My Life With Garlic

Friday, September 22, 2006

Felix Zito April 27, 1921- September 16, 2006

This was a very sad week for me and my family. My grandfather passed away after battling lung cancer. Poppa was diagnosed about one month after my wedding day. It was very advanced & there was not much doctors could do for him. My grandfather fought valiantly, never losing his dignity, sense of humor or love for his family. Words can not express just what he meant to me and to all that loved him. He was truly a special man. Always loving, affectionate and patient. He was strong, yet vulnerable. Poppa was the calm in our family storm. The one person that you could always count on. He kept his promises. He kept laughing and eating ice cream. I'll never, ever, forget how his face lit up when I (or any of his grandkids) walked into the room. He was one of the best. My cousin Becky wrote the following eulogy for our dear Poppa.

Today is a day none of us thought would ever come. We are here to say goodbye to a man many of us thought was invincible. A caring and devoted husband of 62 years, a loving father and brother, and the best Poppa any grandchild or great grandchild could ever ask for.

It's hard to put into words what my Poppa meant to us. So, I would like to take this time, on behalf of my cousins to thank our Poppa for a few things.

Poppa, thank you for;

Raising our moms

For taking care of Momma

For all the ice cream, cake, candy, and cookies you snuck us

For fake champagne on New Year's Eve

For letting us style the few hairs on you head up like a troll doll

For changing flat tires

For eating what was left on our plates when we couldn't finish

For showing us a person can yell without ever separating their teeth

For teaching us how to play cards

For teaching us how to beat Momma at cards

For fixing anything and everything

For your patience

For your kindness

For your hugs and kisses

and most of all for loving us each so much that we all felt special

Poppa we all love you and will miss you so much. Our lives will never be the same without you, but we know that you will always watch out for us. We know you must have already received that medal that's "this big". You deserve it more than anyone else. We love you.

Posted by Dawn Falcone @ 3:06 AM 11 comments

11 Comments:

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At 1:41 PM, OldLady Of The Hills said...

I am soooo very very sorry for your loss Dawn...I know this has to be very very hard for you and all your dear family...Take heart, my dear...to have had such a wonderful Grandfather in your life will be with you and yours, for the rest of your lives...My heart and my thoughts go out to you in this time of truly painful loss...

I love when your cousin said...he ate all the left over food on your plates....he understood, didn't he? HUGS to you, my dear.

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At 5:39 PM, Leslie said...

I'm so sorry Dawn. I am glad, though, that you were able to spend a lot of time with your Poppa after he was diagnosed. And your cousin's eulogy was very touching. . .your Poppa seems like he was such a sweet man!

Big hugs!

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At 11:18 AM, OldLady Of The Hills said...

Good Morning, Dawn. Michele sent me back again, today!

I do hope you and your family are getting through this terrible time and the grief that comes with it, as best you can.

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At 11:37 AM, Anonymous said...

Please accept my sincerest condolences for your recent loss. I didn't completely realize how deeply my grandfather touched my life until his passing.

And just for the record, we love garlic AND butter here. Michele sent me.

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At 1:16 AM, Bailey said...

Dawn, I am greatly sorry for your loss. Your Poppa will be with you always. He sounds like an amazing man, father, and grandfather.

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At 12:23 PM, Jean-Luc Picard said...

So sorry to hear about your loss, Dawn.

Michele sent me here.

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At 4:05 PM, Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your Poppa!

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At 12:34 AM, David Edward said...

bless you in your time of healing