I remember getting the call form my sister Lisa. She had been on the phone with my father when he died. She was distraught. I was able to book a red eye flight to Milwaukee, rent a car and get to Shore Acres the next day.

We had known his death was imminent for the past year. He had schema cell cancer that had progressed to his spine and made him bedridden his last six moths. Fortunately, our entire family had been able to visit that summer to say our last goodbyes.

Dad had remarried the last few years of his life and we had trouble accepting that fact as his kids and never really got that close with her. I know this is common for family to feel that way. To her credit, his new wife had been there, at his side, nursing him through the entire ordeal during hospice.

It was a hectic time. Dad had been very involved with the community so we knew his memorial would be well attended. We had the logistic problems of getting the family there. We had a couple family arguments, we decided to wait until the following Saturday to hold his memorial service.

There is a heavy sense of finality and sadness when the last parent dies and you know there is no parent left for you to fall back on emotionally.