his life.

On January 15th, my Uncle Lou called me at my home in California. It was the last conversation we had. It was so nice to hear is voice. I knew he wasn’t feeling well. But he still "put on a face". Of course he didn’t want anyone to worry about him.

During that conversation, he asked me if I’d read a letter to you all today. I feel honored to have been among those considered to read my Uncle Lou’s personal letter.

I’ll read his letter now.

Happy one year of being in Heaven Dad. I am so happy for your spiritual freedom and eternal peace and have felt your spirit with me and our family everyday since you left this earth. I see and notice your beautiful signs that you send me everyday and it warms my heart and soul. I celebrate you and your memory every day Dad and do my best to live my life in your honor and by your example, hoping to always make you proud from where you are at now…

I can’t believe how much I still miss you!!! How much my heart still breaks that you are not on this earth anymore even though I know it was your time to go…I can’t believe its been a year when it feels like we lost you just yesterday… Thank you for the beautiful Goodbye letter you wrote to our family, addressing each one of us. You most definitely had “the last words”! 

Also, thank you for giving me the greatest and most precious gift of getting to be by your side as you took your last breath and entered into eternal life. You were there for my first breath and held my little hand as I entered into this world and I got to be there with you, holding your hand for your last breath. What a gift and honor Dad. Thank you Daddy with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL for allowing me to be with you in those sacred last moments!

I cherish the new spiritual relationship we have developed since you have entered into eternal life. When you left, I felt like my “Family” went with you, however, I know I am not alone as I have the most beautiful Guardian Angel in you looking over me.

I still can’t thank you enough for being the Father and “Dad” you were to me and to both Louie and Lori. Your unconditional love, guidance, protection and devotion to us and to Mom still blows me away and I will forever remain eternally grateful to you for the absolutely AMAZING Father you were to us. Please never stop sending me and us your signs as they are the magic in my days and provide me with so much peace in my heart knowing that your spirit is surrounding, guiding and looking over us. 

Yesterday, 3/10/17, Tony and Leslie had a baby girl who they named Margot. Congratulations on becoming a Great-grandfather yesterday! Margot is beautiful. I am sure you were looking over them on their big day awaiting the arrival of your first great grandchild.

Today, Gary and I and Zen and Zola are going to be out in nature in the beautiful mountains of Colorado celebrating and remembering the absolutely beautiful and “one in a zillion” Man, Father, and Husband that you were. I hope you are jamming out musically with all the amazing musicians that have come to join you in eternal spiritual life!!

I Love you Daddy and I feel at peace knowing you are at peace, enjoying and celebrating your spiritual freedom and eternal life in Heaven!! Give Nanny and Grandpa big hugs and kisses for me!!

With Eternal Love and Gratitude, Your Adoring Daughter and Biggest Fan,

Gina Marie
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Dear Uncle Lou, you always made me feel special and loved whenever we spent time together. I will always remember your kindness and your gentle ways with everyone around me. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

Michaelé Rose McGinn/Watson

Awesome pictures!  I feel so blessed to have Uncle Lou in my life, from the day I met him, he was "Uncle Lou", I remember him telling me how special he felt that I called him "Uncle Lou" & made him feel so welcome to our family. I miss you Uncle Lou, and will be forever grateful for the warmth & love I received from you,,,,xoxo.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Lou was such an important part of my mother's life, Edith Jarrett. I still remember his first visiting our home to help her plan her financial future. It was thanks to Lou that she was able to retire comfortably. I was so happy that Lou continued to advise me and my husband, Steve Bromberg, for so many years. He was an amazingly kind, honest and wonderful person. The world is a less caring place today with his passing.

~ Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, Cincinnati, Ohio

Missing you Dearly Daddy, but I know your spirit forever lives on... I feel your presence with us and me every day. Thank you for watching over us. Forever Loving you with all my heart! Until we meet again...

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Our Sympathy to the Mortellaro Family. May the wonderful memories of Louie sustain you at this time of sorrow.

~ Joe and Clarice Chism, Mesa, Arizona

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

I knew Louie at University of Denver. He was the sweetest young man.

~ Dee Nelson, Centennial, Colorado

Thursday, March 17, 2016

We went to school together. Lou had a custom chev called “Exotica”! He work at Harkness Heights Drug Store on 44 th & Lowell. I will miss him was glad to know him.

~ Ron Domenick, denver, Colorado

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Our condolences to the Mortellaro family. You are Lou's legacy. We have lots of memories of sitting down with Lou and his family, going back to when he sold car insurance with Horace Mann.

~ Bob and Polly Zetterman

Friday, March 18, 2016

Our thought and prayers to Lou' family, he was a great man and a special person to Bill and I.

Peace be with you all. Jenny and Bill Campbell

~ Jenny Campbell, Westminster, Colorado

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Lou was the epidemy of a man who became not only a business associate, but a person who became a very close friend. Who cared about my needs over and above his own needs. Always answered questions and phone calls no matter how he felt. Always took the time to care for me and never let on how he was feeling. He demonstrated love that surpasses comprehension. He treated me as a family member rather than a customer. I am eternally greatful for his caring and loving ways he treated me when ever business and family things came up. I want to thank you for taking such good care of me and my little bit of finances I had, keeping them safe and setting me up to live out the rest of my life comfortably. Thank you! God blessings to your family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I will always love and miss you! Love, Rochelle

~ Rochelle Wagner, Laguna, Hills, California

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Lou, thank you for being a true friend. You gave of yourself unselfishly. You will be dearly missed. The Marrone's

~ D Marrone, Brighton, Colorado

March 18th, 2016

Our deepest condolences to Lou's family. He was a good friend as well as our financial advisor. We will miss him dearly. Dianne and Kathy Greb

~ Kathy Greb, Westminster, Colorado

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Lou and his bride were the First Couple of Poker in Black Hawk, Colorado...their kindness to all they encountered brought much joy to those of us who were honored to call them friends...he will be missed, but never forgotten.

~ Steve Patch, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

My condolences to the mortellaro family!!! It was a pleasure knowing Louie!! He will be dearly missed!! my heart and prayers are with you at this tome of loss.

~ Pam Lane, lakewood, Colorado

Friday, March 25, 2016

Thank you Lou for having a BIG heart. You made us feel like we were family and you took care of us like we were family. You helped us with all our financial situations. You will be missed but not forgotten. Sorry Mortellaro Family for your loss. Our prayers are with you. Love Jesse and Dianna Castro

Jesse and Dianna Castro, Westminster, Colorado