This has been a hard year without our beloved Denis. He was a dearly loved husband, an adored father, a cherished grandfather, a much loved brother and uncle and a good friend to many. The void his loss created will never be filled.

On the one year anniversary of his death I wish to acknowledge, with immense gratitude, the outpouring of love that was shown to our family on his loss. The Mass Cards, flowers, letters, texts, phone calls and prayers, were all received with such grateful appreciation and they all helped considerably during that painful time. My family and I will never forget how every one of you made us feel with your kind words and prayers and gifts and meal trains. We will never forget your generosity of spirit, We thank you for attending his Funeral Mass and we remember how you joined with us on the live stream of that Mass and how your presence, either live or virtual, gave us a comfort and a sense of togetherness so necessary at a time like that. 

Thank you to Denis' family, and my family for their help and support over this past year.  The distance between us is vast but our love keeps us close. 

To my best friend Roy O’ Brien, who is more family then a friend, and has been now for almost 40 years. Without a doubt you were the rock that held myself and my family together through the hardest days and nights of Denis'  passing. You were by his bedside right up until the end and you have been by our side ever since. You are the epitome of true friendship and my girls and I were blessed to have you to lean on through the hardest of days. Thank you for everything. Thank you also to my niece Paula. Your support and never ending humor were so necessary for us and helped us tremendously in the darkest of times. You have been by our side ever since ready to do whatever is needed of you and we thank you.  And to Alex, Ryan, Noelle, Fiona, and Renee, our closest family and friends, your support those first few weeks was never wavering and it will always be remembered.

Denis was blessed with the care he received from the nurses and staff at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach. We will forever be grateful for your kindness to Denis and to us all in his final hours. 

To his good friends in the Knights of Columbus, thank you for coming to say a fond farewell to him in his last few hours and for being a dear friend of his right to the very end.  Thank you for the very prestigious Color Guard at his Funeral Mass  Denis was a proud member of the KOC family and I know he was truly happy to get such an honorable send off.

We were blessed with Harbor Lawn Mortuary - we knew we had picked the right people when they called and said 'we now have dad in our care' the day they picked him up from the hospital. They never referred to him as anything other than our precious Denis. Their kindness and help extended to December when we decided to place some of Denis in Ireland. They helped us with everything we needed.  We will be forever grateful to them 

Finally to our dear priests of St John the Baptist Catholic Church  - a very sincere thank you. Thank you Fr. Augustine for the beautiful Funeral Mass. Thank you Fr. Brendan for visiting him and giving him his last rites, and for the beautiful graveside ceremony. Thank you Fr. Andrew, Fr. Godfrey and Fr Brendan for attending his Funeral Mass. Fr. Damien we know you were not there in person but we received your prayers and know you were with us in spirit. Denis loved you all and as you well know he would do anything you asked of him.  He did it with love for his God and our Norbertine community. 

I have a Mass being said for all your special intentions in sincere and grateful acknowledgement of your kindness to Denis and his family.

There will be an Anniversary Mass celebrated by Fr Brendan Hankins O.Praen at St John The Baptist Catholic Church, 1015 Baker St, Costa Mesa, on Friday June 10th, at 7:30pm  All are welcome.  

There will also be an Anniversary Mass at The South Parish Church in Cork on Saturday, June 11th, at 6pm.

May God bless you all always agus go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. 
 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.