My father, Paul, always worked to be of service in any community he lived in.  He was always busy taking care of his family, his relatives and friends, as well as other people who needed some form of assistance or some kind of kindness.

Most people misunderstood him from what he said, he was non-judgemental, but to ears of someone who was hurting or in deep pain, he or she would only hear what he or she thought were words judging him or her.   He always said, "It's all right, the day will arrive when they will hear the truth I told them which at the moment sounds untrue, because truth hurts.  I believed him.

I will always remember my father's good nature and humour.  I loved the various instruments father played, which were the fiddle, harmonica and accordian.   For people who knew his musical talents, they enjoyed him immensely.  Father also loved gardening, baking and cooking.  He was a good provider as a hunter, trapper, and fisherman during our childhood.  He was, to his three daughters, our hero!  

My parents had difficult times in their relationship and marriage over the years.  It is their love to each other and to family as well to God that kept them together and overcame those hurdles in their lives.  We prayed together, played and worked together whenever we could.  While we were in residential school, we missed each other deeply.   Once reunited, it seemed a rift kept us apart as we grew older.  Our relatives, his nephews and nieces and their children, still came to visit him.  My father and mother's families were large and we had so many first cousins, mostly male.  My favourite lesson he taught me is this: "Life is what you make it, daughter."  I had to figure this out throughout my life's journey.   Thank you, dad, I love you.