A FOND REFLECTION IN MEMORY OF MY DAD

My Dad: Mr. Shakir Hussein, born in the village of Baggotstown, Guyana, on August 8, 1921, to a very poor family and the last boy child of a family of 13 children. Who was my Dad? He was a man of Pride, Integrity, Passion, Honesty, Leadership, and was well respected and worshiped not only by his loving wife of 35 years, Rosie, his six children, Shameer, Bibi, Rasheed, Raffeek, Raheem and Nazeem, but by every single living sole that happened to have had the opportunity to know him.

Dad left us all to mourn for him at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at the St. Vincent Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada after a brief three-months illness. As many relatives, friends and colleagues joined us on Friday, December 2, 2005 at the McEvoy Shields Funeral Home in Ottawa to say “Farewell” to Dad, I held my head very high and was proud to say I am Shakir’s daughter. My four brothers and I were proud of our Dad, his achievements and his never ending love for us. He made us all proud to be his children.

As a young girl growing up, I saw my Dad as a very Tall, somewhat strict, Businessman, Leader, Provider and a person who took a great pride in his presentation. Dad had a great sense of humour which was not often shown but often heard! Dad’s passion for life and comfort for his family made him work many long hours 365 days a year, never once complaining of the hardship he endured to secure a warm, comfort and very fulfilled home for his family – he would have gone to the end of the world for his family. When we lost our beloved Mom, Rosie, on January 18, 1981, my Dad’s world changed forever. They grew up together, overcame all the hardships they faced as a young married couple, and as life was becoming a bit easier for them, Mom said Goodbye. Dad became both Mom and Dad to each of us, he always had time to listen to us and offer his advice. Even at the young age of 84, he still had the capability and energy to do all our clothing alterations – one of the many traits with which he was gifted.

As I watched my Dad, a strong and vibrant man slowly gave in to the pains caused by the constant fluid build up in his lungs, as he slowly lost the ability to use his legs and his ability to do things for himself, my heart ached for him, I felt helpless. Dad was a man of pride and always wanted to do things for himself and not to be a burden on anyone. On his 84th birthday (August 8, 2005), I visited with him, he was still a strong man, enjoying life, I did not realize that three and a half months later I would say a final goodbye to my wonderful Father.

May God grant him peace and give his soul a resting place, for he always had everyone else’s interest at heart and would give his last dime to anyone who needed it.

The moment that you died, my heart split in two, the one side filled with memories, the other died with you. I often lay awake at night and take a walk down memory lane with tears upon my cheeks. Remembering you is easy, I do it everyday, but missing you is a heartache that never goes away.

Dad, we will all miss you, you have left us with precious memories of the times we shared, these are the memories that will help us to face each day without you.

We love you Dad,
From your six loving children and in-laws, Sam (Chandra), Bibi (Ken), Rasheed, Raffeek (Chandra), Raheem (Valerie) and Nazeem (Narima),

And from your loving Grandchildren: Fazil, Anil, Shamiza, Nadia, Waheeda, Sherri, Alia, Andy, Sadia, Chris, Tony and Billy

(This is a poem written by Sadia to me, in rememberance of her Grandpa)

To my mother;

my only, and every, thing in the world.
For her father;
the first and greatest man in her world.

Father, leader, sculptor, and teacher.
Profound protector, prophet, and preacher.

To me,
an invincible Lord on a throne
inconceivable of weakness
carved carefully in stone.
To see,
that he was mere flesh and bone
descending into darkness,
lifting from life, alone.

For we,
witnessed the end of his days.
For now,
beside his true love, he lays.
For us,
left to beg of his pardon.
For he, now walks in the Garden.

I love you mommy

from Sadia

I Would Have Told You

Dad, I touched your cheek one last time,
and silently cried, "good-bye”

You lay so still, not saying a word
and the glint gone from your eye

I understand how hard it was
for you to say how you felt

So many words were left unsaid,
yet there was much we shared

A father's love transcends all time,
you are not really goneI have your memory
locked inside my heart just like a song

Oh, that I would have known
how soon You'd leave this life you had

I would have told you every minute
how much I love you, Dad

He was my Dad, my Hero, my Mentor