Peter Gorey: 1935-2008
Dad passed away last night about 11.40pm. It was a merciful end to a painful illness — one which had worsened greatly over the past fortnight.
I’ll be giving one of the eulogies at Dad’s funeral on Tuesday, and will compose my thoughts better over the next few days.
I think of Dad as belonging to a different era, with a different set of values.
He was born into a poor rural family during the Depression (the youngest of 12 children) and lived through the Second World War.
His family home was burnt down by bushfire when he was four years old and his brother Michael was killed. The photo on the left shows him walking away from the relief depot with a pair of boots much too big for him.
Dad picked potatoes and worked in sawmills. He never had the chance at education he wanted, and always instilled the value of education into my sister and I.
He was very conservative with money, worked hard all his life and was always honest.
Dad was stubborn. He clung to a belief in communism even after the Berlin Wall collapsed. We argued about politics and to a lesser extent religion, but ultimately learnt to respect each other’s views.
It’s a shame he had to endure cancer. He was enjoying retirement and had a paternal role in the extended family.
Cancer is a terrible thing. Dad is thankfully now at peace.
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My condolences Michael. I never know what to say at these times. Hug?
Michael,
I am very sorry for your loss. Like Sue, I never know what to say during times like these.
When I saw the title in my reader it hit me like a punch.
My thoughts are with you,
Delmer
I too am very sorry to hear about your father’s death. Alastair and my thoughts are with you.
Carlene
Thank you all. It hasn’t felt quite real the last couple of days.
Because I have just started a new job I can’t take time off work, except to attend the funeral.
I get absorbed in what I do, but something will happen to jolt me back.