This is the eulogy my father gave for my grandfather when he passed away ten years ago, this past January. I miss him dearly and dwell frequently on the life lessons that I gained just from him being around during my childhood. It’s worth a read if you’ve got some time and are interested in my family history.
Simkins Funeral Home
6251 W. Dempster St., Morton Grove, IL 60053, USAEulogy to Tatang / Vicente SantarinalaJanuary 10, 2003On behalf of everyone in our family; Deanne –my partner for life and our three children, Ian, Sheila, and Dean, my older sister Inne, and my aunt Regalada –who is now the only surviving out of the 6 siblings of my father, my brothers – Cecilio, Severino, Fernando, and my younger sister, Gloria, along with their respective families who are now waiting for our father’s coming home to the Philippines, I thank you for coming tonight to join us in prayers and to remember the life of our father. On May 4, 2001, we tendered a surprise party for my father’s 91st birthday here in Chicago. We planned to put on a formal Filipino wear on him and told him that he would be a principal sponsor to one of our extended family member’s wedding. My younger sister from the Philippines sent him the native barong that is on him now. When he received it , he wondered and said , “Why would your sister send me an outfit like this that would be more fit to wear on my ‘THE END ? – meaning his passing away’”. My father had such a good time in that party, he even delivered a poem in Filipino. Much of the honoring that I will tell you today, my father heard in person in our native language —Tagalog. He was so thrilled when I was giving him honors that he kept interrupting me by adding to what I was missing. Tonight, I feel so blessed that the honors I will tell you to extol our father , were heard by him in person and he was obviously very pleased.
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