Why this site is here...

On Thanksgiving, November 28, 2013, at 6:10 am, Raymond Robert Allen, born on May 1, 1944, in Milford, CT, passed away in his sleep. The cause of death was listed as a bowel obstruction, as a result of gastric cancer. The gastric cancer had spread from his stomach to his liver. He was diagnosed as terminal 11 days earlier. He was asleep when he passed and was in no pain. He was 69 years old.

Why of this of any importance? The answer is simple.

He was my father.

Its now a month and a half later, January 9th, 2014. Some time has passed. And I'm able now to think and discuss things without breaking down. For the most part anyways. I still do, for time to time, but I recognize that this is just part of the grieving progress, and I don't fight it anymore, like I was a few weeks ago.

This blog will first go back to the day Dad died, to what was happening and what we were feeling those first few hours, and days, and weeks after, until we get up to date. Once we do get up to date, it will be about the probate process, until the estate is finished.

Dramatis Persona:

(In no particular order)
(I won't use any last names except my own family's)

Dad - Raymond R. Allen
Mom - Mary L. Allen, passed February 3, 2010
Me/Bob - Robert G. Allen, oldest child of Raymond and Mary, 48 years old
Mary/Marsi - Mary A. (Forth)Allen, wife of Bob, 46 years old
Fred - Frederick D. Allen Sr. youngest son of Raymond and Mar,y 46 years old
Dee/Diana - Diana (Kamper) Allen, Fred's wife, separated, 46 years old
Freddy - Frederick Allen Jr., son of Fed and Diana, 21 years old.
Ari - Arian M. Allen, daughter of Fred and Diana, 16 years old
Bobby - Robert W., "one of the kids" adopted (but not legally) son, 49 years old
Nuala - Nuala W., 'one of the kids" adopted (but not legally) daughter, 32 years old
Aunt Marion - Marion M., Raymond's older sister, 74 years old
Pam - Pamela M., Marion's daughter  51 years old
Arian - Arian P. adopted sister of Diana, Godmother of Ari, 46 years old
Aunt Pat - Patricia G. sister of Mom and Godmother of Bob, 67 years old
Uncle Jack - John G. Sr. brother in law of Mom and Godfather of Bob, 67 years old
Marie - Marie L. S.O. of Fred, 53 years old.