May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him

The news long anticipated yet most dreaded came to us as we drove home from our mini-vacation. Patrick's older brother "Big Jim", who had been in a long battle with colon cancer, has died. As sudden as his younger brother's death had been from a heart attack, this was the inevitable outcome for Jim for over a year now. As relieved as we are for the end to his suffering and the relief from his wife's unbearable burden in caring for him, Patrick will sorely miss him. Here's a picture of us with Jim and Agnes on our wedding day. So "Big Jim", we will all raise a frosty Old Style to the memory of a 'mule of a man' we had in you. The second son, determined to stamp your own mark on this world. The feisty boy who was bold enough to stand toe to toe with his imposing father. The eight year old who drove any tractor he was allowed and who was hired at thirteen to drive produce trucks into the city because he was so tall that no one could imagine his real age. The man who was NEVER known to ride as a passenger in any vehicle even on the 20+ hour treks to Florida! The giant of a man who spoke so low and quiet as to be mistaken for being shy but who was friends with every Irishman in Chicago. Rest now in pain free peace where so many wait to shake your hand and welcome you to God's Six Penny Bit where the 'craic' is eternal!