“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well."-unknown

“If his voice hasn’t been the melody of my life, it’s been the bass line, so subtle you don’t notice it until it’s missing.” –Jodi Picoult Vanishing Acts

"Death ends a life, not a relationship." –Tuesdays with Morrie

“Is Death important? No. Everything that happens before Death is what counts.” - Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury

"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." -Anne Sexton

"Remember that I love you, know I'll always care,
whatever path your life may take, feel that I am there.

As I rocked you, my little girl, and soothed your tears away,
the little fingers on your hand, touched my heart that day.

A day has come when dark skies, make you feel all hope has gone,
but in time, the sun will shine, to cast your shadow long.

Look to see that shadow - look, learn and find,
behold, your silhouette is first - with mine, a step behind."

"He was there when I didn't understand, he was there when I was wrong, he was there when I cried, he was there when I lied. For some reason my dad was always there, when I needed him the most. His love was never ending. And now that he's gone there is an emptiness in my world, but not in my heart." -Michael Jordan

A site that you might find helpful is “Journey of Hearts - An On-line healing place for anyone grieving a loss” which is a “resource to use, available at any time 24/7, even in the middle of the night. It is always available as a "virtual shoulder to cry on" or a "virtual hand holding." It has many resources (including quotes).
http://www.journeyofhearts.org/

Some other quotes;

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.
~Leo Buscaglia

The love that once was born can not die
For it has become part of us, of our life,
Woven into the very texture of our being.
Each of us would wish to leave some part of ourselves,
So here and now we bear witness to the one we knew in life,
Who now in death bequeaths a subtle part, precious and beloved,
Which will be with us in truth and beauty,
In dignity and courage and love
To the end of our days.
~Algernon Black


The quotation in the post above (Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room……) may be from Henry Scott Holland. See here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Scott_Holland

***
I have gathered a posie of other men's flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own.
~John Bartlett

we used this one in one of the obituaries for my father

"If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I would walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it and only god knows why. My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow. What it mean to lose you, no one will ever know."

"we often think of bygone days
when we were all together,
the family chain is broken now
but memories live forever.
to us he has not gone away
nor has he travelled far,
just entered god's eternal home
and left the gate ajar"

"a light from our family is gone,
a voice we loved is still,
a place is vacant in our lives,
which never can be filled;
your memory is our keepsake,
from which we will never part,
god has you in his keeping,
we have you in our hearts."

"silently the angels took daddy
into the mansion above.
there shall he rest from earth's til
safe in the arms of god's love."

"the blow was great
the shock severe
we little thought the end was near.
and only those who have lost can tell
the pain of heartache without farewell."

Thank you everyone for the quotes and links. I used several for the posterboards w/pictures we made for the funeral.

Also, thank you so much for the advice and condolences.

Does anyone have any quotes about losing a father so young? I'm only twenty, and feel so cheated....

KellyP87,
I have a personal note for you;
In healthy relationships people don't feel the need to hang onto the grief as a sign that they did love the person they have lost.
The love you shared will give you confidence and understanding, so that you can let go of the grief.
I wish you all the best in your life.
Good luck!

********
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st 'tis common.
All that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.
~William Shakespeare.
Hamlet (Act I, Scene 2)


When my father died, I moved into the space he left inside me and found out it was where I belonged.
~Farland Fish

"It's tough to do, but you've got to work at living, you know? Most people work at dying, but anybody can die; the easiest thing on this earth is to die. But to live takes guts; it takes energy, vitality, it takes thought. . . . We have so many negative influences out there that are pulling us down. . . . You've got to be strong to overcome these adversities . . . that's why I never stop."
~Jack LaLanne (American fitness, exercise and nutritional expert)

I have two judges and two only; the ten year old inside who told me never to stop dreaming and the dying man who told me never to stop living.
~Raphie Frank ( Business Artivist)


Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations
~George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

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Brevity is the soul of wit.
~William Shakespeare

im sorry that your dad died. mine died too. don't worry it will get better.

"Only lovers
see the fall
a signal end to endings
a gruffish gesture alerting
those who will not be alarmed
that we begin to stop
in order simply
to begin
again."

-Maya Angelou