Michael Donovan Obituary

18 years tomorrow. Alot happened during these last 18 years. You have been a Great Grabdpa for the last 12 years. You would be so proud of these boys. They really are amazing. Thank you for sending them to us. We love you and miss you.

DAD,

ITS ONE MONTH TODAY AND I STILL CANT BELIEVE IT. I HOPE YOU ARE AT PEACE AND I HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND HAPPINESS. I ASK THAT YOU KEEP AN EYE ON MATT AND I AND WATCH OVER US. HE MISSES YOU AND I MISS YOU. ITS STILL HARD WALKING INTO THE HOUSE AND NOT SEEING YOU IN YOUR RED COAT AND WEARING YOUR GLASSES SITTING IN THE CORNER CHAIR IN THE KITCHEN. I NEVER THOUGHT THE DAY WOULD COME THAT I WOULDNT HAVE ONE OF MY PARENTS. ITS STILL SHOCKING AND I DONT KNOW WHEN IT WILL SINK IN THAT YOURE NOT COMING BACK. COCO STILL SLEEPS ON YOUR COMFORTER AND W/YOUR PILLOW. SHE MISSES YOU AND STILL LOOKS IN THE ROOM FOR YOU. THAT POOR DOG IS SO SAD BUT SHE STILL GETS HER CHEESE. MOM WONT LET HER GO W/OUT. I HOPE YOU KNOW MOM MISSES YOU. I TALK TO HER EVERYDAY TO MAKE SURE SHES FINDING STRENGTH TO CONTINUE ON. PLEASE WATCH OVER HER TOO. SHE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT YOURE OK AND SHE NEEDS COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT YOURE AT PEACE. I HOPE YOU HEAR ALL OF THE PRAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID FOR YOU BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY. I MISS YOU DAD AND LIKE THEY TOLD ME IN IRELAND "ITS NOT GOODBYE, ITS SEE YOU LATER!"

DAD,

I CANT BELIEVE ITS ALREADY 2 WEEKS! I WAS BY THE HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT AND IT HAD THE SAME FEELING IT ALWAYS HAD AS IF YOU ARE ON VACATION IN IRELAND. IM GOING TO TRY TO BELIEVE THATS WHERE YOU ARE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN. I NEVER WOULDVE THOUGHT I WOULD BE BURYING EITHER ONE OF MY PARENTS IN MY 30'S. I GUESS IT WAS YOUR TIME TO GO. LAST NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I STARTED REMEMBERING DIFFERENT TIMES W/YOU. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD AND BAD TIMES SO IM GOING TO FOCUS ON THE GOOD. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 3 AND I WOULD CRY WHEN YOU WOULD LEAVE FOR WORK EVERYDAY. I REMEMBER RUNNING DOWN THE STREET WHEN YOU WOULD COME HOME FROM WORK TO MEET YOU AND HOW I WAS ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE WHEN I WAS LITTLE. MY FAVORITE STORY IS WHEN WE WERE IN IRELAND AND YOU HAD TO GO BACK TO NAN'S HOUSE FROM CLARE TO GET MY SECURITY BLANKET BECAUSE YOU KNEW IF YOU DIDNT YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT. THEN THE WORST PART WAS YOU STILL DIDNT SLEEP CAUSE NAN WASHED IT WHILE WE WERE GONE AND I WENT NUTS. SORRY ABOUT THAT BUT MY BLANKET WAS EVERYTHING TO ME!! THEN AUNT NELLIE TOLD MOM THAT SHE HAD A GOOD MAN CAUSE THERE WASNT A MAN IN THIS WORLD THAT WOULD GO BACK TO A PLACE THAT TOOK YOU OVER 2 HRS TO GET TO FOR YOU TO GET A BLANKET. AGAIN ALL EVERYONE WANTED TO DO WAS SLEEP. I REMEMBER WHEN I SPLIT MY LIP OPEN AND ALSO WHEN I HAD PNEUMONIA AND YOU PUT ME IN THE CAR AND RUSHED ME OVER TO THE HOSPITAL. THAT SEEMED TO BE THE THEME, YOU HAVING TO RUSH ME TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I WAS INJURED OR SICK. WHAT I PUT YOU AND MOM THROUGH AND YET I WAS SO LITTLE. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU CRIED THE DAY YOU HAD TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD TO HAVE MY PROCEDURE AND ALL YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT WAS MAKING SURE I WAS COMING HOME. I CAME HOME THAT DAY AND YOU OFFERED TO MAKE ME TEA WHILE MOM WENT AND GOT MY MEDICINE. I REMEMBER ALL OF THE TIMES YOU WOULD LEAVE FOR IRELAND AND YOU ALWAYS HUGGED US AND CRIED BEFORE YOU LEFT CAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW IF THAT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME YOU WOULD SEE US. I REMEMBER THAT CANARY YELLOW ESCORT THAT YOU HAD FOR YEARS AND DRIVING IN IT WHEN YOU WOULD TAKE ME TO SOFTBALL PRACTICE AND GAMES OR TO QUEENS FOR BAND AND BASKETBALL AND TO WEST LAWN TO HANG OUT W/MY FRIENDS. THAT THING STUNK OF OLD CIGARETTES. EWW THE SMELL WOULD WAKE ANYONE UP AND YET THAT CAR LASTED FOR YEARS. I REMEMBER HOW HAPPY YOU WERE WHEN I WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL CAUSE YOU NEVER HAD TO GO BACK TO THE BARBER TO GET YOUR HAIR CUT AND HOW YOU WANTED ME TO OPEN MY OWN SALON. OH AND HOW YOU WOULD ALWAYS REMIND ME-“DON’T TAKE TOO MUCH OFF OF THE TOP, JUST A LITTLE AND DON’T GO TAKING EVERYTHING OFF OF THE SIDES AND BACK, ITS TOO COLD AT WORK FOR MY HAIR TO BE TOO SHORT!” MY LORD, YOU WERE SO PICKY WHEN IT CAME TO YOUR HAIR. AND HOW YOU GOT SO UPSET WHEN I GOT NEW CARS AND MY CONDO CAUSE YOU WERE SO WORRIED THAT I WAS GOING TO GET RIPPED OFF. SORRY BUT I KNEW I NEEDED TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF MY FINANCIALS ON MY OWN. YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WASN’T GOING TO BE BROKE AND IM GLAD YOU WORRIED. I REMEMBER HOW YOU AND MOM CAME TO MY CONDO THE FIRST TIME AND YOU WERE HAPPY THAT I GOT A NICE CONDO. YOU ACTUALLY LOOKED PROUD. MY SUPERVISOR TOLD ME THAT AT THE HOUSE WARMING YOU TOLD HIM YOU WERE PROUD OF HOW MUCH I ACCOMPLISHED AND HOW PROUD YOU WERE THAT I HAD A GOOD JOB AND A NICE PLACE TO LIVE. I COULD ONLY WISH THAT YOU COULD’VE TOLD ME THAT. IT WAS NICE TO HEAR AND IM GLAD THAT YOU NOTICED THAT I DID ACCOMPLISH SOME GOOD IN MY LIFE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE INHERITED THE HARD WORKING CHARACTERISTIC FROM YOU. I WATCHED FROM THE TIME I CAN REMEMBER THAT WORK WAS SUCH A PRIORITY AND YOU HAD TO WORK HARD. WELL NOW THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT I DO, I HOPE YOU NOTICE I DO WORK HARD. NOW AS FAR AS MATT, I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED HIM. YOU AND MOM TOOK CARE OF HIM WHILE I WENT TO SCHOOL AND TO WORK AND YOU GUYS WOULD SIT AROUND WATCHING WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND RAYMOND. HE JUST TOLD ME LAST NIGHT THAT HE WILL MISS YOUR BBQ’S. HE DID TELL ME THAT YOUR BBQ WAS THE BEST BUT MY BBQ IS NUMBER 2 TO YOURS. I CAN ACCEPT THAT! HE WILL MISS SITTING AROUND THE TABLE W/YOU AND MOM WATCHING TV. HE WILL MISS WATCHING YOU PICK ON NANA ABOUT HER WEAKNESS FOR CHOCOLATE. HE WILL MISS TALKING SPORTS W/YOU AND HE WILL MISS HANGING OUT IN THE BACKYARD W/YOU. HE LOVED YOU AND HE STILL CRIES THAT YOURE GONE. YOU LOOKED FOR HIM IN THE WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEFT AND I GUESS I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE. YOU NEEDED AND WANTED HIM BY YOUR SIDE SO YOU CAN GO AND HE WAS THERE. IM GRATEFUL THAT HE WAS THERE FOR YOU TO HOLD YOUR HAND WHEN YOU DIED. AS OF RIGHT NOW HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW HONORABLE IT WAS TO BE BY YOUR SIDE BUT IN DUE TIME HE WILL UNDERSTAND IT AND HE’LL BE OK W/IT. IM GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. AS MUCH AS YOU AND MOM TOOK CARE OF MATT AND I, I HOPE YOU FELT I DID THE SAME FOR YOU GUYS. I KNEW ONCE THE DAY CAME THAT I COULD GIVE YOU GUYS SOMETHING BACK IN RETURN I WOULD AND THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO IT NOT BECAUSE I HAD TO. I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS, FOR MAKING SURE THERE WAS FOOD IN THE HOUSE AND CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS. I WANT TO SAY BIG THANKS FOR TAKING MATT AND I TO IRELAND. I HAD A BLAST AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS GIVEN IT. THANK YOU FOR THE HOUSE WARMING GIFTS AND FOR ALL OF THE TIMES I WENT OVER TO THE HOUSE AND YOU SENT ME HOME W/STEAKS, CHICKEN AND SHRIMP. IM GRATEFUL I WAS ABLE TO MAKE PEACE W/YOU BEFORE YOU LEFT. IM GRATEFUL I WAS ABLE TO SPEND YOUR LAST DAY W/YOU AND TO HOLD YOUR HAND AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY GOODBYE AND TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU. I FEEL AT PEACE KNOWING YOURE OK NOW. I HOPE YOU ARE WATCHING OVER US AND I HOPE YOU KNOW WE LOVE YOU. I WILL MISS GOING TO THE HOUSE AND NOT SEEING YOU THERE IN YOUR CHAIR. POOR COCO, HOW MUCH SHE MISSES YOU. THE POOR THING HAD TEARS IN HER EYES THE NIGHT YOU DIED. I WAS CRUSHED FOR HER. MOM MISSES YOU AND IM SURE YOU KNOW IT, SHES GOING TO BE FINE. SHES GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, US GIRLS WILL GET HER THROUGH IT. IM GOING TO MISS HEARING YOU INTRODUCE ME AS THE BABY, THE YOUNGEST OR PATRICIA. IM GOING TO MISS NEVER HEARING “PATCHEEN” AGAIN OR WHEN I CALL THE HOUSE AND YOU TELL MOM “ITS YOUR DAUGHTER” W/YOUR BROGUE. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND I KNOW YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE NOW. WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!! I LOVE YOU DAD!

OLIVER,

I MISS YOU SO MUCH AND IT HURTS! I DONT KNOW HOW IM GOING TO GO ON W/OUT YOU AND THE LITTLE THINGS YOU DID! NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE, WHOS GOING TO OPEN AND CLOSE MY BLINDS FOR ME EVERYDAY? WHOS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BACKYARD AND THE GARDEN AND WHOS GOING TO BE SITTING AT THE END OF THE TABLE WATCHING THE WHITE SOX GAMES THIS SUMMER?? WHO AM I GOING TO WATCH WHEEL OF FORTUNE WITH? I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR REGULAR HAIR CUTS! I WILL MISS YOUR SOFT SILVER HAIR. YOU WILL NOT BE THERE ON SATURDAYS AT NOON PRAYING THE ANGELIS W/ME AND I WONT HAVE MY SUNDAY NIGHT DANCING PARTNER IN THE KITCHEN W/ME EITHER. MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WHILE YOU WERE HERE I WAS THERE FOR YOU ALL OF THE WAY AND THE GOOD AND PROPER CARE THAT I GAVE YOU WAS THE BEST I KNEW HOW AND I WOULDNT HAVE CHANGED ONE BIT OF IT. EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU I DID BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IM GRATEFUL THAT I HAD THE CHANCE TO LAUGH W/YOU, CRY W/YOU, TALK W/YOU, TO LIVE MY LIFE W/YOU AND TO KNOW THAT I PRAYED W/YOU AS YOU CROSSED OVER TO THE OTHER WORLD. I AM AT PEACE THAT I WAS BY YOUR SIDE UNTIL THE VERY END. I WAS NOT PREPARED TO LET YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD ALONE. PLEASE DONT FORGET TO COME BACK AND SAY THE ANGELIS W/ME EVERY SATURDAY. OH AND HOW I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD ABOUT HOW PROUD YOU WERE TO BE AN AMERICAN AND HOW YOU MADE A GOOD LIVING HERE. YOU WERE GLAD WE MET AND HOW YOU LOVED ME, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND YOUR COCO AND HOW YOU HAD NO REGRETS AND YOU WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING IF YOU HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND NEITHER WOULD I. WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR DAUGHTERS IM NOT SURE WHERE I WOULD BE. NO MAN EVER HAD DAUGHTERS LIKE THE ONES YOU HAD! THEY WERE THERE FOR YOU 1,000% UNTIL THE VERY END. THEY LOVED YOU AND CARED FOR YOU. I AM COMPLETELY AWED BY THEIR DEPTH OF CHARACTER, ABILITY TO CARE, THEIR ABILITY TO COMFORT, AND THEIR ABILITY TO FORGIVE. I WOULDNT HAVE ANY OTHER DAUGHTERS THAN THE ONES WE HAVE. AS FOR COCO, SHE MISSES YOU TOO. SHE SLEEPS ON YOUR PILLOW IN OUR ROOM EVERY NIGHT. SHE STAYED BY YOUR SIDE TO PROTECT YOU UNTIL THE VERY END. NOW WHO WILL BE GIVING HER HER MORNING PIECE OF CHEESE?? SHE MISSES YOU, I MISS YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN MISS YOU! BBQ'S IN THE BACKYARD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. YOU ARE GREATLY MISSED AND I LONG TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AND YOUR LAUGH. I WILL MISS YOUR KISS HELLO, GOODBYE AND HOLDING MY HAND! YEARS AGO, WE SAID WE WERE IN THIS TOGETHER THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD TIMES AND SO WE DID. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN! I LOVE YOU.

YOU LOVING WIFE MELIA

Patty and Family,
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I will keep all of you in my prayers. Patty - I will always be there for you...no matter what. I'm sorry I couldn't be there physically - but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and you can always lean on me!

Dear Melia and Family,
Our deepest sympathy on the loss of Oliver. We are so sad to hear of his death. We will miss our chats outside of Queens and his gracious smile and gentle laugh!

Patty and family
sorry for the loss of your father
you and your whole family is in our prayers.

My dad was buried yesterday.
Today, his obit was posted to the paper. Sadly, a man's life cannot be summed up in a few sentences. Here's what was missing: he was a brother, brother-in-law, loving uncle, and a cherished friend and cousin to many, both here and in Ireland. My dad was a huge White Sox fan, lucky enough to enjoy their World Series victory in 2005. He was mourned by few but will be missed by many.
Say a prayer for his soul.
God Bless you, Dad, today and always.
Love, Mary and Bill and kids

Mary, Bill and family,
We were so sorry to learn about your father's death. Please know that we are thinking of you.
Our love,