Dear Daddy...a farewell

Dear Daddy...

In writing my dad's eulogy, there was so much to write, yet i kept losing my focus, this is everything I came up with in my mixed up brain the night before the viewing. There was just so much more to say, but I guess there is always more to say...


Dad's Eulogy

By: Cindy Pedersen
9.27.08

Where to begin? Dad was not the cuddly dad that I once wished him to be. But there comes a time when you have to just accept people for who they are. The months following his diagnosis, Dad really became in touch with his emotions, he really let us all in in a way that he never had before. I am thankful that we were able to see that side of him. He was always a bit of a tough guy, but I knew deep inside there was something more. During a conversation in August he said to me, " I love you and I have always loved you, I want you to know that." Those words were so genuinely put that it made a lasting impression on my heart knowing that this "tough guy" was really opening up to me.

Some of his famous quotes I remember…As a kid I always remember him saying, "Ya done good" when praising for a job well done…During our birthdays, the question was always, "So, how does it feel to be…?" You could always count him asking you the SAME question year after year.


I was always the emotional child. I would cry at the drop of a hat, not much has changed. When going to see Beauty & the Beast in the movie theater, I cried when the beast died. Dad was sitting next to me and took my hand and told me, "It's going to be ok." I keep trying to tell myself that now, that we are going to be ok. I know Dad is and always will be watching over us. Every phone call I had with him in the past 2 months involved, "How's the baby? How's mama? I am going to try and make it to February, but if I don't, know that I will be watching over that baby." No one knew for sure if dad would make it to February, but I am confident that everything will be ok with dad as our guardian angel.

Dad taught me many things starting from age 2 ½ years old when I learned to shoot a gun, with assistance of course. I learned to ski, fish, play mini golf, which to this day I have fierce battles with my husband. But of all the things dad has taught me, the most valuable is to take care of your family. When sitting down with all of us after he found out he was sick, he emphasized how important it was to him that we all stick together as a family. I want all of the family to look around today and make a promise to themselves that we will all stick together as a family.

I spent most of dad's last week with him. It meant so much to be there. He was surrounded by his wife, mother, children and our significant others and his grandchildren. Last Wednesday was when dad requested his kids and ma to come up. I was so afraid we wouldn't get there in time. He was able to say his goodbyes, which was a very emotional time for all of us. Vikki told him that he took care of everything for us and that we are going to be ok, that it was time for him to let go. But he couldn't. He went in his own time. I think I speak for my whole family when I say that we are saddened to see him go, but thankful that he is no longer suffering in pain. We made a promise to dad; we are sticking together as a family no matter what.
I love you daddy. You will be missed. <3