Monday, December 21, 2015
I took time to read my grandfathers obituary. But it left me thinking, how can a man who spent 88 years here on earth be reduced to a few mere lines. The obituary included some keys facts to my grandfathers life.
Yes he was married for 63 years to my grandmother, Dorothy.
Yes he was the father of 7: Maureen, Paul, Richie, Kevin, Stevie, Bobby and John.
Grandfather of 11: Katie, Paul, myself, Bryan, Michelle, Jackie, Katherine, Lauren, John, Paul, and Danny.
Great grandfather of 5: Nicholas, Talia, Dylan, Sophia and Connor.
Yes he was the baby brother to Marie and Joe
And yes he was a WWII Army Veteran.
But he was so much more then those few lines expressed. He had a bigger then life personality and to know him was to love him. We called him Sonny, but he would never let you forget he was John Paul Aloysius Conroy.
His family meant everything to him. My mother and uncles say he was fair but strict growing up. Making them run the track after dinner, giving the boys buzz cuts in the basement and making sure they all fell in-line. He worked hard to support 7 children. Working as a union electrician during the day to driving an ice cream truck in the evening, he never left his family wanting for anything. He did it all with the love of his life beside him. Yes the obituary told you he was married for 63 years. But it did not mention it was to his childhood love. The girl he grew up playing stickball with. Even in recent times when he suffered from dementia, he never forgot about the love of his life- calling out for Dottie every night. They had a love that was treasured and should be remembered forever.
I consider myself to be blessed. For 33 years, I got to have my grandfather apart of my life. He wasn't there just for birthdays or holidays but for the everyday moments in my life. Games, recitals, dances, dinners and so much more- he was there. In the summers he could be found perfecting his breast stroke in our pool. He came on vacations and would even go horseback riding in the mountain in the dead of winter to spend time with us and all with a giant smile. I still chuckle when I think about the time we took him tubing and he was flying around the water in Mattituck. I got to really know my grandfather and for that I am grateful.
My father often talks about a ripple of hope. My grandfather emulated this. He was the person we should all strive to be. Not a mean bone in his body. He was a gentle, kind and giving man, often performing good deeds in silence-not looking for praise or applause. He did it because he could and it was the right thing to do.
My grandfather was the life of the party. He filled rooms with laughter anywhere he went. Family, friends, and neighbors would flock to his home on Hanover Place to be apart of the fun. He welcomed you with a drink and kept people staying to the wee hours of the morning with his funny stories like "johnny you eat too much" and his infectious laugh.
Although it is sad to say goodbye to a man that made our hearts brighter, we can find peace that he is spending Christmas with his wife and son Paul. And rest assure, Heaven got a little louder with the sounds of laughter and a blender.
I think my grandfather would say there is one way to end this:
I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty, others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:.
Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy".
Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you-oo?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
