The Other Side of Heaven Page 11
How would one moment change your life? It would give me peace to know that I was able to say how much I miss him and how much I love him, even though he was not perfect. The only picture I have of him is his gravestone picture and his driver’s license.
What would you want to say: I love you. I never had the chance to say it as I was too young.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Priscilla Norris
Name of loved one: Edward Norris
Age: 64
Relationship: Father
How they died: Natural Causes
A little about the one who passed: He was a silent man. Didn’t say much and I didn’t ask.
How would one moment change your life? I would love to get to know you dad. Tell me everything please about your life so I can really know you.
What would you want to say: I love you Dad
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Cherye Elliott
Name of loved one: John Elliott
Age: 84
Relationship: Father
How they died: Accident
A little about the one who passed: My Dad. My role model. My business partner.
How would one moment change your life? If I listened to you more then I would know what to do in ‘man situations’. I would not only have balls, but maybe grow a penis in dealing with people in the man dominated industry I am working in. I would know how to deal with men who do not like women doing a better job than them.
What would you want to say: Why didn’t you force me to listen to you?
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Monica Orluk
Name of loved one: Frank Arcuri
Age: 70
Relationship: Father
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: Best father, Marine and role model ever. And he and my mom had the perfect love!
How would one moment change your life? I didn’t thank my father for his guidance and support. To be able to do this and to share all that’s transpired in my life since he passed would provide piece of mind and validate my life’s choices. To be able to say thank you, I love you and feel his arms around me one more time would have a profound impact on my life, and my relationships.
What would you want to say: Thank You!
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: JoJo G.
Name of loved one: Oscar M.
Age: 60
Relationship: Father
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: A hard working man who enjoyed a good dirty joke. Loved to fish.
How would one moment change your life? We weren’t told when he went to the hospital. We didn’t find out until he was in a medically induced coma. Never got to say goodbye. I would love to go fishing with my dad one last time. It was his favorite thing to do. I just want to see him smile again.
What would you want to say: I miss you so much
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Michael D.
Name of loved one: Ron D.
Age: 47
Relationship: Father
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: He was awesome. He showed me how a father should be and how a husband should treat his wife.
How would one moment change your life? It would help me bring closure to his death. I never cried at his funeral. I never felt I got to say goodbye to him
What would you want to say: I am sorry I let you down.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Amanda
Name of loved one: Alden
Age: 85
Relationship: Father
How they died: Natural Causes
A little about the one who passed: Drunk
How would one moment change your life? I would just like to have a moment with him sober. Like my siblings had. I am the youngest and didn’t get that like the others. My sister says I missed out on someone special
What would you want to say: Love you anyway
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Sherry
Name of loved one: Tommy
Age: 39
Relationship: Fiancé
How they died: Natural Causes
A little about the one who passed: He was convicted of murder and sent to death row...he spent almost 20 years there and was executed...this murder was so unlike him...everyone who knew him would agree he was not a violent person
How would one moment change your life? It would ease the guilt I felt all of these years.I left him in prison and moved on and it would answer questions about the murder that I’ve always had
What would you want to say: Even though I moved on with my life, I never stopped loving you and every man I met, I compared to you and none of them measured up...also I would like to know what happened that night of the murder.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Annika W.
Name of loved one: Sam S.
Age: 21
Relationship: Friend
How they died: Self Inflicted
A little about the one who passed: He was my very first friend in high school, we basically went through adolescence together and learned who we were together
How would one moment change your life? Sam died of a heroin overdose. I wish I would have been able to tell him to stay away from it. He had been in rehab for 8 months and came home for 2 days before he was going to move to Chicago, for law school. He decided to do it one last time, and he did not survive. I wish I could have kept him away from those bad influences for the 2 days he was here.
What would you want to say: It’s not worth it
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Shelley
Name of loved one: Stuart
Age: 17
Relationship: Friend
How they died: Accident
A little about the one who passed: He was a sweet, bright boy with such a wide open future ahead of him.
How would one moment change your life? I could perhaps find out if he felt the same way I did, that we were headed into a future together. It would allow me to answer all those what if questions that broke my heart.
What would you want to say: I miss you terribly. I miss the possibilities we had for a future together.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Beth
Name of loved one: Toni Jo
Age: 44
Relationship: Friend
How they died: Murdered
A little about the one who passed: She was killed by her husband, who then killed himself. It was a mutual decision supposedly because he was facing prison for acting out anger issues and being charged with assault. I believe she was brainwashed by this very angry and controlling man. Summarize the situation!
How would one moment change your life? Maybe I would still have my best friend. Or I could know for sure what was going on.
What would you want to say: I wish I had tried harder to convince you to leave him when I knew he had become abusive. I wish I had not let you distance yourself from me after that event.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Kayleigh
Name of loved one: Hugh
Age: 75
Relationship: Grandfather
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: A stoic Irishman, with a calming nature and a knack for telling stories
How would one moment change your life? I never got to say goodbye to my grandfather in person, and it’s something I have struggled with. I wish I could have had the chance to thank him for being my safe place, my partner in crime and the best role model I could have wished for. I miss him every day.
What would you want to say: He was dead set against me ever changing my surname if I ever married. I’d promise I never would.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Paul S.
Name
of loved one: Mr. James O.
Age: 65
Relationship: Grandfather
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: He was a jack of many trades and one of the smartest men I ever knew
How would one moment change your life? My grandfather was a steam fitter, but he was also an inventor, a painter, a boat builder, a World War II vet and a star gazer. I would love to take him flying and let him fly the aircraft, then ask him if he knew what a fight I had to get this far. If anyone in my family would understand. My own family doesn’t get it. But my grandpa would.
What would you want to say: Let’s go flying
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Julie Colegate
Name of loved one: Dorothy Wilcox
Age: 67
Relationship: Grandmother
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: The Solid foundation of our family. The Matriarch
How would one moment change your life? Nanna died after an illness that took her in bits from us. At the very end even when she couldn’t speak the determination inside her to give all of us some comfort stayed right until the end, even when all she could do is turn her head and squeeze my hand in support. Nanna was always the bedrock of our very large family and she fought to keep us all together through all the ups and downs that large families have. I know that her biggest worry was that if she was no longer there to keep us together we would eventually pick at the scabs of old wounds and fracture. I want her to know that we are all okay. We still have our arguments and our family is much more scattered these days but what she instilled in all of us is most definitely still there. In times of trouble we have each other no matter what has been said or done and that will never change. My resolution would be having the assurance that wherever nanna may be now, she will know that we love her and miss her but that she is able to rest in peace because we all have each other.
What would you want to say: Our lives have been better because you were always there for us.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Adrienne Scott
Name of loved one: Doris aka Memaw
Age: 76
Relationship: Grandmother
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: She was a beautiful soul who helped raise me while my mother worked. Growing up with her she passed on to me so much of her homesteading knowledge and loved me deeply. She had wonderful serenity and peace about her because of her faith in God. She lived her entire life in that quiet but strong manner and treasured me with her grace and love. Alzheimer’s took her away from me and from this world.
How would one moment change your life? Just to know that her faith had held after her dementia took her mind would be very comforting to me. To know she had found peace for eternity and seeing her at peace within would be a blessing to me.
What would you want to say: She died in her sleep and I did not get the chance to tell her how much I loved her and how thankful I was to have her in my life. I would tell her this and without any further words just be there with her cherishing our time together.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Vickyjo
Name of loved one: Eva
Age: 76
Relationship: Grandmother
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: Old fashioned hair brushing, making breakfast, sing bedtime grandmother.
How would one moment change your life? If she could have helped me at 16 my whole life would have been different. Now if I could talk to her maybe she could help me understand and put all of the pain behind me.
What would you want to say: I would ask her help, something I didn’t do when she was alive.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Rosemary Spiteri
Name of loved one: Connie Robinson
Age: 96
Relationship: Grandmother
How they died: Natural Causes
A little about the one who passed: My grandmother believed in me 100% my entire life. When my mother didn’t care and didn’t believe I would succeed and gain a university place, my grandmother was there, telling me she knew I could do it. From the time I was a tiny girl I spent every holiday with her. She took me on my first overseas trip when I was 11. She never lied to me, gave me advice (wanted or not) and supported me in everything I did. If it was not for her I would not own my own business - my grandma ran her own business until she was in her early 90’s. People still talk about how amazing she was. I still miss her every single day. I love her.
How would one moment change your life? I could never have enough time with her, but my mother would not allow me to attend the funeral, so I’d like to be able to say goodbye. Properly.
What would you want to say: Thank you. Thank you for being you and for everything you did.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Ann
Name of loved one: Dr Allen
Age: 62
Relationship: Husband
How they died: Accident
A little about the one who passed: He was one of those guys that you wanted to be a friend with. He was born in a tiny town in upstate Alabama, that was his good ole’ boy side but could answer every question on Jeopardy. Just ask any of the ‘ole timers’ that would be at the bar with him. I will say he was the most intelligent man I have ever known.
How would one moment change your life? Of course he died before telling me where he hid the money. It was a big scandal just when so many boats were transporting drugs via most any kind of boat that would float from South Florida or Cuba. If he had told me I would most likely be living in the south of France, along with any of our family that would so desire.
What would you want to say: Where did you bury the 2 million?
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Jeanne
Name of loved one: Clay
Age: 58
Relationship: Husband
How they died: Self Inflicted
A little about the one who passed: My best friend, my gut check guy, husband, father of two and Papa of four
How would one moment change your life? One more moment would have been enough to reassure him that we all loved him, it wasn’t necessary for him to go. But, if he would have gone anyway, one more moment to tell him I loved him enough to want him to be safe and at peace. Please stay, but if you have to go, I understand.
What would you want to say: I understand. I hope you are ok now, and finally happy. I can carry the load, but I still want you back!
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Hazel
Name of loved one: William
Age: 84
Relationship: Husband
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: World War II Veteran, middle-class, working man, country sense of humor.
How would one moment change your life? We parted many years before his death, and I believe he thinks I stopped loving him, but I never did. I want him to know this.
What would you want to say: I never stopped loving you.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Thelma
Name of loved one: Bob
Age: 63
Relationship: Husband
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: He was the love of my life, the most wonderful man.
How would one moment change your life? Ease the burden of guilt for now, being more aware of what was really going on with his health.
What would you want to say: Sorry I left you all alone at the hospital, sorry I didn’t realize how sick you really were before it was too late.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Gina
Name of loved one: Jim
Age: 64
Relationship: Husband
How they died: Sickness
A
little about the one who passed: We were married for 33 years. We have 3 children, now adults. When their dad passed, they were 21, 19 and 17 years old. He was ill for a long time, but the end still came unexpectedly and quickly. We all miss him terribly, but we keep his memory alive, especially around holiday seasons.
How would one moment change your life? My husband has a grandson he hasn’t met. One more moment to spend a little time with him, for him to meet his grandson. To see our daughter again. She’s a really great mom! And one more moment to spend with our sons. Our whole family together, with our new grandson, for one more moment. (I would love to share a photo, but I don’t have one here on my Kindle.)
What would you want to say: I love you. I miss you. We all do, very much. It’s lonely, different, without you in my life. I wish you were here.
OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN SURVEY
Name: Sheila Murray
Name of loved one: May Murray
Age: 59
Relationship: Mother
How they died: Sickness
A little about the one who passed: Mom had been ill for years. As long as I can remember she would do anything for you. She was kind, understanding, funny, caring and I still miss her even though she’s been gone for 30years. She saw my daughter but never got to see my son
How would one moment change your life? Just to see her and hold her would make me so happy. To know she is watching over us, it would mean so much to me.