Shortly after I met Todd, we were on our way to a Bon Jovi concert when Todd got a call from his mom that his dad would receive a new liver that night. I hadn't even known that his dad was a transplant patient until then (we had known each other for just a few weeks). Right then, I saw just how important his dad was to him. It wasn't long before his dad was recovering and Todd's parents moved in with him. As soon as I met his parents, I could tell there was something very special about their family. Todd had the utmost respect for them, and they for him as well. The lived under the same roof for an entire summer without a single conflict. (If you are used to a family like mine, you know how rare that actually is!) During that time, I had the pleasure of getting to know Chuck and Kathy, two of the most devoted parents you will ever meet.
I am so glad that Chuck was able to witness us getting married, having children, and owning our own home. He has always been so supportive of Todd, and of our relationship, and was a wonderful grandfather to all three of our girls, as well as his three grandchildren from Todd's sister, Paige.
When Todd and I got married, I gave Chuck and Kathy a poem about how grateful I was to them for raising such a wonderful man. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to actually sit down with Chuck and tell him just how thankful I was to him for being such a good role model. I truly believe his memory will live on for so many reasons, but most improtantly for me, because MY children will benefit from the kind of dad he was to Todd. Todd is a loving, devoted, generous father who puts his kids before anything. I know he got that from his dad. Thank you Chuck for raising my husband to be the man of my dreams, the father of my children that I've always hoped for. You raised the most amazing man I've ever known....one with integrity, high morals, devotion to God, and more love in his heart than most people will ever know.
You will forever be missed, but never forgotten!!! We love you Papa!
