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Henry Bojorquez Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Henry Bojorquez
Melanie Rapier
January 1, 2025
It's 2025, I'm watching the Rose Parade thinking of you and the years we were there with your catering truck. Megan and George talk about you all the time as do I. You would love David. He would have made you a die hard hockey fan. I miss you so much. Time has not changed that. Everyday there's something I want to share with you. I love you Dad
Melanie Rapier
December 29, 2023
Another Christmas without you Dad. Life has changed so much. I wonder where you'de be if you were still here in our world instead of heaven. I miss so many things about you even still. I wonder what you'de think of how we've all ended up and what our lives are like. Your grandchildren miss you terribly, as I do. Nothing is the same without you. I love you..
Your daughter
Melanie
Melanie Bojorquez- Rapier
December 29, 2022
Melanie Bojorquez- Rapier
December 29, 2022
Melanie Bojorquez- Rapier
December 29, 2022
Still, 14 years later and I miss you more. Sometimes it gets harder not easier. There are so many pieces and parts to my life I wish you could be here for. I find myself thinking about the events you'de so much like to be a part of. Meggie and George are good. I'm sure you know that. I know there are no goodbyes for us but the absence of your presence in my life leaves an unimaginable void. I love and miss you Dad.
Al J Bojorquez
November 28, 2021
Hello,
I am Henry's cousin. We are first cousins.
I had a notion to look up my cousin Henry Bojorquez Jr. whose father was Henry Sr., one of my father's six brothers and older brother, and his mother was Ophelia. I noticed familiar names in the eulogies and fond memories written by those who loved Henry and I knew that I had found my cousin albeit extremely late. I was happy to hear that he was loved very much and I am sad to know, at this extremely late date, of his passing.
I attended Henry's and Melanie's wedding. I mispronounced Melanie's name at the wedding while presenting everyone's wedding gifts as I embellished her name with an Hawaiian influence and flair. Henry and Melanie enjoyed my faux pas, smiled and politely laughed.
I also worked out with Henry at Gold's Gym for a while. Soon after that our lives separated and I don't know or remember why. I recall that Henry's brother Gus was a paratrooper and was wounded in action.
Time has never been an awareness in my life.
I was in the Army and was an Advisor and Interpreter in the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam.
I didn't know my cousins well, or my Uncle Henry or Aunt Ophelia. We did not grow up together. The families were distant for reasons unknown to me.
Henry Jr and I, at different times, went to the same high school, Excelsior High School in Norwalk, California and the basketball coach, Mr. Crippen, would confuse me with my cousin during practice or in a league games and would call out to me by calling me "Henry" as we looked similar. My coached smiled, apologized and said "you guys look so much alike!" Henry looked similar to me and Gus looked similar to my little brother, Victor. Family genetics!
I also, had girl cousins on my Mother's side where the twos sisters showed traits of my little brother and myself. Our familial DNA on both sides is pretty strong.
All of my Grandchildren show traits of me. Thankfully they seem to be proud of this fact.
God Bless my cousin Henry, all of Henry's Grandchildren and family and I know he is with his loving Mother.
Melanie & George @ his academy graduation
Melanie Rapier
December 19, 2018
Dad... What can I say. I have been on a journey that defies words. My life is nothing like it was the last time I posted to you on this board. There is a certain peace I feel about your absence but it doesn't change how very much I miss you and how very often I think about you. I've had some serious struggles in the past 6 years and I have begged a thousand times on my knees to feel your strength to get through it. I know you see my life, I know you watch over me but it just isn't the same as having you here with me. There are so many things I wish I could share with you. Your grandchildren, Megan and George are amazing and strong and full of life and they carry so much of you with them. My husband David is devoted, strong and kind and he helps me be a better person. He is motivating and he helps me find peace in a world that doesn't always want that for us. I miss you, I love you and every year at Christmas especially, I will think of you and what we had, what we didn't have and what could have been. Remember, "There are no good-byes for us".
June 23, 2012
Dad, you have no idea how many times I look to the sky so that I can feel connected to you. I miss you so much, so often, I cant believe that you are not here, and that my life moves along without you here to share in it. Our Melissa is with you now, I am sure, if there is a God, he has you both in his care and I hope that you have found peace and that you both have found forgiveness that knows no bounds. I love you, Happy Birthday Dad
July 9, 2010
July 9, 2010
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July 9, 2010
Las Vegas Review-Journal
June 9, 2010
Date: January 04, 2009
From: Melanie Thompson
City/State: Las Vegas, NV
Dad, Christmas was not the same without you and everyday I reach for the phone to cal you and then have to stop myself. You have left such a void in my life, I miss you doesn`t begin to convey the sadness I feel. My constant prayer is that you are free of pain and regret and that you sit at the right hand of our Lord in peace. I Love You So Much......
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Date: January 04, 2009
From: Diane Clayton
City/State: Dana Point, California
Henry, You are at home in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Our families met at Melanie and Garrett`s(George) wedding. Your daugher Melanie and Megan and Georgie are angels here on earth.. How proud you must be of them. Blessings, Diane Sheehan Clayton & family
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Date: January 04, 2009
From: Melanie Thompson
City/State: Las Vegas, NV
My Father`s Eulogy: This was a complicated good-bye for me to write, and not because of my feelings, because they are clear and I am confident in how much I love my father. But complicated in a way that makes it hard for me to outline or pinpoint who my father was. He was complicated, and often a contradiction of things on so many levels. He did something however in the last ten to twelve years of his life that I did not expect or fully visualize at the time it was happening. He grew. He added dimensions to himself that had not existed in his emotional make-up when I was a child. He began to take interest in things that, in the past, had not captured his attention. He in essence stopped to smell the roses. He grew into a grandfather so devoted that I am at a loss for the words to describe his commitment to his grandchildren. He created an environment for Megan and George and Alex and Joseph that blanketed them in unconditional love and acceptance no matter their faults. I knew his transformation was complete and that it occurred by the grace of God when he looked beyond his own pain and doubts and fears and allowed his arms to enfold and protect Vanessa with a fierceness and duty and tenderness and worry that grew like a good grandparent does no matter the surrounding circumstances. I would like to say he WAS an architect for their dreams and their aspirations and their accomplishments but that would imply that he no longer is and that would be wrong because in such a short time he instilled in each of them, a hunger and thirst for winning and competing and pride of accomplishment that will not be extinguished. What can I say about my relationship with my father? I know this, we gave each other second chances and in my growth as a woman and a wife and a mother, he played a very large part. He taught me that it is never too late to do the right thing by someone. He was funny, he was dramatic. He was fierce and he was temperamental. He was weak and he was strong. He was over indulgent and impractical. But he was also devoted and committed. He was a motivator of others and a cheering section for their accomplishments. He was a wonderful creator and dreamer of ideas. He was a father who became an evolving work in progress that paved the road that made him a grandfather larger than life. I will miss most the feelings of capability and pride and strength of confidence that washed over me in his presence. I will miss his voice in our daily morning phone call and I will miss the part of him that centered me and kept me focused on what was not important in life and what was too important to miss. He helped me develop a conscience and I am a better mother and wife because of him. But most importantly he taught me that it is never too late to leave your cocoon and become a butterfly.
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Date: January 04, 2009
From: Leslie Thoma
City/State: Las vegas
Uncle Henrey We will always remember you .I was blessed to have now you and shared many momoiers with u and my family at certian holidays and traditon .We will miss you always and forever . It will be different . R.IP unlce Henrey god bless . Love leslie and eric
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Date: January 04, 2009
From: Louise
City/State: Palmdale
Dear Henry, you will forever live in our hearts and that of my boys. Wish you could have had more of my biscotti`s so I could hear you hum when you dunked them in your coffee. You will be truly missed. God Bless You. Love, Stan, Lou, Kevin, John and Matt
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Date: January 05, 2009
From: Linda Benitez
City/State: Las Vegas
Dear Melanie and Sweet Henry, I thought you would be a survivor too. But God had another plan for you. He wanted you back and you had to go back to the Father. You were a great father and grandpa. You will be missed and always will remain in our thoughts and hearts. I know you will be around...although we won`t see you, I am sure your presence will be there. I send love and healing thoughts to Melanie, Will, Megan & George during this time of grief and sadness. May the Father lift you up on eagle`s wings.... and help you soar again.
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Date: January 06, 2009
From: Deacon George Karam
City/State: El Paso, Texas
Henry asked the Lord for mercy, and the Master granted Henry`s request. Why should we interfere in this relathionship between the Master and his servant. Henry, is in a better world, happy and not suffering, we should all rejoice for him. May his soul and all the souls of the deceased find rest in the bosom of Jesus, and give consolation to those who were left behind. Deacon George
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Date: January 06, 2009
From: Stan
City/State: Las Vegas
I first met Henry at the sports book at the Santa Fe Casino, I think about 2 years ago. His daughter used to drop him off to place his bets and we`d sit and play keno, complain about the price of Starbucks and trade opinions on the horses running at the tracks. If there was a free t-shirt to get at the Sportsbook, Henry and I were there waiting in line for the freebies and making his daughter wait in line for two extra! He lived alotta life and he told me stories that make me smile even now. He had the wonderful blessing of his daughter Melanie who made it her personal obligation to make his life better when she could. I read his eulogy and whoever wrote it knew exactly what Henry was about these last few years. He was all about making the right call, being there for the grandkids, doing what he could now when he didn`t do it before. It sounds almost small to say that he loved his grandkids. It was way past that. He LIVED for them. Henry had that ability to get you pumped and motivated about even the smallest things. I came away from an afternoon with him feeling like I could move a mountain. I think he did that for a lot of people. When I saw his picture in the paper, I cried for an hour. He will be missed and my prayers go out to his family and everyone else who had the great opportunity to know him.
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Date: January 06, 2009
From: MaryLynn
City/State:
Dear Melanie, Will, George and Megan, I didn`t know your father but he looks like such an interesting, fun and nice man. You really look a lot like him Melanie. I am so sorry for the tremendous loss you are all suffering. I`ll pray that you take comfort in each other and in knowing that he is sleeping in heavenly peace.
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Date: January 07, 2009
From: Bill Westermann
City/State: La Palma
I can only remember all the good times that I have shared over the years being Henry`s brother-in-law. He shared his backyard gym with me and one of my work buddies for several years. I was jealous of all the beautifully poster he pinned up in his gym. His eyes would light up every time he`d see me busting my butt in his gym way before the sun would ever rise. I can remember all the camping and boat trips with loads of laughter at Lake Lopez. Henry couldn`t drive a boat for crap but was quite the skier once we got him afloat. Driving the boat at 30 or so miles an hours and hitting a sand bar was one of this better achievements while I was trying to show off while being towed behind the boat. Henry even talked Teresa into skiing (she can`t swim) with a little practice in his pool while wearing a life jacket. She got use to putting on a pair of skis and floating about and finally showed us all how to ski. She obviously got tired of sitting around the campsite babysitting all the kids still in diapers. Then there was the "Hill-Cows" that I tried to explain to you as a kid at about the age of seven or eight. You wanted to know how the heck the cows could walk along the hillsides and not fall over. I explained to you that their legs were short on one side to keep their balance and you bought off on it. I can remember all the times he`d come out and watch our son Jeff play baseball as he was growing up. Henry would always be full of joy and personality around Jeff and his activities. Henry always showed interest in everyone`s activities until the last couple of years but stilled showed a lot of spunk depite his terminal condition. Even on some of his bad days, he`d perk up and be as pleasant as physically possible. His funeral memorial was impressive and to see all the friends and family that showed up, only confirms the fact that he touched the lives of so many people. Bless you and your family, Bill
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Date: January 07, 2009
From: Candi Bojorquez
City/State: Norwalk
Dear Melanie, I want to thank you for helping me with Henry and his illness for this past year and half. I had lot of responsibilites on my plate taking care of Henry while he was sick, looking after our two grandkids and working fulltime. So, the time you spent with your Dad was really appreciated by both Henry and me. I really miss him. He was a big part of Joseph`s, Vanessa`s and my life. Vanessa still goes into his room looking for him and I find it hard to explain to her that "Grandpa" won`t be coming home. I hope you know how special you are in my family life. I really, really appreciated all your help, could not of done it without your help. I also really appreciate all the help, cards and support that I have received from family and friends,from Norwalk Little League and Dunn-Edwards. Take care and God Bless Sincerely, Candi
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Date: January 07, 2009
From: Teresa Westermann
City/State: La Palma
During the holidays, Henry always came over to our house to celebrate. He loved the holidays and birthdays (especially for the kids). Henry made a point to always have a special gift for everyone. He was a great "Grandfather" and always enjoyed sharing his time with his grandkids. Henry was always involved with Joseph and his baseball activites and making sure he did his homework. Henry also enjoyed being involved in Alex`s life. He would take the time to go Alex`s activites and even to Alex`s school to help read to the kids. He loved going to Vegas to see Megan & George. Henry never missed Jeff baseball games, Henry was always giving him pointer. Jeff loved it. Henry was always loving to my mom, (his mother-in-law) and I will always appreciate it. Henry, please rest in peace as you will surely be missed. Always, Teresa
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Date: January 07, 2009
From: Joe
City/State: Las Vegas, NV
I knew Henry from my doctor`s office in Las Vegas. He would sometimes come to work with his daughter and help her do office work, and I think he helped the patients too. He would make fun of Melanie and walk behind her imitating her so the patients could see him and sometimes he came out and would talk about his wife and kids and his grandkids and how they must be taking some magic pill that helped them all tolerate him. He made fun of himself in typical wiseguy form. I remember that I was having a bad day, I sharply remember and he was there at the office and he came out, sat in the waiting room and started taking a survey about how many of the patients in the waiting room took the little jellys and sugar packets and creamers from restaurants. We all laughed. And, one time he came to the office and I saw him after he was bald from the chemo and it broke my heart. But just as soon as I felt sad for him, he started talking and smiling and making jokes wondering how long he could ride this sympathy train to get his daughter to take him to Red Lobster. I have suffered from depression nearly all my 72 years of life and it`s not often that people I meet stay with me because they made me forget my problems for just a while and help me laugh. He was a nice guy and I think I know exactly where his daughter learned to ease the pain of other people. I don`t know if I am more sorry for me or Henry. I will miss seeing him at my appointments. I wish the family a lot of love and support and prayers during this time of loss.
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Date: January 07, 2009
From: tricia
City/State: bullhea city az
Hey Henry, I am not surprised at all the people who have talked to you and sent their heart felt condolences to Melanie and her family. You made the most wonderful change in the last 15 years. You became the man she (Melanie) always wanted. You loved her with all your heart & Then when you became the most wonderful grandfather to our twin grandchildren, who you called Hi Maintance Meg, and The George man. That made Melanie`s world almost complete.Then Will came along and we both talked and "thank you lord". He loves them so much. He loves Melanie with his entire being. We Talked at nights about them when no one ever knew. We talked at nights on the phone about so many things that know one will ever know. When I met you, you rocked my world. I will never forget all the times we danced to all those oldies but goodies, it was great.We had so much fun and just crazy times times. All the James Brown concerts. The record player in your car. I remember so many surprizes on birthday,s and other occasions, it was incredible. Melanie was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you and I. Thank You. Melanie, Megan, and Georgie, are my entire life. I loved you then and I loved you til the day you left us. I dream so many nights of you it is amazing. I am a little bit jealous because I know you get to play and hug our grandbabys Eryn and Gracie. I will see you all in Heaven, Love you, Grandma Tuffy
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Date: January 09, 2009
From: DIANE
City/State: dana point, california
Melanie, Your dad`s eulogy was heartwarming and exposed a human trait that we can all learn from.. Stop and smell the roses- embrace life and loved ones in it. My son` Quentin`s aortic surgery in Oct. was a life opening experience for our family and you were there with the kids for support and love. I will never forget that as it meant the world to me... Thanks so much for letting us in your family.. 0x0x0x0x0x0x0x Diane
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Date: January 15, 2009
From: Amber
City/State: Las Vegas
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,and the dead in Christ will rise FIRST. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord FOREVER. VS.18 says: Therefore, enocurage each other with these words. Melanie, I hope that this passage gives you as much comfort as it has given me. It`s a promise from God. God doesn`t make promises HE does not keep. I know that someday we will be with our precious, precious loved ones again and permanently!! When I get so lonely for my Justin, I just imagaine meeting him in the sky. I hope you will do the same. Love, Amber
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Date: January 31, 2009
From: Pauline
City/State: Palmdale
I will always be forever grateful for Henry being in my life and that of Ken`s & Lori`s. He always encouraged them to be the best they could be. He made a difference in our lives. He lived life to the fullest and gave laughter and joy to everyone he met. Henry`s grandchildren Megan, George, Joseph, Alex and Vanessa were the love love of his life. They kept him young and going. He loved them will all his heart. His daughter melanie is an angel sent from heaven. I thank God for getting to know her and her beautiful family. Melanie, thanks for all you have done for me. May God`s love make your grief bearable. Henry, you will always be forever in my mind and in my heart. May you be at peace with God. God Bless You. Love, Pauline
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Date: February 05, 2009
From: Melanie
City/State: Las Vegas, NV
Dad- we took the kids to Disneyland for their birthday last weekend on 1/31. We took them to eat at your favorite places, they chose them out of comfort and probably because they thought it would make me feel better. And at every place we went, you were there, in my heart, in their hearts and I know you were the unspoken thought of everyone at the table. I looked around at everyone, sometimes smiling, talking and enjoying each other, and while I loved seeing us all together coming through the pain of losing you and moving forward, my heart was empty and full of sorrow that you were not there at your regular spot at the head of our table playing and teasing the kids and laughing with them. Alex had baseball try outs and was so nervous. He had wished for you to be there coaching, giving pointers, pumping him up in that way you had. I told him the night before the try outs, just go out there on the field, and say a silent prayer to yourself and ask Grandpa to get behind you, and he tearfully said he would. Two days later he got the call that he made the team.... Thanks Dad. I love You So Much & Miss You- Your Daughter, Melanie
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Date: February 13, 2009
From: Melissa Bojorquez
City/State: Norwalk
Dear Dad, I`m not sure how to begin to tell you I`m so sorry for everything. You were right about a lot of things, sorry it`s too late to tell you, but like you always told me it`s not too late to start again. I promise you I would go back to school to get my GED and I`m going to keep that promise. I promise I will change my life. And to my sister, I`m so glad to have you, you stuck my me when I walked in trouble waters, and you have help me see the light, you never gave up on me, just like my mom. I will also promise you I wll change my life around, I just wish Dad could see. I love you Melanie and I love you Dad. I love my kids. I love my Mom. Thank you Mom & Melanie for still loving me.
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Date: February 18, 2009
From: Joseph Bojorquez
City/State: Norwalk
Dear Grandpa. Sorry this has taken me so long to write, but it has been very hard for me. I miss you so much. Things are so difference. I will be starting baseball in a few weeks; I will miss all your pointer and miss you at my games. Everybody at the baseball field and school has been very nice, which helps a lot. Uncle Gus has been taking me places;he has been really good to me. I guess he knows how much I miss you. Aunt Melanie has also been wonderful. She is helping my Mom a lot, which makes me happy. I hope you get a good seat so you can watch me play. I love you, and thanks for raising me. Love Joseph
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Date: February 19, 2009
From: Alex Bojorquez and Marina
City/State: Lakewood
Dear Henry, It has been hard to write this as we both miss you alot! We are both glad that you didn`t suffer though. We are glad you lived life to your fullest and really loved and made Alex, Joseph, Megan, and George the focus of your life. It meant a lot to us both that you came to all of Alex`s games, music concerts, Grandparent`s Day at the school, and your favorite, Roundtable Pizza. In addition, you brought Melanie and Will into our lives. They are really great people. Thanks for including us! We really miss you. We talk about you and the good times. And Yes, as Melanie said, Alex was picturing you watching out for him at tryouts. Well, actually thanks because Alex made the baseball team! Love you and Miss you, Alex and Marina
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Date: February 19, 2009
From: Suzie Beverly
City/State: Corona, CA.
Dear Candi, Melissa, Joseph, Vanessa, Melanie and family I`m so very sorry for your loss, I have known Henry for more than 30 years, and I`m so happy in the last couple of years I had the pleasure to spend a lot of time with him. I had so much fun working with Teresa and her son Jeff and my son Shawn at Candi and Henry`s home. He always greeted me with a hug and said there`s my girl. He was so kind to my son Shawn, who also enjoyed all the time he spent with Henry. Henry was surprised that Shawn was willing to work at their house for free, just to help out, when he really did not know them. I loved how involved he was with Joseph and Vanessa, he excelled as a Grandparent. You could see how proud of Joseph he was, his face lit up when Joseph walked in the room. Little Vanessa was so very special to him, he was patient and loving to her always. He helped me decorate the baseball themed bedroom for Joseph, he wanted everything to be perfect.I know what a terrible loss it must be for them. Candi, loosing your husband after so many years (34 or 35) I lost count, is such a monumental loss, I can only imagine how drastically your daily life has changed. You both went thru so many challenges with Henry`s health over the years with his stroke and cancer and all the the other health problems, but Henry was happy and loved life and his family and for that he was truly blessed. Dear Melissa, I know you will make your father proud, and so did he, and he is watching over you every day with a smile, please know that always, be good to your Mom, she is one of a kind (actually she is two of a kind) they broke the mold when Candi and Teresa were born. There are no better friends on earth, they are the most gentle, loving, giving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My life has been blessed having them apart of it for the last 45 years. Melanie, I only had the pleasure of meeting you three or four times, but I know how much your father meant to you, I hope all the special memories you have of him, will bring you peace. Love to you all, Suzie
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Date: February 25, 2009
From: Will
City/State: Las Vegas, NV
Dear Henry- I`ve waited to write you because it`s been a very difficult thing to sum up into words what you meant to our family, and to me. My wife hit it on the head when she said you were complicated. You were, and I wanted to take my time to be able to say all the right things because you are important to me and our family. I`ve read some messages and some seem to realy the message indirectly that our tribute to you here is isolated or one sided or biased or excluded others in your life, and that was never Melanie`s or my intent. YOu had this grand gift of making someone feel like their relationship with you was the best, greatest, most important, most valued. Even in conversation, when you talked to me about my career or when you were motivating me about something I wanted to pursue, like photography, we could have been in a room of 50 people but I felt like I was your ownly priority. So, it is very hard for us to lose you because when you were here with us in Las Vegas, you were a part of who we were. You were part of all our plans, you met and hung out with all our friends, you were part of OUR play, you walked on OUR stage, you lived with us in our home like we were the the most important people in your life. I am certain that it was like that for you in Norwalk too. You wore so many hats everywhere you went. Grandpa, Father, brother, friend, husband, elementary school volunteer, girl scout cookie seller, old geezer hanging out at the sports book, king of the flirts when you saw a cute cocktail waitress in a casino, baseball coach, cancer patient, donut seller at the cub scout pinewood derby, karaoke singer, etc, etc. We know that you loved us all. Joseph was fortunate enough to have you on a daily basis and he is probably the most fortunate because he got to feel that puffed importance that came with knowing you and interacting with you EVERY Day. Melanie said it best to me one night after you had died that you were so impressed so excited about the simple mundane things she was able to do for you and melanie said when she found you a good cough syrup or got you a new and better medicine, you treated her like she had just invented a new theory of relativity, like she was a genius. YOu held her up, and you did that for all of us. I am sorry that her attempt to honor you appears one sided to some. I know that you know differently and those who know Melanie and the love that existed between you and her certainly know that she wanted to do this out of love and respect and even her own grief, and nothing else. I know that an obituary was written for you in california where you built your life for 65+ years so we can only speak of the life we shared with you in these past 8-10 years when you were with us, and because you found a way to "Be all things to all people", your absence is larger for me than I ever imagined it would be. It is our loss that I speak of here, and I hope that others do not feel diminished by these words nor try to diminish our life with you. I am certain others have strong feelings of loss about you, and I think that`s an amazing tribute to who you really were. But I told my wife, this is our page, our place to honor you Henry and so I want you to know how much I and Melanie and Megan and George love YOU. We have been so blessed to read about the people who loved you and cared for you as much as we did. We love you and miss you and while our lives go on, and we do laugh and talk about you with pride and humor and respect, a part of Melanie did die with you and there is a sadness in that I feel in our daily lives. I tell myself that this could only happen when something great, spectacular, irreplacable, is lost. Only someone as wonderful as you could leave a void so large for all of us. Thank you for helping make Melanie who she is and for giving me the priviledge and the honor of knowing what it feels like to be truly important to another person. You were a wonderful father in law. Love~ Will
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Date: March 02, 2009
From: Melanie
City/State: Las Vegas
Dad- We went on the 1st Annual Lung Cancer Walk Saturday, and we made a huge fundraising team and we called it "Team Henry". We all wore t-shirts with your picture on them and we raised $730 for lung cancer research in your name and Mom and me and Megan and George and Joseph and Uncle Gus and Candi and Kathy and Louise and Pauline and Matt and Shelia and Leslie & Erik and Erik Nothem and Lauren and their children walked too. The Severin Family walked with us and I was honored to have them there since Lisa just lost her Mom to lung cancer 2 days before the walk. I don`t know how she did it, but I suspect that when you love a parent like I love you and like she loves her Mom, you find strength to do things you can`t imagine you`de ever do. Melissa couldn`t walk with us, but she called me on the phone at the walk and we talked and cried and I hope that you can find some way to send her a sign or come to her in her dreams and let her know how much you love her and how much you watch over her even now. I walked around the lake that day at the cancer walk and my biggest wish was that you were there with me, and then about 5 minutes later, I looked in the sky and saw the clouds had formed a perfectly shaped heart. I took a picture of it because it was hard to believe. You were there with me, and I felt proud and honored to share a day planned for someone I love with people I love and care about. I miss you so much, I think aboout you every day and I hope one day the longing and the pain of not seeing you and not hearing your voice goes away and is replaced by complete peace. Until then, I`ll write some more later Dad. I love you.
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Date: May 20, 2009
From: Melanie
City/State: Las Vegas
Dad- It`s been only 5 months since I lost you. I know we all lost you but sometimes the void in my heart feels so personal and so much my own. We shared such a unique relationship as father and daughter that I find myself missing you on so many different levels. I still can`t lose the habit of wanting to reach for the phone and call you. You still permeate my everyday life. Megan is geting ready for the state pageant. She really loved having you there last year. I never dreamed that pageant would be your last, and that Megan would not have you there to cheer her on stage this year. I know she carries you in her heart, and she`s alot like you when it comes to competition and intensity. George misses you too, and he talks about you all the time. Randy and Jerry and I have been talking and visiting and trying to make up for lost time as siblings. I intend to learn from your mistakes Dad. I see you in Jerry and Randy and my heart feels a twinge of sorrow, and regret and happiness and new beginnings all rolled up into one.It`s complicated I guess, kind of like you were. I love you and I miss you and you are in my prayers everynight. Watch over us, and may our Lord keep you always with Grandma Ophelia, at peace. Love, Your Daughter, Melanie
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Date: September 15, 2009
From: Melanie Thompson
City/State: Las Vegas, Nevada
Dad, I always think the passage of time will ease the pain of losing you, but it doesn`t seem to be so. You are always a part of my waking thoughts and everytime something good happens to me, you are the first person I long to share it with.Countless times I have reached for the phone or almost spoken th words out loud about needing to call you, even now, 10 months after your passing. I kow I have said this over and over but I cannot believe you are gone. I miss you very much. George and Megan carry you in their hearts like a song you never forget. When George and Alex and Megan are together, they talk about you and remember good times with you and I have to pause because the pain of hearing about you in past tense takes my breath away. I`m forever grateful for sharing the last few years together with you because they taught me a lot about who I am and who I am not. You validated me in ways that nobody else can and that is avoid that is immeasurable. Megan competes in pageants now with a tiny blue and yellow UCLA ribbon pinned to the underside of her gowns and dresses so that she always walks on stage with a small piece of you, and sometimes it swells my heart with pride but sometimes it clouds my heart with a sorrow that I cannot express because you are not in the audience watching her and cheering for her. I feel sad when I think about you being gone, and I feel cheated. I am angry and rageful and bitter and helplessly reduced to an 8 year old child who wants her father, all at the same time. I write this tonight while the family is all upstairs sleeping because its easier to unblock the dam of feelings of grief I keep bottled up while they sleep. Nobody likes to see their pillar of strength turn to salt, right? I just wanted you to know that a day doesn`t ever go by that I dont think of you and say a silent prayer for your soul and for myself that one day this will all hurt a little less. I love you, we all love you, the kids miss you, Will and I talk about you all the time and I am grateful that you live in their hearts as well. I will write more again soon. After all, their are no good-byes for us.
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