(Cross-posted from LiveJournal)

This evening, my father passed away. In front of my and the rest of the family's eyes.

For nearly the past two years, my father has been fighting Stage IIIa Lung Cancer. During most of that time, he'd undergone radiation therapy and about seven different courses of various kinds of chemotherapy. While the cancer never metastasized, the tumor's very presence compromised his system to a point where he simply couldn't continue any longer. For the 24 hours leading up to his death, he declined rapidly, laboring very hard to breathe. Today, [info]artemis1 and I came to visit, and with the rest of the "core family" (me, Artemis, Mom, my brother, and his wife), we held him in his final moments. It was the best way that we could "see him off".

Later in the evening, the hospice nurse and coroner came by. The nurse heard how we witnessed his passing, and commented on what a beautiful memory it will be. She is right. I think that more than anything, she was relieved to walk into a household in which the the family of the deceased was neither arguing nor wailing in grief.

Today, we start making arrangements for the funeral. Dad rarely wore suits, so I'm donating one of mine for him. For as many times as he "gave the shirt off his back" for us, it's fitting that I return the favor.

Thanks to all of your for your friendship and support during his chapter in our lives.