We closed his eyes. Aaron kissed his forehead. Mom held his hand. Aaron folded Dad's hands across his chest and placed a lit candle between them. This morning we bathed him in lavender oil and his body was taken. His spirit was already free.
Flying, soaring. Over the mountains of Glacier National Park, through the arches and above the timeless rivers that wind through the Canyon Lands, he sat on the boulders on Old Rag, he flew through the sparkling lights of Paris at night, he sat in the light of stained glass windows at Chartres Cathedral, raced a train carrying cargo through the tunnels of the Rockies, he kissed you on your forehead, a goodnight/good morning/good afternoon/good life kiss, you are blessed. We are blessed to have had such an extraordinary man as our father, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, best friend, loyal companion, strong partner, and love-filled soul mate.
He was with us then and is with us now and always. Watch for his guidance. Delight in life, the way he always did.
We miss him terribly, but we are strong. We are reminiscing, adjusting, praying, loving, and we will work on healing. At this time, we do not have anything planned for a memorial service, we will let everyone know when we have some of the details. What we would like most at this time is your prayer and emails/blog posts are great. Answering if the phone is not as easy for us yet.
We love you all terribly. Thank you for your support through life and through this experience.
We have included a poem written by Shanna and other notes from us below. Please feel free to add to it.
Our Love - the Petties
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Thank you, Katherine, for this beautiful posting. Sending healing love and prayers to all. Know we are here when needed.
ReplyDeleteThis world has lost a shining light and the void will be felt for a very long time but the memory of this beautiful soul will last forever.
Love,
Mike and Taffy
Thank you, David, for so generously providing an example of an examined life that was wonderfully lived. Those of us privileged to have shared it in some part will always be grateful.
ReplyDeleteI love you today and always.
Shanna, Katherine, Aaron and Seth and all our extended family - you are loved and are not grieving alone.
Lauryn
Flying, soaring -- may your hearts find the strength to do the same. Our prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to all of you on your tremendous loss. What a wonderful life David led, and how much light and love he spread. I know the example he modeled of living a truly good life will continue to shine for many people.
ReplyDeletelove,
--Carolyn
Pettie family,
ReplyDeleteYour words shine with the light of love.
thanks for being my family, including us in many of your adventures, even this one. This sacred adventure touching the eternal and mortality. I pray that you will each feel those strong supportive arms of your community around you now.
heavenly aloha David,
love,
Tarey
Even those of us who've taken paths that led far from your lives feel this loss and send our love to you. Reading these blogs, the caring and love you have for each other blazes like a sun across the miles, and I am grateful that you have that support in your grieving. The deeply intertwined histories of our families bring memories of David in so many tapestries...as we say in our tradition, may you be comforted along with all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
ReplyDeletelove, Linda Beltz Glaser
David was a beacon of light in our lives when we knew him, and in our memories of him, and in our hearts always. Those of you who were closest to him were most fortunate.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing, on this blog, the ups and downs of the long final journey of this wonderful, remarkable man. It helped us appreciate the strong, caring, supportive family/community that you have created.
May his memory be a blessing.
Simon and Rosie Aronin
To the Pettie Family,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, your words are truly a gift to all of us who feel this loss.
You are amazing and courageous. It is a brave thing to love deeply.
David is love, and love is neverending. It goes on in large and small ways, and colors our lives forever. It wraps around us and whispers always to us of the blessing of being loved. Love is the place we come back to...after all the other emotions go by.
David, our lives will always be blessed by the many ways you have touched all of ours.
Love, Sara, Tim, Emi and Josh
My love goes to you all.
ReplyDeleteWe miss him so much. These three blog posts are so beautiful, touching and funny. Reading them made us smile, laugh and remember. I especially like the image of Seth dancing in Hello Dolly. I've requested a reenactment. He refused, but I'll wear him down.
ReplyDeleteDear wonderful lovely strong brave gracious Pettie family; Shanna, Katheryn, Aaron, and Seth,
ReplyDeleteWe are in awe of each of you during this time of
grieving for Dave and his spirit. Dave is a fantastic father, brother, leader. Who by his life has been such a positive light force in our world. There are only fond memories of sharing such great times with Dave and our families
I vividly recall a loving and fun courtship with Shanna and Dave dancing and living every moment with such joy. Then their wedding in Papa and Lumi's back yard with Uncle Cy (founder of Lisle) leading their union. Dave had such a huge seemingly permanent smile and such loving eyes for
Shanna. Your marriage was the ultimate
example of love in action. There was Seth who has always been such a bright light who loved playing in the outdoors and had so many insightful questions that Dave loved to answer.
Katheryn and then Aaron ce into the light of the petttie family and now they are such wonderful young and mature adults who emulate the life that Dave (and Shanna) have taught them to live..
What a great loving family.
May God continue to Bless all of you!
Love from Ron and the Binkleys
We friends who are more on the periphery of your life now are so grateful for your generous, gracious, beautiful poems and sharing of your passage through this difficult and moving time. We thank you and send so much love to the whole wonderful family. We will miss that beautiful man. Love from Helene (and Paul) Rippey
ReplyDeleteOne week since your call. Dear Aaron, I wish you courage in your healing.
ReplyDeleteBeing the person that I am, I have been asking: Why does it seem like such a particular loss for the world to lose this man? How did David come to be such an embodiment of Love? I think the answer lies in his lists, and thank you Katheryn for posting his values and lessons.
Your poem, Shanna, is a gift to all of us. I've read it over and over. The world indeed was your dance floor.
I feel so extremely grateful for David’s reaching out to me over the years, until I accepted that we could always be family. His generosity was magnificent.
Dearest Aaron, Katheryn and Seth.
ReplyDeleteI am so honored to know you. I have watched you over these many years grow into the amazing and wonderful people you are. Your father David has always been one of my favorite people in the world. I can see the many things I always admired in him shining through all of you! These blessings will go forward in you to make the world a more hopeful place. Thank you so much.
Love, Sara
Celebrating David today, which would of been his 61st birthday. How the Angels must be rejoicing to have this beautiful soul back in the Heavenly Choir!
ReplyDeleteI can see his smiling face and hear his happy whistling tune as I type.....
Much love to you, Pettie Family,
Taffy
I am humbled to hear about the family's honoring of Davids departure. It must be so hard to accept and to be with the absence of David.
ReplyDeleteI have just learned that my father has terminal cancer of the liver. I hope I can resist the urge to focus on the disease rather than on being present and connecting with my father.