Irish Blessing

 

Below is the speech I gave at my grandpa's funeral last week.  This is something I've always wanted to do for someone who has passed, and I'm so proud of myself for having the courage to honor my grandpa's life in a way that (I was told) really touched so many people <3

 

When I was getting ready to write this speech honoring my gpa...one word kept coming to me over + over again; one word that described him perfectly. And while it may not be earthshattering to most, it’s still true. MY GPA WAS FUNNY! …(And ornery)…but mostly funny. I hope to capture some of that humor with the highlights of his life I share today.

 

• My grandpa grew up in a small town in Iowa (Ackley)…which when I was younger, I could have sworn it was hours and hours away from Perry…but come to find out the trip only seemed that way when my grandma or grandpa drove us J (Unlike me, they like to follow speed limits).
 
• I know that my grandpa grew up on a farm…or near a farm; or maybe he was in a farming family…? (I honestly never caught the full details because if you don’t know, my gma and gpa have a tendency when telling stories to argue or bicker about the smallest details that usually don’t pertain to the overall plotline…for example, someone’s maiden name, or the street that person grew up on). Either way, he would tell me stories about "farm life," like drinking milk straight from the cow, or something his siblings, dad, or maybe his grandpa did.
 

• One of the earliest stories he shared with us cousins growing up (other than his pride of being 100% ‘pure’ Irish) was when as a kid, his entire family was featured on the front page of Ackley’s newspaper…being the very first family in town to get a TV…big stuff…& his desire to always have the newest gadgets continued throughout his entire life…although, I’m pretty sure he was the only household in the year 2020 that still used AOL dial up.


• He loved most sports - but especially football (which he played in high school and loved to show off his old helmet). Gpa was also an avid basketball and soccer fan (he and my grandma would drive all over the Midwest to watch my cousins play). And while I haven’t seen him watch this recently, growing up on Sundays he was infamous for falling asleep in his recliner watching Nascar….(most likely in his underwear)….but when grandma or I would try and change the channel he would miraculously wake up…
 

• One of my favorite photos of my grandpa was him in high school with thick square rimmed glasses…and you best believe he prided his resemblance to Buddy Holly, which is probably what attracted my grandma to him in the first place.
 

• Speaking of my grandma - anyone know how they met? On a double date……yep….my grandma and grandpa were on dates with two OTHER PEOPLE…and apparently the rest is history. I don’t know much of their dating life except that my grandpa would joke that he became popular dating an "older woman" who was also from out of town. Apparently to my gma’s Iowa Falls friends they described my gpa as "one of those Ackley boys."


• Obviously, before he would become "Grandpa," "Papa," or Eli’s "Papa-Great," he was first a dad to my Aunt Becky and mom Paula. All I know from this time was that Becky was a really mean older sister, and convinced my mom that she was adopted because of her red hair. But being the sweet guys he was, in her defense, my grandpa grew out his beard (which happened to also be red) to prove that her that she really was an O’Hare.
 

• My mom also shared with me that my grandparents used to be "partiers" back in the day….surprise to me J The prankster my gpa was, he once invited a bunch of friends over for a quote "pool party…." Only come to find out, the O’Hare’s didn’t have and NEVER would have a pool…but instead, they find my grandpa in swim trunks….sitting in and filling up an entire kiddie pool…with sunglasses on, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. If you went to the visitation there was photo evidence of this.
 

• Grandma and grandpa O were active in St. Pat’s variety shows back in the 70’s/80’s. To my surprise growing up, I learned that My grandpa was even in a barbershop quartet!! And not only that, my tall, large framed gpa was the person who sang the HIGH NOTES! (I don’t sing, I don’t know what they’re called). And somewhere in our photo albums, there’s evidence of him doing the splits at a party and being unable to get up.


• I’m sure I could continue on and on with more funny stories, but….we’ll fast forward to 1989/1990 - which is when I like to think he really started loving life even more. If you haven’t guessed it yet, this is when he finally became a grandpa…first with Kirsten, then me…followed by Justin, Breanna, and Trevor…and in the years to come our families would grow and now we have Madison which he considered one of his grandkids. And finally our spouses - Dee, Shane, Charlsee…to all of them he was and IS considered grandpa.
 

• If you know me or my family, you know that my Grandpa, or "Papa" and I were close. He was my main male role model growing up, really like a father figure. We were so close in fact, that my mom and I literally lived 2 houses down from my grandparents on Marengo Drive most of my childhood. The neighbors that lived between our houses were even so kind that in the winter, they would shovel snow through their yard so I could easily get to my grandparents’ house (because apparently walking the extra few feet to the street was out of the question for young Abbie).
 

• It was so hard to compile every great memory with us cousins, but here’s a few:
 

• Grandpa always acted like one of us kids, whether it was blowing bubbles at family gatherings (an O’Hare tradition), pulling us in a wagon, letting us fight over who could ride one of his "cool" bicycles, letting us ride his John Deere tractor with him…or what he liked to call "exercise…"
 

• There was one rare occasion when he alone was babysitting me because mom and grandma were out…and I accidentally sliced my finger open when cutting an apple. When my 8-10 yo self asked him what to do, his response was fainting…and that was the moment I realized he was scared of blood.
 

• He had a crab apple tree in his backyard, and for as long as I can remember he called it his "Crabby Abbie" tree…which I’ve only just recently learned are NOT poisonous, he just told me that so I wouldn’t eat them.
 

• Speaking of food…my grandpa really loved to eat J Even though he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in his 50’s, that didn’t stop him from creating some really hilarious food-related memories:


 

• Eating an entire watermelon and calling it "1 fruit"
 

• Making homemade scones for our dog Blue, and justifying because "Blueberry wanted them."
 

• Bringing desserts to his doctors/nurses when he would go to the hospital, and also joking/flirting with any of the young ladies
 

• Convincing my grandma to go to the grocery store to buy ice cream because "That would really go well with this apple crisp." And once my gma returned from the store finding the apple crisp completely eaten in its entirety…
 

• Yes my gpa was a funny man, but as we all know and can see, he was also loving, kind, family-oriented, a dog-lover, friendly, silly….he loved watching home improvement shows, spending a very long time in Menards…and his idea of fashion sense included wearing socks with Crocs.…But all jokes aside, he would help anyone in time of need, no questions asked. Maybe you needed yard work done, someone to mow the lawn, a woodworking project, an usher at church, gardening tips, a car when yours breaks down (that was me J )…. Or maybe just a chat. My grandparents were always known to put others’ needs before their own, no questions asked.
 

• He may have told me my freshman yearbook photo looked like I had a bad hair day…but I still love my grandpa very much. Anytime he’d see me or any of us grandkids, he’d give us a big ol’ grin and shout "Hiya kiddo!"…Or when we would leave it was always "Love ya bud..." …And let’s not forget he could always change up a conversation with funny one liners in the background or his signature "ANNNNNYYYYWAYSSSS…." J My grandpa was a really great man, and knowing him, he’s probably looking down right now grinning and reveling at how well-liked he was by so many people. The other day my grandma told me "Your grandfather was the love of my life - and still is!" And while she also shared a joking memory of how she never considered divorce (but contemplated murder once or twice!)…it’s safe to say that I grew up with some really great role models for what a healthy marriage should look like.
 

• I’m so grateful for the time I had with him, and I know he especially loved being "Papa-Great" to Eli (that’s the noisy kid in the background). The other day I got Eli to say "Papa great is my guardian angel" and I know in my heart this is true. While he couldn’t travel to all the places he wanted in this life, I’m hoping now he’s taking in as much of Ireland as he wishes. I’m also at peace knowing he’s in good company - not only with family members, but all of his beloved animals.
 

• In true Irish spirit, I’ll finish with an Irish blessing:




"May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And until we meet again, may the lord hold you in the palm of his hand."