Dziadek aka Grandpa Ted

My baby girls Polish Grandfather aka Dziadek to them passed away late in the afternoon on September 11th, 2009. Ted was a good man with a heart bigger than life for his daughter and all of his grandchildren. I’ll miss his quick wit and dry sense of humor that always had you doing a double look and laughing after you realized what he said. He had a tough fight his last days but his loving wife Marney was there by his side and cared for him till the end. My personal thanks go out to the visiting nurses and hospice people that worked so hard to keep him comfortable in his last days.

Telling three out of five daughters that their Dziadek had passed away was tough and I lost it at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of our family chat at the dinner table. I called my oldest daughter and lost it again. I did too many phone calls where my emotions just got the best of me. I loved the guy a lot and his passing hurts to the core. My wife and I may have separated but my relationship and affections for the man that was her father never were part of the separation. He was a good man, a good father, a great grandfather, a thoughtful friend, and always cheerful even though he was in pain for oh so many years.

I think he was an amazing man and I will always cherish the memories he took the time to build with and for his grandchildren. He wouldn’t miss a birthday celebration, Christmas gathering, Thanks Giving gathering, or his favorite event Easter dinner that he cooked himself. One huge ham that he special ordered that was always the best part of the meal. It was always a laugh as he cut and served the ham, some for the table, a sample for the chef, some for the table, a sample for the chef. Quality control was in his blood and he just had to make sure that every bite was just as delicious as the previous. Easter Sunday will never be the same again without him.

All I can say now is that I loved the guy, I’ll miss him, and I can only hope to be half the man he was. I’ll miss you Ted and so will all the girls from the Irish clan side of the Tuminski family that are so proud and loved to call their grandfather Dziadek. From all of your O’Keefe girls, Christine, Nicole, Kathryn, Shannon, Casey, and Hannah, you will always be loved and truly and sorely missed. Rest in peace Dziadek.

For my friend Ted and from my friend Mike...

Video Link



Your friend Matthew aka Papamoka