# My Grandfather has passed on **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975 "2003-01-01T01:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/1 "2003-01-01T01:20:42Z")
Paddy McLoughlin, my grandfather, has passed on. He was 87 years old. He suffered from Altzimers (sp) for the last 8 years. He was a shell of his former self for the last 7. As as we can tell, he was 89 years old. He never learned to read or write. He raised 13 children. Whjen there was no work in Ireland, he left his wife and children behind and worked on the roads of England, sending his wage packet back to my grandmother and the kids. He worked hard all his life. he never knew a life of any other kind. He loved his family. One of his few luxuries was a pint of guinness or two on a Sunday afternoon. I have no idea what that lifestyle was. I have had the priviledge of steady work and a meal on the table everyday I grew up. He didn’t. He was the last of my grandparents. I have no more now. I wont be able to comfort ny mother until tomorrow. It must be the hardest day she has seen today. there was 13 kids in her family. One passed on earlier this year. I have prepared myself for this. We have been preparing ourselves for 6 years of this illness. Tonight was the worst day it could possibly happen. I’m not a religious personb, but whatever your flavour, please include my family in your thoughts. They can benefit from any possible help they can get. I havent cried in a long time. I’m crying now for my mother who has sacrificed her time un selfishly for the last 6 years to make sure my grandfathers last days were comfortable. There are tears running down my face as I type. I’ve never asked for anything before. Please pray for my family. We can prepare ourselves we feel. We can never imagine what our family is ready for. I wish there was more I could do. Tell your family you love them. I never got the chance to tell my grandfather. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/2 "2003-01-01T01:30:10Z")
Bless you, Twisty. I wish I could be a better friend to you now. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/3 "2003-01-01T01:32:58Z")
Take care, **TwistofFate**. My condolences and thoughts to you and your family. Your grandfather sounded like a fine, fine man. {{{ **TwistofFate and family** }}} ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/4 "2003-01-01T01:35:04Z")
Ár nAthair atá ar neamh, go naofar d’ainm; go dtaga do ríocht; go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu; agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin; agus ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc. Amen. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/5 "2003-01-01T01:38:42Z")
go nEiri an bothar leat **Lamar** Go raibh maith agat… ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/6 "2003-01-01T01:48:36Z")
I am so sorry for your lost, **Twist** , please accept my sincerest condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/7 "2003-01-01T01:52:38Z")
☹ What an incredible life your Grandfather must have lived. He was obviously a remarkable person. I’m so sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/8 "2003-01-01T01:53:48Z")
**Twisty** : I’m sorry to hear of your loss. You and your mother are in my thoughts. Your grandfather sounds like he was a good man, be proud that you take after him in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/9 "2003-01-01T01:57:18Z")
My Grandfather has Alzhiemer’s, for what it’s worth. I’m terribly sorry to hear about your loss Twisty. ---
**Author:** ![ninevah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@ninevah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninevah)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/10 "2003-01-01T01:57:28Z")
My most heartfelt sympathies and condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Edlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8797f3/32.png) [@Edlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edlyn)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/11 "2003-01-01T02:07:24Z")
**TwistofFate** Please accept Libertarian’s and my sincere thoughts and prayers that you and your family will be comforted in your time of sadness and sorrow. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/12 "2003-01-01T02:33:19Z")
**Rico** and I send our best thoughts and prayers to you and your family. What a difficult way to celebrate the new year. May God Bless you and your family. Your Grandfather does sound like a wonderful man. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/13 "2003-01-01T02:43:11Z")
Condolences mate. With a grandson like you, his memory lives on. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/14 "2003-01-01T02:49:59Z")
Alzheimer’s is a hellishly awful disease. Sorry to hear of your loss. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/15 "2003-01-01T02:58:42Z")
☹ You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, **Twisty**. Don’t hesitate to call or email me. ---
**Author:** ![jazzmine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/16 "2003-01-01T03:11:03Z")
I’m so sorry **Twisty**. My heart goes out to you and your family. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/17 "2003-01-01T03:14:43Z")
**TwistofFate** , we lost my grandfather two days before Christmas 1994 after a long struggle with Alzheimers. It’s a tough thing to see happen - I think one of the worst ways to watch a family member decline. The hard thing to handle was that in some ways it was a relief - my grandfather was a man who was always doing, always active and wanting to be involved, and the last years of watching him decline and become unable to do for himself were incredibly tough. But at the same time, losing him was losing a link to our family history. Your family is in my prayers and thoughts during this rough time. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/18 "2003-01-01T03:23:04Z")
Awww, **{{{{TwistofFate}}}}** , I’m so sorry for your loss of your grandpa. Your post brought tears to my eyes, hon. It’s so difficult losing loved ones. Please know that a lot of times, though we don’t say it, we show that we love folks, and somehow, they do know it. You hang in there, hon. I’m wishing you and your family well. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/19 "2003-01-01T03:31:20Z")
I am so sorry for your loss. I am holding you and your family in my heart and in my prayers…especially your mom. Losing your parent is so hard, and she quite clearly loved him VERY much. I know that later, when she has had time to grieve, she will be comforted by the fact that she did what she could to make sure his last years were the best that they could be. My Love, Cheri ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975/20 "2003-01-01T03:31:52Z")
God Bless your grandfather, **Twisty**. I think, perhaps, he already had been, in most ways… A family that loved and cared for him unto the end. A family that seems to have prospered without forgetting their own. God Bless your mother, who took up the hardest of tasks, keeping her father as his mind left him, watching the man who cared for her, whom she cared for, depart in slow stages whilst his shell lingered on. She is the most devoted of daughters, and blessed her father with her devotion. God Bless you, **Twisty** , for your care and concern, and love for your family. Bless you for bringing to our attention a man to be admired, and a daughter to be admired, and for being an admirable son and grandson. May you and yours be as well as can be. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-grandfather-has-passed-on/145975.md?page=2)