Wednesday, December 24, 2008

As we come up to the first 24 hours without dad, I feel like we are all still trying to wrap our heads around something that is just way too big for any one of us individually. I know that being together as a family of relatives and a bigger family of friends is the only way to get through this and realize that although there is much pain and sorrow for us here on earth, dad is now free of this world and we should rejoice for him.


We are starting that slow process on Friday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Schedule as of this moment is as follows:

Friday @ HT: 6-8pm visitation, 7pm Trisagion
Saturday @ HT: 9am orthros, 10am Liturgy of St. Stephen, followed by funeral service


Over the weekend we will be traveling to New York to be with our extended family there. Services will be taking place at St. Michael's Orthodox Church in Binghamton, NY.

Tuesday @ St. M's: 9-10am visitation, 10am liturgy


I will post another update when there are more details to give. I hope that despite everything, everyone is enjoying the holiday break and taking advantage of this time to be together with their family... much love!

8 comments:

  1. I will celebrate a panachida tomorrow morning in Bayonne following the Christmas Liturgy. We shall see you Friday evening in Pittsburgh. I thank you for osting all the information. Be strong for your mother.

    The Fencik's

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  2. We are thinking about and praying for you all here in Binghamton as well. You are right, that although there is much pain and suffering in this world--there is also peace. I got a Christmas card from another teacher at school that is my prayer for you all as well. "Today, tomorrow and always, rest secure in the everlasting arms of the Savior who loves you more than you know. His Presence is the PRESENT that means everything." I pray for peace for all of us. We will see you on Friday in Pittsburgh as well. Love,

    Rick, Fr. Jim and Pani Kathy

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  3. We are praying or you all tonight. I know you will all be strong for one another, because I can see just how close and loving each member of your family is. Charissa and Steph, you two are so wonderful and I know that you will pull through this and become even stronger and closer to yourselves and your family. I wish you all the love and prayers in the world. Remember that he is still with you.
    Love,

    Sara Salisbury

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  4. Driving up to NY today, I was thinking of David and wanted to share this with you, when Grandma Plavka passed away about 25 years ago (I was about 8 or 9 years old), it was David who comforted me and calmed me down as I took it very hard. I remember being at the viewing before the funeral and could hardly breathe and could not stop crying, he sat besides me and comforted me through that time. I wish I was older to remember and could share with you what he told me then, but I felt much comfort and peace after that. I just wanted to tell you this to show it is just one of the many ways he touched my life growing up that I will never forget. George and I will see you in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. We are thinking and praying for you all constantly. Love and kisses, Corrine

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  5. You All are in our prayers. God's Blessings be with all of you. Special blessings to you ED and Josie and Elien. Stef and Rissa May the Newborn Christ Child be with all of you. You are all in our Prayers!

    The Fedornocks

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  6. I'll remember Fr David and all of you at Liturgy this morning. God willing, Mary and I will see you tomorrow in Pittsburgh

    In Christ,

    +Fr Gregory Jensen

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  7. Me again. I just keep thinking of you girls, Steph and Charissa, even though I never met you. I was fortunate to have had my dad until I was 50, but I know how hard it is for a girl to lose her daddy. I'm sitting here now, Christmas night, after all the food has been eaten and the gifts opened and the company gone, and I'm wearing the shirt my dad wore his last 3 Christmases in the nursing home. We bought him a t-shirt that says "Be nice - I know Santa" and I've worn it every Christmas Eve and Christmas since he passed away. I also saved 2 of his "sport shirts" that I sleep in. Anyway, I know you have a tough road ahead of you, but reading all these comments I see that you have a great support group and family and a lot of people praying for you and you'll be ok. You'll hurt a lot, but you'll make it. I just read something somewhere and of course, I forgot exactly what it said, but it was something like "if you've never grieved, then you've never loved". Something like that. But I hope you understand that it it means that you were fortunate to have had your dad and even though you grieve his death, you are in pain only because you loved him so much. I hope you understood what I wanted to say - it's been a long day and I'm tired, but I just wanted to let you know I've been thinking of you. You too, Eileen. You, too, are fortunate to have had someone to love as I'm sure you loved David. Take care and God Bless. Pam Bowe Kuhn

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  8. Apparently my daughter used my computer and that's why this says "Lauren said..." I'm going to have to fix that!!! Pam

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