Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Dear Dad
I'm writing this to you because I can't call you...or visit you. I'm hoping that you can see my words and know that I'm thinking of you.
There's not a day that passes when I don't shed tears for you. I miss you so, so much. It breaks my heart to look at the empty place on the sofa, where you always sat...not to see you sitting at the kitchen table, peeling apples for one of your famous pies...or sitting outside, whistling at the birds.
I wanted to say a few words at your funeral, Daddy, but I just couldn't speak. Here was what I had written for you.
Dad was born August 1st, 1921 - the second eldest Son born to Harry & Francis Lazeo. When he was a baby,he wasn't suppose to live - even though the Priest had Blessed him, my Grandmother wasn't going to let him go. Along with a neighbour, they used home remedies and willed him back to good health. It just wasn't his time. As a young boy, he was almost run over by a train. Dad said, he quickly laid down between the tracks and counted as 9 box cars went over him. It just wasn't his time.
When Dad served in the Army, he'd send money home to his Mother to buy food for his siblings. That was Dad - always helping, when he could. I remember when I went to him once, and asked if I could borrow Ten Dollars....he didn't hesitate to get out his wallet and give me FORTY Dollars, because he'd say "that's what Fathers are for." He helped Alex & Donna with the Down-Payment on their first house..."because that's what Fathers are for." He didn't want John working in Stelco in the Coke Ovens, so he got him started with the Disposal business....because "that's what Fathers are for.'
As a young man, Dad & his brother Mike would hang out at MARY'S LUNCH, where Dad fell for a cute little waitress - out Mother, Olga Matula. If only she knew then that she would still be serving him sixty years later. They were married May 8th, 1948, and their union brought three children into the world - Donna, myself, and John. From there, two more generations grew. 11 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Dad loved children, and they loved him.
Dad put in 37 years at Stelco as a crane operator, untill he had to take early retirement due to back problems. He told them at Stelco that he needed "heat treatment". Then he would head up North to his cottage, et in his little fishing boat, head out to the perch bed, where the waves would bring him up to the sun...and down... up to the sun, and down. That was his heat treatment.
Dad loved fishing,growing tomatoes, grocery shopping for bargains, making apple pies, playing bingo, flea markets, yard sales, selling pussy willows, and the Shrine Circus.
When Marianne Roman asked if I would speak at Uncle Franks funeral, I thought that would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do. But, paying tribute to my dad today is far harder. My only conselation is knowing that someday I will see him again.
I love you daddy, and I miss you.
Love, Lynda
