Flavio Landavazo August 8, 1924 - June 3, 2009
My dad died one year ago on June 3, 2009. Even though today is June 2, I feel my emotions, mind and spirit building up to this day 1 year ago. I remember very well this evening, sitting up all night next to his bed and holding his hand, listening to his breathing. My husband, a nurse attended to medications for pain and I will forever be grateful to him as he tirelessly made sure my father did not feel discomfort or pain, made sure my father was clean by tenderly washing him when needed and reassuring me constantly that my precious Papi was ok. I wrote the following and shared it at dad's Memorial Service:
Dad was about love. His 60 years plus of loving his wife Mary Jane, his daughters, Rozanna, Sharon and Jennifer, grandaughters Gianna and Felicia and her husband Doug, his son-in-laws Herb and Ernie, and his great-grandson Alonzo. And that is only the beginning of the list. He loved his brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins and their children. He loved his father-in-law John DiPaolo, rest in peace. Some of you that he loved dearly are here today and you know who you are.
Snuggling in Rozanna & Ernie's home
Lincoln City Oregon, one of their favorite coastal towns
Dad loved mom's cooking and was totally spoiled by his favorite meals prepared by her. She took care of him, ironed and selected his clothes to wear each day. He was her King and she was his Queen.
Dad singing a love song to mom
Dad loved golfing, bowling, music, walking, talking and was famous for his stories about his life and experiences. He loved tinkering on his cars and was a mechanic. Dad loved looking for parts for his somewhat vintage cars and did not buy a new car until 2003. Dad loved to play and tease folks and had quite a sense of humor. Dad loved dancing with his wife Mary Jane. They were like Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers. Anyone who had the good fortune to witness those two dance would never forget it. Dad loved going to Reno with mama. They tell the story of how one of them would wake up late at night and decide they needed to go to Reno and away they would go.
Cloverleaf Family Bowling Team
Dad had a very special love for his brother Paul, who is now the only surviving son out of 9 children. They have lived in the same community of Fremont for several decades now. Dad lived a life of loving and he passed away surrounded by love. It was an honor for all of his "4 women" and his "2 good son-in-laws" as he called us all to take care of and love him at this time.
Dad and Uncle Paul 2007
United States Air Force 
Dad in his Bomber suit, 18 years old
Dad served in WWII in the 5th Air Force, Jolly Rogers, 90th Bomb group, 400th Squadron referred to as the Black Pirates. He was a Flight Engineer on the B-24 Liberator plane and flew over 50 missions between 1942-1945. He received 4 Air Medals, a Phillipine Liberation Medal, an Asiatic Pacific campaign medal and 5 battle stars. After retiring from 25 years of Air Force service which included stations in Saudia Arabia, Okinawa, Florida, Alaska, and California; he retired in Fremont, CA in the early 1970's.
Flavio was a man of honor and integrity and was respectful, caring and patient with others. He loved his life and loved living and he did not complain....except about food not cooked by mom! We all enjoyed watching Flavio and Mary Jane love each other, always flirting, always giving each other "goo goo" eyes as mom called them. Flavio's only teasing toward Mary Jane was that if she did not "behave" he would take the check book away from her and then they would laugh and laugh.
Even though dad's body grew older and sicker, his spirit did not. Thank you Papi for all the love, caring, and understanding you gave to me in your life, rest in peace; we will carry your love in our hearts forever.
Buried at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetary September 25, 2010
A special thank you to all of the staff at Fremont Hills assisted living for the over the top support you gave to my parents and family and of course to Odessey Hospice for your guidance and support.
What a loving tribute. I always enjoyed his company and his teasing. He is the only man who got me to play a game of golf. I love the intro photo of Flavio, that is how I remember him. My thoughts are with you this day, I have been there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful! You have done a spectacular job putting this together. Papa loves this!
ReplyDeleteI have forwarded this to Mary who had papa on the prayer chain in Minneapolis and Flea and Doug.
This is a wonderful tribute to his life.
Thank you
Roz- Seeing the photos and learning of your Dad's background helped me to further understand your and Ernie's dedication to him. You are a fine dtr, so loving. You being at his side as he moved on from that ol' body was a goodbye-for-now gift. If we could all be so lucky when our time came.
ReplyDeleteI saw your sadness, I saw your relief that he was finally freed from his suffering. I listened as you explained the experience of feeling the last breath exhaled from his withered body. I cried with you. But Rozanna, I will never know what it is like to loose a lifelong relationship with a man that I belonged to. I cannot imagine the whole left in your life, that I am sure is still as mammoth as it was last year.
You have walked many through this kind of loss and along the way you have learned that even in loss there is joy. Hope. There will be a day when your Mom and he will dance again. Roz, you are spiritually sensitive (as well as quietly receptive) and it is my guess that you 'feel' your Dad's presence from time to time.