Last Thursday, after me and the kids went caroling with other families from the school, we came home to hubby giving us the news that one of our neighbors had passed away on the previous Sunday. I thought " Sunday? That is not possible b/c Me and Sho-sho just talked to him on Monday." I know it was Monday b/c that day and Thursday were the only days I walked Sho-sho to the bus. And it being Thurs. I know I didn't talk to him that day. And the Thurs. and Fri. of the previous week, Cj and Sho-sho stayed home. Was it his spirit saying bye to me one last time? I mean I have heard of this happening to other people, but never thought it would ever happen to me. I know for a fact that I talked to him on Mon.
I thought for sure that the person that told him got the days mixed up but sure enough I found this yesterday morning in the paper.
PAYAN, Alexander Jr. "Chico"
(Age 69)
Passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2007. He was born March 3, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 17, Chico was faced with a career choice - military or penitentiary. He chose the U.S. Army. It was an awkward first step for a hero. He proudly served in Vietnam, where he earned two purple hearts, a bronze star and many other awards until his retirement in 1977. Chico met the love of his life, Irene Rowley, in 1983. He instantly obtained a family of four daughters. They enjoyed many happy years together until Irene's death in 2006. That's when a new chapter of Chico's life began. He purchased a motorcycle and rekindled a true passion he so loved. He joined the Combat Vets Association and instantly found respect and dignity. He leaves behind family, friends and a brotherhood who will honor the time spent together. He will be missed by those who knew him. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Chico was like the neighborhood Grandpa. He always had special bags put together for the kids at Halloween and Christmas. Always came and gave them cookies when they were playing outside. When I heard that he had passed, I just did not want to believe it. He was not sick. I don't know how he passed and I don't know who to ask.
My family will truly miss him. He was a great guy, but like most older people, annoying at times, but you just can't help but like him. Our walks to the bus will not be the same with out him there to say HI.
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3 comments:
I would love to know what your conversation was about and how he seemed. I am not one to believe in alot of hocus pocus but a similar thing happened to me a very long time ago and I still can't make any sense of it!
It was nothing big really. With his accent it sounds like he calls me gina, so he says, " Hello Gina." I say hi back, he asks how I am and I say "fine, how are you?" he says fine and then walks in his house. Though I remember thinking how strange it was that his truck was not running and he came out from his truck and we had our conversation and then he went in to his house.
Trust me, I have gone over it again and again trying to figure if I got my days mixed up, but I know that I talked to him on monday and thought it was strange that he was sitting in his truck in this cold weather with out the truck running.
Hi, my name is Manny and Alex was my father. Sadly, we had not communicated for awhile. I learned of his death by chance while doing some internet research.
I can tell you that he died of heart failure with complications of Asthma and Diabetes.
My father and I were never close...we are both such different people. However, I loved him from afar and wished nothing but the best for him.
The person you describe in your post is someone I didn't know but it's very nice to hear that in his old age he was surrounded by people that loved him and I am so happy to hear how kind he was to the neighborhood children.
Thank you for posting that...it's the only thing I have of him besides the actual write up of his life.
I'm sorry for your loss of a friend and neighbor.
Sincerely,
Manny Calvillo
mannycalvillo@hotmail.com
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