Aiphy

and had gone home to get a few hours sleep. Joan and Eileen had made arrangements to stay for the evening with their mother, by their Dad’s bedside. Edna, Ida, Velda, LeRoy and Ivan had also spent some time with their Dad, but had returned home to get a little rest to prepare for the next day. Dennis had held back as long as he could, but finally he entered his father’s hospital room, choking back tears. Dennis knew he could only hold back the tears for a short while. He spoke a few words to his Dad, and then hurried out- no doubt to have a cry.

Approximately 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Alphy sat up in bed, his eyes looked upward to the uppermost corner of his hospital room, towards the ceiling. He said, “ There she is, she’s finally come.”

He spoke tenderly, and Margurita didn’t want to interrupt him. She didn’t ask any questions. Who was Alphy referring to, was it his guardian angel?

Within the next hour, Alphy’s breathing became more shallow, and he seemed to be struggling with the oxygen mask that the doctor had prescribed to help his breathing. By 4:50 pm, Alphy was trying to say something. Margurita could see that he was mouthing the words with his lips, but there was no sound coming out of his mouth. Again he struggled with the oxygen mask, while his eyes remained fixed on her. The constant noise of the oxygen machine was also drowning any sound in the room.

Margurita reached out gently to her husband, and took the oxygen mask from his mouth - he breathed a few words, but his strength was almost extinguished. His last words were not audible. It appeared as though he was saying, “Margurita.”

Eileen and Joan were standing on the left side of their father’s bed. Eileen had been holding his hand, when her mother had taken off the oxygen mask. Alphy now squeezed his daughter’s hand, in a gesture of good-bye, then his brown, soul-filled eyes gazed upward,

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