Thomas Dixon Kelliher

FUNERAL HOME

Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes - Hicksville

125 W Old Country Road

Hicksville, New York

Thomas Kelliher Obituary

KELLIHER - Thomas Dixon, of Hicksville, NY, on January 23, 2009. Beloved husband of Patricia. Loving father of Patricia and Jay White, Deborah and Eddie Patterson, Tommy and Vicki Kelliher, Maryanne and Billy Kwas, and Kenneth and Kathy Kelliher. Cherished Pop-Pop of Krystal, Vanessa, Christopher, Billy, Jayson, Courtney, Danielle, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Connor, Colleen, Emily, Cassidy, Kenneth Jr., Nicholas, Kristen, and Kelsey. Also survived by his brother, Daniel, and sister-in-law, Mary, and predeceased by his brothers, Paul and Richard. Survived by his sisters-in-law, Joanne DeNicola and Beverly Coffey, and pre- deceased by in-laws Bill Walsh, Sonny and Mary Walsh, Jimmy DeNicola and Bill Coffey. Uncle to many nephews and nieces. Family and friends may visit at the Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 125 Old Country Rd., Hicksville, NY, on Saturday 7-9pm and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9pm. Funeral Mass Monday 10:00am at Holy Family RC Church, Hicksville. Interment to follow at Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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Published by Newsday on Jan. 24, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Kelliher

3 Entries

Alyssa Kelliher

January 26, 2009

Thomas Dixon Kelliher was my PopPop. He was the most amazing man i have ever met and probably will ever meet. Although my own father, his first son also named Thomas, comes pretty close. PopPop was always always always there for me no matter what the subject was and no matter if i did or did not want the help. That was the amazing part about him he was their when you needed him, not always necessarily wanted him. He told you the brutal truth which made him praising you even more special. Many people know him as being the stern and strict one, and believe me he was. But that what people need sometimes that one person who is their rock. And PopPop was defiantly a rock. Always their for everyone, selfless. He always always always put other people before himself. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer and looking at the douting unpredictable, uncertain future he never once wavered in his dedication to his family and friends. He never failed to asked me about things I cared about like my two horses which he affectionately renamed frick and frack and my rabbit milkshake which, to my dismay he renamed Hosefefer. He talked about things which interested me. When my rabbit died he gave me as much reasrrence that he would have if it was a person. Not because he believed that rabbits were so special but because he knew that it was something that i deeply cared about. Trought my entire life PopPop has done this, gotten down to my level to talk about things i really care about. And he never failed to asked me about school. And always he would say did you try your best? and if i said yes that he would say then thats all that matters. But if i said no0...which im not ganna lie did happen on more than one occasion he would look at me sternly and tell me that i btter get on the ball. PopPop always knew what was best, always always. And i hate to admit but i always took his presence for granted. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, i could not even begin to remotely fathom a world without my PopPop. I cant not see my dad talking to him on the fone at all hours in the night. I cant imagine calling nannys house and not hear him answer the fone and ask me about my life. Not at all about his life and what was going on in his hectic life but my life. I cant imagine walking into to nanny and PopPop house and not going straight to the back room after saying hello to nanny and giving PopPop a big hug and kiss. Because as PopPop always said you ALWAYS hug PopPop. I cant imagine talking to nanny at night after diner and not having PopPop come in for more water or ice-cream or cake or whatever dessert it was that nanny was serving. I cant imagine never agin going to the red Lobster with him, I can imagine him not leading the prayers i cant imagine him not giving advice to all my aounts and uncles. I cant imagine never again going to his church with him, even if i was a saterday night. I cant imagaine sleeping over nanny and PopPops house and not smeeling his after shave come out of the bathroom after his shower. I cant imagine him tellin gme how important family is and brining life, this hectic life, which is way too oftemly influenced by society, into perspective. All that really matters in life is love, family and laughter. My PopPop was a fighter and I loved him no i love him so very much. And its going to be so hard to never see or hear him again. I was thinking today on my way home from the funeral day that yeah i will see him in heaven but, mostly likely, that wont be for years, I was just thinkin gabout how longit will be untill i get to be with him again. And how different everything is going to be. How nothing will ever be the same again. After the funeral we went back to my Nannys house (which now has to be called Nannys house not nanny and PopPops house) and my littler cousins were playing around and i said whatever you do dont lose the remoter PopPop will be.. and then it hit me. PopPops not hear anymore to show his displeasure at the remote being lost. The entire house was just different the entire mood, And it m just absolutely and completely sucks. My uncle was right when he said it thats the only way i can begin to explain an unexplainable feeling. It sucks without him it just completely and absolutely sucks. He was loved by so many and we will stay strong as a family and try to get threw this and hope that it becomes easier. Just go threw all the motions until they become modified habits of what life used to be like but never again will be. So PopPop i wish that i could have had one more day, one more hour, five more minutes with you as you without all the pain and hospital crap just with you. I think, no i no that you know how each and everyone one of us feel just for my own selfish self. And i know that if it was in your power, if their was any fathonable way you would so that for me but you cant. Death is one thing none of us can overcome. No matter how much my selfish slef wats you here for one more last hug it will never happen. So i just have to tell you how much I love you, how much i miss you and how hard and how much of a journey life will be without you. And i hope that as i get older i can be even one-fourth of the selfless amazing man that you are. Forever and always in our hearts-and forever and always missed <3 a.l.t.K.

Jeanette Reed

January 24, 2009

I've known Mr. Kelliher as long as Maryanne - since grammar school. He and Mrs. Kelliher were a big part of my childhood. I'll never forget the many times coming into the house and without fail he’d walk over to me deliberately with a stern face and ask if I was being good to my Dad. I’d say absolutely and giggle. "Just checking" he’d reply. He and my Dad once shared a very funny moment that they’d mention every time I brought either one's name up. Many years ago, when we were kids, they ran into each other at a Chinese restaurant to pick up dinner. My dad was getting frustrated and annoyed because the restaurant could not find his order. So my Dad grudgingly waited for a "new one." After my Dad left, he called Mr. Kelliher to tell him that he had gone to the wrong restaurant! The last time I saw Mr. Kelliher he brought up that story. He was a big softie who kept us in line. To the Kellihers - I'm so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.

The Staff of Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home

January 24, 2009

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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