Dear Dad, I hope you are happy and with Mom.  We gave you a great send off, I hope you were proud of what we did as we put a lot of love, thought and effort into making it a very special day.  I know you were there with to see it all, looking down from above.  I could just hear you saying "Come and see what they have done for me" - Everyone told us we had made you proud.  I do so wish they had telephones in Heaven, but at least from our pain of losing you is the greatness of what you have gained in finding Mom again after 20 years without her.  You were our strength, you were the one who made us always do the right thing.  You were a man of great principals and insisted we follow them all the days of our lives, but Dad, its so hard for us now without that strength to guide us, and I am afraid of what it happening.  All seven of us are falling apart, and we are having a hard time trying to carry on without you.  You were our guide and a man we had to reckon with.  Now there is no one to hold us all together and life without you seems so empty.  I will give you my word that I will do my best to keep the kids in that strong McKearney bond you created, this is my promise to you on the anniversary day of your death.

Love you always,

Susie