In Memory Of My Dad

~WILFRED CLARENCE PETER QUERING~

January 28, 1941 ~ June 10, 2006

Dear Dad ~ It's been a whole year since you pased away and the passage of time is still not healing my broken heart. I miss you so much ~ I just want this to be a bad dream. Soon I will wake up and you will be calling me; gossiping, laughing and telling me crazy jokes. A tighter father/daughter bond did not exist and it still does exist for you are not gone, you are just away. I take a part of you with me every day in everything I do. I strive to be the person that you were ~ compassionate, caring, outgoing, endearing, funny, smart, educated, worldly, generous...the list goes on. You were my first love, my teacher, my confidante and my mentor and I shall miss you every day for the rest of my life. Love, ~Stacy~

My Dad was a family man and a lover of children probably because he behaved, for the most part, like a child himself. He never lost the ability to think how a child would and he loved doing things with children, he was always the favorite Uncle or Grandpa. Kids were drawn to him in an extraordinary way. My Grandmother once said to me "Stay as young as you can for as long as you can". That was definitely my Dad. Everyone loved him!

Dad would have laughed at me posting this photo. He was always acting ridiculous, making hilarious faces and just being insane! He especially liked acting nuts in department stores and when we were shopping in general. There were many times that I fell into racks of clothes because he had me laughing so hard, not only when I was a child, but up until the last time I saw him in "fine form". I had a magical childhood due to this man ~ thank you Dad!

***Only 3 out of 100 people die each year from prostate cancer. My Dad was one of those three and he was only 65 years old. He was on medication for three years for an enlarged prostate and his doctor did not think that it was necessary to remove his prostate. He was wrong. My Dad fought a very quick, courageous battle with the utmost dignity and grace. Please be vigilant about your loved ones health care. Force them to go to the doctor and get tested no matter how much they complain and don't want to do it. Be aggressive with doctors, do not allow them to put you off for months to get a biopsy and to start treatment if cancer is found. I have no doubt in my mind that my Dad would be alive today if he would have lived in the United States instead of Canada. The healthcare system in this country is incredible, in my opinion. Please use it to you and your loves ones full advantage! Precious lives can be saved!