Paul Messina Obituary

This Christmas, Dad, I treasure the memories we shared-
Your laughter, your smile, the way you made everything brighter.
The joy you brought to our holiday moments
Is something I´ll carry with me forever.

Though you´re no longer here,
I feel your love in the twinkling lights,
In the warmth of family gathered together,
And in the spirit of the season.

I´m so grateful for the beautiful memories you left behind.
Merry Christmas in heaven, Dad.
You are always in my heart.

Happy birthday daddy it´s so hard to believe that you would have been 80 today. I wish you were here so I could celebrate with you. I miss you so much. I treasure all the memories of the time I had with you. I feel you by my side in times of grief. It hurts so much that you were taken from me. You have no idea how much you touched my life. I love you so much and miss you every single minute of every single day. I´m blessed that you´re my dad. I love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Your grateful daughter, Debbie

Merry Christmas dad. It´s not the same without you here. I think about you every day. Thank you for all the wonderful memories I have of you. I hope you´re at peace and enjoying your Christmas with everyone up in heaven. I love you so so much and I miss you terribly.
Love you forever and til the end of time. Your grateful daughter, Debbie

Hi daddy
I guess I´m gonna start off like I always do. Telling you how much I love and miss you. I think of you often. I think of how lucky I was to have a father like you.
Sometimes I hear a certain song, and it either brings a smile to my face or a tear to my eye. I think every Elvis song makes me cry. But then there are other songs that bring a smile to my face because I remember dancing with you in the living room to those songs .Thank you for everything that you did for me growing up. I remember Sunday´s watching Star Trek and ordering pizzas. I remember going to the store and buying candy bars and you would lay him across your lap and we would all get to pick one . I remember you making ice cream for us in those old fashion boxes and you would cut squares of ice cream. I can go on and on about the little things that meant so much and gave me a lifetime of happy memories. I can´t believe how blessed I was to have you.
I love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Your grateful daughter, Debbie

Hi daddy, I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday. I just wanted to say I miss you so very much. It´s not fair that you are not here anymore. Tomorrow on my birthday, My wish is that you´re happy. My wish is that we will see each other again, one day. My wish is that I could be with you if even for a day.
Life really isn´t the same without you. I just want you to know that I´m so lucky that I had you as my father and my best friend. I want you to know that I was a very lucky girl growing up. I want you to know that I´m grateful for everything that you´ve ever done for me. I want you to know how much I truly truly love you. I want to thank you for being the best dad a girl could ever ask for. I want to thank you for the life lessons that you taught me. I want to thank you for always being there for me when I needed you. You are now always have been, and always will be the best thing in my life. Happy birthday from your very grateful daughter Debbie. Forever and ever and til the end of time.


Donna wanted me to tell you happy birthday and she wanted me to tell you how much she loves you and she wanted me to tell you thank you for always looking out for her. We both want you to kiss April and tell her we love her and miss her and everybody else that´s up there. We love them and miss them too.

Merry Christmas dad
I wish as always that you were here at the holidays. I miss you so much. It´s been 22 years since we spent Christmas together. It´s been so long and every one of them is still hard. I always think about you all. You´re in my prayers every night. Thanks so much for being there for me throughout my life. You are and always will be my best friend. Thanks for being the best dad a girl could ever have. I love you so much and I always will. Your loving and grateful daughter. Debbie

Hi daddy, I can´t believe it´s been 21 years since I last saw you. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and sometimes it seems like forever. I miss you so much and I think about you always. I think about how lucky I was and how blessed I was to have you as my dad. Thank you for the wonderful memories I have of you. Thank you for the great life that you gave me. Thank you for being my best friend and my father. I love you so much. Always
And forever and til the end of time. Debbie

Happy Father's day. I always miss you but it's days like today that are especially hard. I think about you so much and you are in my prayers every single night. I hope you're enjoying this day with April. And sadly now Beth is gone. But she is spending today with her dad. You all are thought of and miss dearly. Thanks for being the best father any daughter was blessed to have. Thanks for the sweet memories of our lives together. You are and always will be the most special person. Thinking of you and loving you always,
Forever and ever and til the end of time. Your grateful daughter, Debbie

This is a very special day and one that
always touches my heart, for it would
have been your birthday today.

I still feel lost without you as you always
were my rock and my guiding light but
even though you´re no longer with me,
you´ll still always be my hero.

To say that I miss you is an understatement, but it is comforting to know that you are always looking over me and protecting me from where you are. I hope you are celebrating today and enjoying yourself up there.

Happy birthday daddy rest well.
I love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Debbie

Love you!

Hi daddy, I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and tell you I love you
I miss you so very much as I always do every day. I got to see a whole movie of you from Christmas 2000. I wish I can go back in time and relive that moment all over with you again. You have no idea how hard life is over the holidays mostly when you´re not here. I long for the day to see you again and hug you and kiss you and tell you how grateful I am for the wonderful life you gave me . You are and always have been the best part of my life. I miss you and my heart still aches for you. Kisses to April and everybody in heaven sharing this special day with you I love you very much daddy. Forever and ever and til the end of Time. Debbie

There are just so many people in this world but all of them cannot make me feel the way your presence used to do. I miss you so much dad.
I know you are always with me and watching me from above. I am always working hard to make you happy and proud. All the happiness in this world could not fill the hole you left in me. For me, you were the most perfect dad, a best friend, and a great mentor. I miss you all the time. I did not just lose a father. I lost my smile, my happiness and most importantly, I lost that shelter that used to keep me safe no matter what happened out there. I miss you so much! I love you always and forever and til the end of time. Debbie

Happy 77th birthday dad. I love you! I miss you always & so much. I'm truly grateful for the love you gave me. You are and always will be my best friend. XOXO love you always and forever and til the end of time. Debbie :)

Happy Birthday to my daddy, my hero & my best friend. Missing you today and always. Forever in my heart. I love you, Debbie

I love you daddy. Hard to believe 17 years today. I miss you just as much today as the day you died. You're always in my heart ❤ and in my thoughts. Today my friend Dennis died. Please take care of him and look over his wife. Kisses to April and all. Love always Debbie

17 years later-I STILL feel the same.

XOXO daddy

I LOVE YOU

ME

Hi dad I'm just sitting here on another sad Friday anniversary of your passing and thinking about you, God I miss you so much, people always tell me that it will get easier with time. I don't think that will ever happen, if anything it gets harder. I often hear the telephone ring wondering if it's you- I keep wishing that it's all a horrible nightmare and that I'll awaken and see you standing over me. I miss you so much that my heartaches for you on a daily basis. I keep longing for that one-more kiss, that one-more hug in your warm and loving arms. I have the bandana that you gave me at the hospital and it still has your scent on it when I hold it and smell it I feel closer to you. I long for the day I get to see you again, to spend eternity in your arms and never again let go. I am so sorry for all the pain and heartache that you suffered throughtout your lifetime. I know that life wasn't easy for you, I feel that's why God took you. He took you to be with Him. He knew that you had suffered enough, but be proud dad. You left behind a legacy. Although my son won't carry on the Messina name he will have your traits. I pray to God that my children will love me as much as I loved you, there's nothing in the world that I wouldn't have done for you.I know you were proud of me you always told me-well I was proud of you too dad. I always have been and always will be blessed and honored to have had you in my life not only as my daddy but as my best friend and my hero. God bless you and keep you safe and happy until we meet again. ALL MY LOVE FOREVER AND TIL THE END OF TIME. Love, Daddy's Girl=Debbie
Debbie Messina-Maratto, Streamwood, IL

I truly miss everything about you. You were my hero. I looked up to you more than anyone. I miss your smile, I miss your hugs. The day you died was and always will be the hardest thing I ever had to endure. A part of me died that day. I love you so so very much. Happy birthday to the best dad God ever made. I love you so much. Me

Hi Daddy, I'm sorry for being 2 days late on wishing you a Happy Birthday. :( Don't think that I forgot. I never would. You were missed and thought of on your birthday as well as everyday. You are in my heart and my strength that helps me through my dark moments. I love you. I hope you and April and Arlene are doing good as well as all our loved ones that have passed and are now sharing Gods love in person. I miss you more than you could ever imagine. Life will never be the same without you. I promise we will visit you soon. Take care of and look over Paulie as he goes through all his health problems. I love you so much. xoxo kisses to everyone. Forever and ever and til the end of time. Your ever loving daughter, Debbie

It hurts to think that you are not here anymore. Although I can't help but smile with tears in my eyes to think of how we cherished each and every moment of our lives together when you were alive. I miss you dad.
I miss spending our birthdays together. Thank you for a great life with you. You're forever in my heart. I love you so very much and think of you often. Always & forever and til the end of time, Debbie

Hi dad, here we go again thinking of the last day I saw you. I miss you terribly. I have so much going on and wish you were here to help me. Just laying on your shoulder helped. I hate that the holiday's are approaching only to spend them without you. You're always in my heart & thoughts and I love you so very much. Kisses to everyone with you. Tell April I love her so much. Always & forever and til the end of time.
Your daughter, Debbie

Happy Father's Day to the BEST dad in the world.
I miss you so very much.
I feel envious April gets to share your "special" day with you.
Our time will come, until then, I love and miss you more than words can express.
XOXO



Feeling lost without him
Feeling empty too
I used to be my daddy's girl
This I know was true.
Now that we have split apart
Gone our separate ways
I pray to God each night
To bring us back together someday.
Yet I fear this is impossible
Not right now anyway.
I still hold out hope
To be my daddy's girl again someday.
Yet still all I can say is,
I'm feeling lost without him
Feeling empty too
Dear God I'm still praying
Please oh please to help me get through.

You may not have been a hero to the world. But you were my hero. I am blessed to have called you dad. You're always in my heart. Forever in my thoughts.

Happy birthday daddy. I love and miss you SO very much
love forever and til the end of time. Your grateful & loving daughter, Debbie

Thinking of you today and always. Although very sad today I am also grateful that I have the wonderful memories of Christmases I had you in my life. I know you and April & Cody and grandma & grandpa & everyone we loved that are now in Heaven are celebrating the birth of Jesus. I love you so very much & miss you all the time. Please kiss April, I miss her so much. Send Cody my love and tell him I can't wait to meet him at the rainbow bridge someday. Merry Christmas. Love always & forever and til the end of time. Your daughter Debbie

Happy Fathers day daddy
I miss you :(
I think about you all the time especially on days like today when we should be together. You'll always be in my heart & thoughts. Kisses to April & Cody. Forever & ever, your daughter Debbie

You never said “I'm leaving”
You never said “goodbye”
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knew why.

There are no words to tell you
Just what I feel inside
The shock, the hurt, the anger
Might gradually subside

A million times I'll need you
A million times I'll cry
If Love alone could have saved you
You never would have died

In Life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still
In my heart you hold a place
That no one could ever fill

It broke my heart to lose you
But you didn't go alone
For part of me went with you
The day God took you home

Things will never be the same
And all though it hurts so bad
I will smile whenever I hear your name
And be proud you were my Dad.

Read more at I Miss You Dad Poem

Hi daddy,

Missing you today. Hard to believe 12 years ago since my heart was forever broken.
I miss you so much and waiting patiently until we meet again forever in eternity. Please kiss April for me. I love you both & miss you so DAMN much it hurts. Kisses for Cody to please. I love you daddy-always. Your daughter Debbie

Hi daddy, Happy fathers day. I love you so very much & I miss you daily. You probably met Cody by now. Give him kisses & hugs for me as well as April & Grandma, grandpa Aunt Lena & all our lost loved ones.
Thanks dad for the great life I had with you and for being the best dad a girl could ever have.
Missing & loving you always.
Forever & ever & til the end of time
Debbie

Pat and I are so sorry to hear about your dad passing away. We used to live downstairs from him on Sawyer Ave. many years ago. All of you children were small at that time but, we still think about how much fun we had with your Dady and you kids. We are actually godparents to Carlene.
Rest in peace and Happy Belated Birthday Paul.

Love,
Pat and Cliff
Ptaszynski

Hi Daddy,

Happy Birthday.

Another day that should be filled with laughter and celebration is filled with tears & sorrow.
I miss you, I miss your face. I miss your hugs. I miss everything about you. My wish for my birthday tomorrow is that your well, that your happy & that one day we will be reunited for eternity.
XOXO
love you forever & ever and til the end of time.
Send April my love
Your daughter, Debbie

I'm so sorry I am a day late in writing. But believe me yesterday didn't go by without tears & heartache. I can't believe I have been without my best friend for 11 years now. You're my heart & I miss you so damn much!
I love you daddy

Merry Christmas dad. You are in my heart today & always. I love you so very much. I hope you are enjoying your Christmas with April & your mom & dad & all love ones passed. I miss you so much still it hurts, especially on days like today, when I should be sitting beside you, hugging you & loving you. I will love you forever & ever & til the end of time. Debbie

A special dad is hard to find,
You dad I'm keeping in my mind,
I wished you could have stayed forever,
But I will never forget you oh not ever.

If dreams weren't dreams and dreams came true,
I wouldn't be here I'd be with you.
Distance is one thing that keeps us apart,
But dad you will always remain in my heart.

A special smile, a special face, a special someone I can't replace,
I love you and I always will,
You filled a space that no one will ever replace

Happy 67th Birthday dad. I miss you so very much, my heart aches for you.
All my love forever and ever and til the end of time, your daughter Debbie

I remember how your arms hold me and give me strength.
You were always there to listen, love, and defend me in everything.
You were my very best friend.
In my triumphs you were always proud.
I’m very grateful and proud to call you my dad.
Here deep inside my heart you’ll always be.
I would give up everything I have just to hug you one more time.
I remember the last time I hold you’re hand and how you looked at me in the eyes.
If only I could turn back the time I would have never let you go.
I felt the world stops and my heart stop beating when they told me you’re gone…….
How I wish I was only dreaming.
Just like the rain; tears fell down from my eyes, I couldn’t speak for a while.
Thank you Dad….
For always understanding, listening , caring, and loving me for the rest of your life.
The greatest gift God gave me was YOU…….. my Dad…


See you in Heaven………

Love you forever and ever and til the end of time
you daughter Debbie Messina-Maratto

I am so happy that you and April are together, one day we will all be together again as a family
I know "Heaven can wait"
you and April look over us and check in from time to time

October 26th 2009, I miss you dad I have a poem I wanted to write for you. A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.
He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends.
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!
He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.
And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being youYou were all those things to me and more. I love & miss you more today than ever. Love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Your loving daughter, Debbie

A FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE

HOW I REMEMBER SO VIVIDLY THAT VERY PAINFUL DAY WHEN I GOT THE NEWS THAT YOU HAD PASSED ON TO THE OTHER SIDE, I FELT MY HEART WAS TORN OUT AND A PART OF ME HAD DIED ALONG WITH YOU THAT DAY. EVEN THOUGH I WAS AN ADULT, I WAS STILL DADDYS LITTLE GIRL. I FELT SO LOST WITH OUT YOU! WHERE WAS MY DAD, MY ROCK, MY CONFIDANT TO HELP ME THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE.WHERE WAS THE MAN WHO HAD ALL THE ANSWER'S TO LIFE'S PROBLEMS? HOW COULD I POSSIBLY GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT YOU? AFTER ALL YOU WERE THE ONE I WOULD TURN TO WHEN I NEEDED ANSWERS TO MY PROBLEMS. NOW LIFE AND ALL ITS PROBLEMS WERE IN MY HANDS. HOW SCARED I WAS! I FELT SO ALONE! SOMEHOW I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER FORGET YOU OR EVER WANT TO. I KNOW HAVE TO LIVE MY LIFE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY. HOW I WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE TO GIVE ME ADVICE WHEN I NEED IT. PEOPLE SAY ONCE YOUR LOVED ONE PASSES ON TO THE OTHER SIDE THEY ARE STILL AROUND TO GUIDE US THROUGH OUR LIVES TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT. I HOPE YOU KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF ME AND I WILL FOREVER HOLD ALL THOSE PRECIOUS MEMORIES WE SHARED TOGETHER DEEP IN MY HEART. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ALL YOUR SOUND ADVICE AND ALL THAT YOU TOUGHT ME.
IN LOVING MEMORY ON FATHERS DAY
LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER AND TIL THE END OF TIME
YOUR GRATEFUL & LOVING DAUGHTER DEBBIE

Happy Birthday Dad,

I want you to know you will be in my thoughts today. I miss you very much. I am going to miss my call from you tomorrow wishing me a happy birthday. I know you are thinking of me though. I want you to know you are forever in my heart and prayers. All my love forever and ever and til the end of time
your birthday girl, Debbie

Merry christmas dad,

Hi dad, I know it's been awhile since I wrote to you but you know you have been in my heart & thoughts constantly. I will be thinking of you today while we are celebrating Christmas. I miss you so very very much. I will say a prayer for you that you are happy today as you celebrate with God and our loved ones that are now with you. I will be celebrating the cherished memories I have in my heart of Christmas past with you. I love you very much dad. You are forever in my heart, thanks for all the things you did for me in my life. I love the memories I have of you. Merry Christmas Love you forever and ever and til the end of time, your daughter Debbie

Happy Father's Day Dad

I just wanted to wish you a happy father's day. I wanted to thank you for being a wonderful dad to me growing up. I want to thank you for all the special memories you gave me so today as I celebrate father's day, I can remember all the joy you brought to me each and every day of my life. I miss you so much dad. I think of you all the time. Your forever in my heart and thoughts. Love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Your grateful daughter, Debbie

Happy 64th Birthday dad. I just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you on your special day and I will be thinking of you again tomorrow on my birthday. Although it is supposed to be a happy time (maybe not so much now at my age!) but it is a sad time. I will miss the phone call I get from you every birthday. I miss that one special time of the year that we share together. On this birthday I am going to try and remember all the nice memories we shared on our birthdays. The memories we shared as father & daughter. And most of all the love I have for you. I miss you so very much not only today but everyday. You are forever in my heart & thoughts. Happy birthday Love & miss you forever & ever and til the end of time. Your daughter Debbie Messina-Maratto

Merry Christmas Dad,

Hi Dad, I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I will be thinking of you and wishing you all the best. I miss you so very much, more so this time of year. I still can't hear a Christmas song without crying. I sometimes catch myself in the midst of tears at a store during this time and have to force myself to stop crying so people don't look at me like I am strange. Anyway I want you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers not only today but always. I miss & love you forever and ever and til the end of time Your daughter Debbie

Hi dad, Hard to believe it's been six years since I have seen your beautiful face and heard your voice. I still can't believe it has been that long ago. I miss you so very much. Although the pain has subsided alot it still hurts that you are not here. I am glad I finally went to visit you last week. I am sorry it has been many months since my last visit. You are in my thoughts often and in my heart and dreams always. I love you so so very much dad. I speak of you often to people at work and tell them what a truly amazing and strong man you were. You were a wonderful father and I thank you for that. I love you forever and ever and til the end of time. Your daughter Debbie

Happy Birthday dad,

I feel as though everytime I write it's the same thing over and over again. But I guess it's just that what else is there to say except I love you over and over again. I miss you so much it breaks my heart I wish you were here with me. On days as difficult as this I want comfort from the one person that was always there to do just that and it's you that I need comfort from and your not here. I love you so much! You are always in my heart & in my thoughts, not just on days like today-but always. Love forever and ever and til the end of time. Happy birthday, your daughter Debbie

Hi Dad,

Well I witnessed the birth of your first great grandchild lastnight. You were the first person that came to my mind. I really wish you were here too see him. He is beautiful. I see alot of Messina features in his face. I know you are looking down from Heaven. I want you to look in on my grandson from time to time and see that he is well.
I love you so much dad
I am going to try once again to follow in your footsteps and be a great grandparent as you were. You left a long loving impression on your grandchildren who miss you dearly as do I.
Alll my love forever and ever and til the end of time
you daughter, Debbie

Merry Christmas Dad


Well here we go again trying to be happy and celebrate yet another Christmas without you. I really wish you could be here to see your first great grandchild who will be arriving any day now. I know that you are looking down from Heaven and wishing us all the best. I miss you so very much dad. I love you with all my heart & think of you everyday. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
All my love forever & ever and til the end of time
you daughter, Debbie

March 13th 1944-October 26 2001

In loving memory of Dad

Five years ago today my heart was broken, my happiness forever changed. I miss you so much dad, more than I can ever express. I was the luckiest girl in the world to have known you and honored to have you as my dad. A part of me died with you, and left a void in my heart that can NEVER be filled. I will love and mourn you-forever and ever, til the end of time

your daughter Debbie

I can't believe that I'm writing today because it's now been 5 years. As much as the pain and sadness is still there very fresh from the day we lost you, some of us have decided to take this little milestone and celebrate the life we had with you. There are so many qualities you left us with and that's how we can keep your memory and existence alive with us.
I still miss you very much Dad but every time the sadness sweeps over me today I will have a good thought or memory that I know will bring a smile.
I love you and miss you.
Lynn

Happy Father's Day June 18th 2006



A Father's Day Tribute





Every daughter wants to be just like her daddy. Looking up to him for guidance and protection, and through the years, the memories of the special dad you have been will always fill my heart with great affection...I am thankful for the lessons you have taught me. For the way you have been my hero and my friend. I look back on all the things we've done together, the ways we've shared such fun and laughter, too. And I know this precious bond we created is a treasure that will last a lifetime through. When somebody says I remind then of you, it's a VERY proud moment for me. For the things that have made you a wonderful dad are all the things I would want most to be. And I am hoping you know that the memories we shared and the lessons you've taught from the start will always be with me wherever I go, for- like you -they are kept in my heart



HAPPY FATHERS'S DAY!



Loving you & thinking of you

forever and ever and til the end of time, Your grateful daughter

Debbie

Happy Birthday Dad,



I guess this is going to sound like the same letter over and over again. But I miss you. I am sad that we have to celebrate over birthdays together at the cemetary instead of in person. I thought over time things would get easier and I guess they have on a day to day basis, but not on days like today. It is still so unbearable to face days like today without you. I miss having you in my life. I miss talking to you & seeing you. I miss your hugs & kisses.

Wishing you a very happy birthday

All my love

forever & ever and til the end of time

your birthday girl, Debbie

Hi dad, I just wanted to say hi and to let you know I have been thinking of you. I miss you so very much. Pretty soon will be our birthdays normally a time to celebrate, especially a milestone(I am turning 40!)But as usual it will be a time of tears shed and a broken hearts. I love you forevr & ever and til the end of time

you daughter, Debbie

Merry Christmas Dad

Here we go again. Another year of tears shed thinking about you & wishing you were here. Trying to be happy as I celebrate with the rest of the family, wishing for the one thing I know I'll never have....you here with me. You are in my heart and I love you very much. Thank you for all the wonderful memories I have growing up as your daughter. You are the most wonderful father in the world & my life is sad & lonely without you.

I miss you & I love you

Forever & evr and til the end of time

Your daughter, Debbie

Well Dad I can't believe this is another Christmas to try to celebrate without you here. It's so hard to be in the spirit for everyone else's sake when my thoughts are with wishing you were here. So many things have change since you passed away and not for the better. This year is going to be very hard on everyone since Uncle Sam will be with you instead of here with the rest of us. I know Uncle Joe misses you all terribly as well. I'm sure we will all be celebrating another holiday with a day filled with tears for the ones who can no longer be with us.

I'm sure you know you are never forgotten and always loved.

Merry Christmas Dad, I love you and will be missing you all day.

Love Lynnann

Happy Thanksgiving Dad

I wanted to let you know that you will be in all of our hearts & prayers today along with Uncle Sam, Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Lena, Uncle Frank etc etc. Today as well as Christmas are especially hard for me without you here. I miss you so very much each & everyday. At times it is unbearable without you but I know I have to go on for my family. I love you so very very much.

Love you forever & ever and til the end of time

Your daughter, Debbie

Hi Dad, Sorry I am a little late on writing on the anniversary of your death. But I want you to know that you were on my mind and in my heart. I was glad I got to visit with you though. I wouldn't have missed that for anything. Well I took my test today. I am worried with my smoking and all that I am in trouble here. I would love to see you again but I can't bear the thought of how Bob & the kids would feel when I am gone. I know poor Jason at such a young age would suffer so. I did and I was 35 when you left my life. I guess I am asking that you help me here since you have connections up there! As much as I would embrace the thought of holding you again, I am just not ready to let go down here yet. Anyway as you always told me in letters "I've babbled enough" so for now I will say goodbye

I love you so very much dad and I miss you with every bit of my heart

Forever & ever & til the end of time

Your daughter, Debbie

Well Dad, it's the "Messina Labor Day Picnic" today. This year will continue to be sad at the picnic, now we will be missing Uncle Sam as well. Poor Uncle Joe will have to be like a rock even though he will be having the same thoughts and feelings as the rest of us today. That sad sorrowful feeling

will be there all day even though we will be smiling and conversing. The thoughts of previous picnics will be there of the years you would get there so early with doughnuts and coffee and you'd work so hard getting things set up for all the little kids to play games and get prizes. Sad as it is for us but I'm sure joyous for you, is that Uncle Sam will be looking down on us with you today. I sure wish you were going to be there. I miss having coffee with you. Thoughts of you are with me every pot of coffee I have (I drink coffee like you use to)...that's alot of pots!

I still miss you so much Dad and days like this are rough. It seems that from this point on the rest of the year gets tougher with the anniversary of your death just around the corner and then all the holidays. This year to add to the sorrow is Uncle Sam.

You are thought about all the time Dad.

Love you so much.

Lynnann

Hi again dad, I know I just wrote to you a little bit ago, but this time I am in need of your help. I know you have connections up their and we are really in a bind w/this situation. You know what it is and I am asking for you to help us here. I love you soooo much. You always came through for me in my life everytime I was in a bind and I knew I could turn to you again and you'd be there for me as always

I love you forever & ever and til the end of time

Talk to you soon

Love your daughter, Debbie

Hi Dad,



I know that you are happy to have your brother with you now. We all miss him so very much but as with you we are happy that he is no longer in pain and is with his parents, you and many other loved ones no longer with us. I want you to know you are in my thoughts daily and I miss you every minute of the day. When my time comes I will be with you too and when I see you I plan on hugging you for eternity.

I love & miss you forever and ever and til the end of time

Your daughter, Debbie

Happy Fathers Day Dad,



I am sorry that you can't be here to celebrate your day. But you know that you are #1 in my thoughts today (as everyday). I hate the fact that I am coming to visit you at the cemetary today when everyone else gets to spend it laughing and sharing memories with their dads. I miss you so very much dad. I guess I am lucky that I have wonderful memories in my heart of you, I just wish as always that I had you here in person.

I love you forever & ever & til the end of time

Happy father's day

Love Debbie

Hi Dad, Once again there is no occasion for this, I just wanted you to know that you were in my thoughts. Knowing that Fathers day is just a couple of weeks away is getting hard for me. I wish I had you here with me, but since you can only be in my heart & thoughts it's going to have to do. I have a bandana that you carried with you everywhere you went and I have it stored in plastic so it still has your scent, and when I get lonely I take it out and hold it close and if I close my eyes it's almost as if you are right beside me. Anyways I love you & I'll see you in my dreams. Love you forever & ever and til the end of time Your daughter Debbie

Hi Dad,

There is no special occasion or Holiday today I just wanted to say Hi and let you know that you were in my thoughts. I had a dream about you lastnight, it was nice to see you again if only in a dream.I wanted to tell you I love you & I miss you. Love forever and ever and til the end of time. Your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

I don't want to make this a tearful and sad birthday wish for you today but I do wish you were still here for us to be celebrating another year of your life. I miss being able to give you something today because I love you so much and to show how great of a father you were but since I can't I will stand at the cemetery today and give you my birthday wishes the only way I can anymore and try to have a smile remembering the past.

I love and miss you very much.

Happy Birthday Dad.

Love Lynn

Happy 61st Birthday Dad!

Believe it or not this is one of the hardest days for me since your passing. Celebrating our birthdays together was something special we shared together. I know that you will be wishing me a happy birthday from Heaven & I will make the same birthday wish I have every year since your passing, that is that you are happy & pain free. I miss you so very very much dad. My heart aches for you everyday. I can't believe it's coming on four years since your passing. I was going to say that it doesn't seem that long but I guess it does. It seems like forever since I was able to hold your hand, to see your smiling face & tell you how very much I love you. Thanks for all the special birthdays I had growing up as your daughter. I treasure each and every one of them. Happy birthday

Love forever & ever & til the end of time

Your "birthday girl" Debbie

Happy New Years Dad



I just wanted to tell you that and let you know this is another year without you that will be sad. But unfortunatly life goes on and so must I without you. All my love forever and ever and til the end of time Your daughter Debbie

Merry Christmas Daddy,



I am going to keeep this short & sweet so I don't break down in tears. I want to tell you how much I miss & love you. I was driving passed our old house on Neva yesterday and was remembering at Christmas time the whole family would walk across the expressway bridge carrying a huge 6 foot Christamas tree. I could only imagine what people thought! It was a nice Christmas memory many of which I have of us. I miss those times spent with you. Although it is very difficult not to shed tears and be sad without you here, I am going to try and remember all the fun & special Christmas' we had together. My love & thoughts are without you today & throughout the year....Merry Christmas

I miss & love you forever & ever and til the end of time

your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. It's so hard still to celebrate all these, should be, joyous holidays without you. I'm trying to be happy but my thoughts are with you always. I know how much you always enjoyed Christmas and I'm trying to follow in those footsteps.

I love you Dad, and I wish you were still here to celebrate with us.

Love ALWAYS,

Lynnann

Dad, I can't believe another year has passed. It's weird how sometimes it seems like I haven't been able to see you in forever and other times I can't believe it's three years already, it still seems so fresh. Either way, I still pity myself that I just have the memories left. We went to Reedsburg a couple of weeks ago in honor of you and Grandma and as fun as it was, it was also really hard to enjoy myself. The whole time I was there I kept thinking, Dad use to love this.

As much as I know you are in a better place Dad, you are still so missed here.

I love you Dad very much.

Love Lynn

Hi Daddy, Here we go again another anniversary of your passing. Three years ago today you left my life but not my heart. I think alot about how very very close we grew the last couple of years before your passing and I am so glad I have those memories. I enjoyed coming to visit with you every week before you got sick, we would sit and chat and watch movies for hours. I enjoyed our lunches and coffee together just the two of us. I felt we said alot of things that went unsaid for years, there was just sooo much more I wanted to say to you. I need you so much dad and I long for you everyday. I just feel so very alone sometimes, I know I have people in my life that love & care for me but not the way I felt with you, I was able to come to you about anything and everything and you were always there with your love and wisdom, and knew just the right thing to make it all feel better and the pain go away, just as you did when we were little and got hurt. Now who is here to take the pain away.....I will never stop needing you or missing you or wanting you or ever ever stop loving you. You always have been and ALWAYS will be the my hero, my BEST friend and the #1 man in my life...I will love & mourn you forever and ever and til the end of time, Love Debbie

Dear Dad,

Well this would of been your day to celebrate you being the "World's Greatest Dad." I hate having to be jealous of others getting to make today such a special day for their father's and I can't. I'm trying to get through the day with remembering the Father's Day's in the past when we were able to celebrate together. Although it's a long sad day, I will have a smile thinking about how lucky I was (we were), to have the blessing of being born to the wonderful Father that you were. Since you cannot celebrate the day with us, I am glad you are with your father.

All my love today and always Dad.

I love you.

Love Lynn

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!



HI Dad, here we go again another father's day without you. I miss you so much but I think this is one of the hardest days because this is ''your'' day. The day we all give thanks for how grateful we are to our fathers for all they've done. I just wish you were here to enjoy your day. I would tell you just how special a father you are, how much I look up to you and how grateful and blessed I was to have had you as my dad. You did so many wonderful things for me growing up as a child and so much of that has made me the person I am today, and I am proud of who I am. I am a great parent as you were. I struggle at times as you did but still do the best to provide for my children and give them support and so much love & hope as you did for me. I hope I set as good as an example for my children as you did for me & I if they have as much love in their heart as I had for you than I did a fantastic job as a parent...just like you. Today on your day I love you, honor you bless you and thank you for all you've done. Happy father's day to you dad. I miss you so much it hurts, love you forever & ever and til the end of time your daughter, Debbie

Happy Easter Daddy,

I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. I miss you very much. You will be in my thoughts and prayers today (as always) I have more to say to you but I am coming to visit your grave and I will tell you all thats in my heart then. I love you so very very much and I always will forever and ever and til the end of time...your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

Happy Birthday. Wow, you would be 60 today. I wish you were here celebrating your 60th with us, instead of us meeting at the cemetery to celebrate your 60th. Too bad you couldn't recieve the usual gifts you'd be getting from us. I miss you soooo much. The other day Adrianna was watching my wedding video and of course it was not only sad to see all the people that are no longer with us, but of course the saddest (and happiest) was watching us have our Father/daughter dance together. If I could make a wish today for your birthday, it would be for one last dance with a song that never ended. I remember us driving to church alone that day and you apologizing for us having a lousy childhood. For your birthday gift today I'd like to share something with you. I know things were rough and sad at times but I honestly don't feel that I missed out on having a good childhood. You weren't able to give us many material things but you gave us so much more of the important things~what matters most.....LOVE. I am never sorry about the way we grew up, only that it cost you alot. I love you Dad, in my eyes you were always the BEST.

Happy 60th!

Love you very much

Lynnann

March 13th 2004



Happy Birthday Daddy,



Hi dad, Well here I go spending "our" birthday alone again for the 3rd year since your passing, and I have to say it still hurts as much today as it did 3 years ago. I miss spending my birthday with you. It was that one "special" thing we shared together. Now instead of visiting you at home I am sadly visiting your grave. I am still so sorry for all the pain and heartache you had not only at the time of your illness but all you endured throughout your life. You were the best and you deserved the best. I want you to know that you are ALWAYS in my heart and I think of you often. I still have difficulties in life and to help me through them I ask myself "what would dad tell me to do" I always looked to you for your wisdom. I hope my kids will love, depend on and look up to me the way I did to you, because then I know I am doing a wonderful job as a parent as you did. Although I don't think there will ever be a more loving, giving caring person in the world than you dad.Just know that the world is a darker and sadder place without you. You are deeply miss everyday by anyone that ever had the honor of knowing you. I love you with all my heart and tomorrow when I blow out my birthday candles my wish will be the same as it has been the past 3 birthdays without you, and that is that you are happy in Heaven and you are smiling down on the loved ones you left behind waiting patiently for the day we will be joined together for eternity. Love forever and ever and til the end of time. Your birthday girl, Debbie

Hi daddy, As you know Uncle Frank passed away so I ask that you look over him. I am so sorry that we keep losing our loved ones. It is very painful that our family keeps getting smaller and smaller. I also ask that you look over your loved ones still among the living, especially Uncle sam in his time of need. I have tried to quit smoking, I went down to 2 packs a week down from my usual carton a week, I think that you would be proud of me because you knew better than anyone how difficult it is to do. But I just don't want my children to suffer the loss and hearbreak that I suffered when I lost you. I need your help on my other 2 bad habits and with our combined strenghth I am going to get through those starting tomorrow and I won't let you down. Pray for me & I will pray for you. God Bless you daddy and Grandpa & grandma and Aunt Lena and Uncle Frank, etc I miss you all! Love you forever and ever and til the end of time Your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

Merry Christmas! It doesn't seem as merry anymore. Everytime I cook, bake, or wrap something I can't help think about you. Sometimes with a smile alot of the time with tears because I miss you so much and think about past Christmas's. I know we will all get through the day like the past couple of years but it hasn't gotten a whole lot easier yet.

You will be so thought about and missed today with everyone here.

I love you Dad.

Love Lynn

Merry Christmas Dad



Hello again daddy

I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. I am going to miss you once again this holiday season. It is so hard to spend another Christmas without you here but as always you will be in my heart, thoughts and prayers. I wish I could have a Christmas miracle. My wish would be to be able to see you once last time and let you know how happy you made me, to let you know how lucky I was to have had you in my life. My life with you was the best..I just wish I was able to have had more time with you, I am so sorry your life was cut so short, but I know your not suffering anymore and you are still with people who love you. Love your very sad daughter forever and ever and til the end of time. Merry Christmas Debbie

Happy Thanksgiving daddy



Today is the beginning of the sad and heart-breaking holiday season

without you for the second year. I

just want you to know that you will be in my prayers and thoughts today

as you are each and everyday. I also want you to know that today I

am thankful to you for loving me

all my life. For always being there

for me, for always listening to me when I had a problem and helping me with your kind words and wisdom. For giving me a hug when I was down. For making me laugh when I was sad. I miss those Mondays before you became sick and I would come with a movie and we would have lunch together and a nice talk then sit together for a movie. I would give anything to have that back again but I guess I'll have to settle for the sweet memories. Finally dad I want to thank you for being the greatest father in the world. I love you and the life I had with you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and grandpa & grandma & aunt Lena *God Bless You All* Love you forever and ever and til the end of time



your lonely daughter Debbie

Hi Daddy, October 26, 2003



I don't know where to start, there is just so much I want to tell you. First and most important is that I miss you dad and I love you so very much. I know I've said it over and over again but I can't believe it's been two years since I've seen you, two years since I was able to touch you, two years since I was able to kiss you and tell you face to face just how much I love you. Words cannot express the lonliness and pain I feel without you in my life. You were the very core of my life Dad. I can't believe how lucky and blessed I was to have had you as my dad. I honored you. You now and always have been my hero. I will forever have a void in my heart that can not be filled. A part of me died with you. I keep reliving those last memories I had of you in the hospital. I remember always visiting with you and thinking how brave & strong you were trying so hard to fight your cancer, and then I remember the doctors giving us the horrible news that it was just a matter of time, and I thought "how unfair" you struggled through so much, you fought for your life and now it was going to be taken from you anyways, and although I like to believe you didn't know you were dying--we did but I kept believing in God and never ever gave up hope that you were going to come through this. I mean you were "Dad" my dad can't die. How was I supposed to go on without you? You were what I lived for. I was so angry with God for a very long time for taking you from me, but I came to believe that He did it for a reason. Maybe He didn't want your suffering to continue any more than I did. I just wish I had more time with you although with the love I have for you even eternity wouldn't have been long enough. I know the day will come when I get to see you again and believe me I long for that day. But I know as sad and lonely as it gets sometimes life does go on and I am going to be here for my kids the way you were always there for me. I am going toraise them with the same love & kindness that I received from you. You are never more than a heart beat away. You are in my thoughts each and every day. Thanks for being a wonderful father. Love you very much and I always will foerver and ever and til the end of time, your daughter Debbie

I can't believe here it is the second anniversary of you being taken away from us today. It's so weird that it seems the past two years flew by, yet it seems an eternity since I've spent time with.

Those of us that get together will carry on the tradition we started last year and go to the cemetery and send off balloons to you with messages on them. I would give anything if we were able to come visit you and sit with you to watch tv and talk and laugh, maybe order a pizza. I miss those days. I feel bad because I find myself sometimes being envious of people that talk about their fathers. I wish I didn't have to talk about mine in the past tense. I didn't think I would have to do that until I was very old and gray. I try to feel better when I'm sad by telling myself that God has brought you to a better place and that you are with parts of your family that you had missed.

I hope you will be recieving all our messages sent to you today Dad.

I also hope that you know you are in our hearts and on our minds all the time.

I miss you so much that it still aches alot.

I love you Dad, very much.

Love Lynn

Hi again daddy, I am sorry I don't mean to be a hog of the guest book and all but I just didn't feel finished. You know daddy I just want you to know that I have been remembering alot (more so than usual) growing up as your daughter. And I think I was extremely lucky. I look back & reflect on my childhood and I think of all the wonderful things you did for us. I remember on Sunday's you turned us all into "trekkies" we would order 3 large pizzas and would gather aroung the t.v. at 6:00 and watch star trek. I remember other occasions you giving us $2.00 to go to "Higgin's pharmacy" and get about 10 assorted candy bars and you would lay them across your lap and we each eagerly waited our turn to pick one. I remember on Saturday's you would put Elvis, or Gary Glitter or the Knack in your 8 track player and dance with us around the livingroom. To other people this wouldn't seem like much but to me nothing on earth could have compared because it was real quality things you did for us, things that came from the heart and you had millions of them in your great big heart. That is the true meaning of family and love. Not buying your kids off.I feel sorry for people who think money can buy happiness because it can't. You honestly and truly loved us all so deeply. The love you had for us made up for not having a mother, you had so much love & compassion in your heart and the world is alot darker without you in it. I am going to carry those wonderful memories around and keep them alive in my heart along with you. I love you daddy. Thank you for being so kind and loving, for showing me the true meaning of family and love. Thanks for being the best dad in the world and raising me and taking care of me. I love you sooooo much and I miss you more than you'll ever know, and as always "thanks for listening" love you forever and ever and til the end of time your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

Well it's September 11th today. This marks the second anniversary of the terrorist attack on the world trade center and although this is terrible and tons of families lost loved ones, for me September 11th is the second anniversary today of me calling the hospital because you were near the lake and I was nervous and that morning we talked about what happened only a short while because your breathing was terrible and you said the doctor didn't want you to talk too much and they were letting you go home that day. I remember you getting a little aggrevated at me because as much as I know you wanted to come home I wanted you to stay there because I was worried about you and I felt you would be safer being in the hospital. By the

end of that day I got a call from Paulie crying because you were put on the respirator on an emergency basis and trasfered to another hospital. From that point it was about 3 weeks that we visited and watched you sleep while they kept you sedated. For this September 11th will always stick out in my mind. Although I remember everything like yesturday, it seems as though it's been an eternity since I was able to sit there by your side and hold your hand and talk to you and at that point thankful that you were still here to do that.

There's not a day that goes by Dad that you are not on my mind and that ache in my heart and I miss you very much.

I love you very much,

Love Lynn

Paul,

It's September and I am starting to think about School Sale again. It's very hard for me do do them with out you. I miss the fights, the laughter, the headaches and the 200 calls you made to me worring about everything and anything that could go wrong and nothing ever did. Execpt that you left and I miss all of it and you are the biggest lost of all. I think about you all of he time. The machines we spent a lot of time playing you listening to all of my problems and me listening to yours and then we would laugh about them. A truer and better friend I will never find again. You are very missed by all. I am sorry that I didn't come to see you but I was told not to. I regret that I didn't say go to hell and just come to see you anyway. I will always regret that. But I know you understand I was never told just how sick you were. But we did have some nice conversastion on the phone when you were in the hospital.

I often dial your number and then hang up because I realize that you are not there anymore. But you are always in my prays and thoughts and I know how unhappy you were and I do believe you are at peace now. All thou you left a big void in all of our hearts and lives. Be happy my best friend !



Love Ya,



Marge Busse

Hi daddy...I just want to tell you that I love you so very much & I miss you lots. You are a constant in my heart and on my mind. Just wanted you to know Love you forever and ever and til the end of time Your lonely daughter Debbie

Hi daddy, there is no special occasion for me to write to you today but I didn't think I needed one to tell you what is in my heart. I was just sitting here alone and looking at your picture and feeling you near me. I just wished I could jump into the picture and go back to that moment in time when you were still physically here with us. The picture I am looking at is at halloween and you were dressed up as usual and you were happy. I miss those times with you. I wish I could go back in time and relive a moment in your life when you were happy. I know life was rough for you and that wasn't fair. I know you had us and that helped but you weren't given the happiness in life that you so deserved and I hated that. I reflect upon my life with you and think of all you sacrificed for your children most of us who were grateful like me but also heart broken that you had to sacrifice your happiness for us. It wasn't fair. I realize how much life s*%#s and how wrong it is that the people who deserve good things always seem to get the short end of the stick and the people who hurt others always seem to get the good life, and they say what comes around goes around, well it didn't for you, did it? You of all people deserved the best life had to offer. You didn't deserve to be sad and lonely and miserable and die a tragic death, with your life cut short. Sometimes I want to be angry with God but I know things happen for a reason and I am hoping that you are happy now and God is "making up" for your suffering here on earth. Well as you always said in your letters to me "I've babbled enough" so for now I love you forever and ever and til the end of time your daughter Debbie

Dear Dad,

Well it's a gorgeous day for Father's Day. This would of been a perfect day to have a BBQ in the backyard and sit around and laugh and talk and bring your usual Father's Day gifts because you never asked for much. Instead we'll be bringing you our Father's Day cards to the cemetery hoping that they will leave them there for a little bit. This was always such a great time for us to show and tell you how wonderful a father you were and how loved you are. I wish I could give you that great big hug and kiss today and let you feel special, because you were (and still are) very special Dad. This was the second Father's Day to stand in the store to buy a card to bring to the cemetery and wish so bad that I could be sitting there with you while you read it. Incase you never heard it enough...you were a great Father and I always felt very blessed and thankful.

I love you Dad and I miss being able to say that to you today.

Love very much,

Lynn

Hi daddy, Happy fathers' day. Today is the day for me to reflect upon my life with you as my wonderful father. To celebrate the love I have for you as my dad, to be thankful to Jesus for giving me the greatest father on earth. For the time I had you in my life however short it was.I so wish I had you here with me to celebrate "your" day. But since that can't be I will do as I always do and just remember the wonderful times we had together and cherish the memories I hold of you close in my heart.I miss you so very much dad. I know that it sounds like a broken record but I would give everything I own just to have you back again. Life is empty and lonely without you. I long for the day I can hold you again. I think of you always, sometimes it is so difficult to want to go on without you, this is one of those times. It is so very unfair that you were taken from me, I still needed you I always will. Thank you for being the best daddy a girl could have, thank you for raising me and taking care of me. Thank you for always being there to listen to and solve my problems. Thank you for the best life I could ever have asked for. My life would have been nothing if it hadn't been for you. You brought joy and happiness to my life. You gave my life meaning. I love you sooooo much and I can't stand the pain I feel without you. I miss you and I can't wait for the day that I can see you again. I miss your handsome face and sweet smile. Love you forever and ever and til the end of time, your daughter, Debbie Messina-Maratto

Hi Granpa, Its me tony! i really miss you alot. I always think of you and i bet you know that cause you can see me from heaven. You were the greatest grandpa a grandson can ever have. You were like my second dad, what i mean is you always would play baseball with me and teach me about the things that a dad should. Thats why i was very upset when you left. And now that you aren't here the only memory i have of you was when you were in the hospital. It hurt me to see you like that. I just want you to know that me, mom, samantha, Paula, and little Randy all miss you and will always be thinking of you for the rest of our lives.



Love you always, Tony

Hi daddy, today is April 26th and it is very sad for 2 reasons. First and most sad is that you passed away exactly one and a half years ago today. You left behind the saddest and lonliest girl in the world. I miss you so so very much daddy. You are a constant in my mind and forever in my heart. There is honestly not one day in the last year and a half that you weren't in my thoughts. Everything I do, I think of you. Tonight we went to John's for dinner and I remember the first time I went there was with you. Oh God, daddy why did you have to go. I need you so much. I am moving out of our house today. The house I bought for you. The house that we were to share and where you belonged. I am sorry that you never had a chance to live here. I just would have so enjoyed waking up every morning seeing your face and hearing your voice. I would have given you the life you should have had. I must say that I won't miss this house it's been a nightmare (probably because it wasn't meant to be since you never came to live here) but this place will hold a special memory in my heart because it was suppose to be our home, but they say home is where the heart is and it isn't here anymore since you aren't here. My heart is in a bunch of tiny little pieces- broken since the day you died. I just want you to know that I love you and I miss you so much and that I am thinking of you today and everyday. ALL MY LOVE FOREVER AND TIL THE END OF TIME. Your lonely daughter, Debbie

Dear Uncle Paul,

I've been waiting for this day so I could talk to you once again.When I got the news that you had passed away I couldn't believe it. You had a heart of gold. I thought you would live long enough so I could at least say goodbye. It seemed as if you were a real blood uncle to me. A month ago I was looking around my room I had found the ring you had given me at my christening. I have worn it ever since and when I wear it, it feels like there is a part of you in me. I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. And one more thing, it's never the same without Uncle Paul. You were my hero and you always will be. I love you.

Your Godson,

Eric