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Meg posted a symbolic gesture
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
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Dad... I found a feather yesterday outside of Cory's house. Something told me that it was you being near. It came on the heels of a very vivid dream previously that morning. Thank you for still showing up for us. Thinking about you a lot this time of year - between Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and our day Christmas. Life hasn't been the same since you left, and it's only gotten weirder and even more not the same since. But we are all here, keeping on and missing you so much.
I love you.
M
Meg posted a symbolic gesture
Thursday, January 31, 2019
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Every time I see one, I know you are near. I hear you in the trees during a warm summer breeze and I feel you with me on the coldest nights.
M
Meg lit a candle
Thursday, January 31, 2019
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Meg posted a condolence
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Oh dad, so much has happened since you left us. I wish I could pick up the phone and call you. I know you'd help me make sense of everything. Our talks were the best. Missing you a lot...I cannot believe it's been almost 11 years. I still miss you every day.
R
Rose Herczeg uploaded photo(s)
Monday, May 2, 2016
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Meg posted a condolence
Friday, December 26, 2008
Merry Christmas Dad! This year was definitely not the same without you. I will never forget how you made our house into a home for those years we got to spend Christmas with you.
Mom gave me something very special this year. She gave me a beautiful locket...and inside, 2 pictures of people nearest and dearest to my heart...you and Brad. I wore it all day, while I opened my presents, made dinner, ate dinner. You were there with me, I know...but I still missed your presence. I'm told these holidays will become easier with time, and I hope they do because my heart aches when I remember I won't get to give you the perfect present again or feed you an amazing holiday dinner again. Brad has been great. He gives me big hugs when I'm down just like the ones you used to give me and he has made this year so much more "dealable" for me than it could have been.
You have been in my thoughts every day, many times a day. Sometimes I smile and laugh about something we did or a time we had and tell Brad about something stupid we did. Sometimes I cry because I miss you so much. You were called home much earlier than I expected, but I know you're not hurting or in pain anymore.
I miss you Dad, and I don't think I'm ever gonna stop missing you. Merry Christmas again.
Love,
Meg
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Meg posted a condolence
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Dad, it's been almost 9 months since you moved on, but I still miss you so much. I think about you every day and I miss you more every day.
I love you so much.
R
Rose posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Dear Dad,
Wow, time flies when you’re feeling like crap. NOT! These have been the longest 2 weeks of my life... I know your box of pictures and things are going to show up this week and I’m just not prepared to open it yet... it’s too early. I still go for the phone to call you, or look for your name to come up in my email. I don’t even use AIM anymore, you were my one and only AIMer that was faithful enough to keep me up to date nearly daily. What do I do without you in my life? I know I have to go on, but you really always had something to talk about that would spark an interest, spur me on to do something fun, or to give me new ideas. I miss our talks about current events, our laughs over some of the stupid things people do in the media, the way that you would always just blow stuff off like it was no big deal. I wish so much I could be like you. I wish you were still here to say all the things you used to say, telling me about Tommy and the dumb things he did during the day, to update me about your appointments or to tell me that you fell asleep in the chair again. Most of all I wish you were back and totally healthy, without a care in the world, having fun and doing all the things you always wanted to do but never had the time or the money. I’d lend you heaps so you could do it. I miss you so much... and I am grateful for time we had before you had to leave. I know life will never EVER be the same without you. And I will try hard to carry on in my art as you would have wanted me to, pushing on to be better and not give up. You were even talking about me getting my own gallery! I didn’t think I was nearly as good as you made me sound. But you were so proud and shared my website with all your friends and the Bible group. I know so many of us are missing you, but I also know that there is a reason why you are up in Heaven. God must have needed someone who could really tell the others what religion was all about. You were the expert! ;) They are the lucky ones like you, to not have any more pain or tears, no heartbreak or worries. Help take away some of mine, Dad, and put in a good word for all of us up there. It’s not getting any easier down here.
Still missing you, and Dad... does it ever get easier? See you in my dreams. Say hi to Mom for me...and of course the rest of our relatives that you are now lucky to be surrounded with. Have a great party up there... no more tears!
Love, Rose xoxo
S
Steve Herczeg posted a condolence
Monday, March 3, 2008
We will miss Bill very much. His light shined on me second hand -- although I never met him personally, he affected our whole family through the many contacts he had with my wife, Rose. We all had many of his conversations, stories, jokes, antics, and pain told to us day by day, as Rose 'lived' her time with her dad in front of us. It was so clear to see how much he brought a courageous, bright, funny, and no-nonsense attitude to all of his conversations by what I saw and heard from Rose. I will miss the positive and energetic spirit he was for her, and therefore the good work and impact he had on our whole family. I hope that he knows how much he did for us -- and how much we will have to work to fill the void. Yes, he will be sorely missed.
K
Kim Deaton posted a condolence
Monday, March 3, 2008
I did not have the good fortune to meet Bill, but have been blessed to be buddies with his lovely daughter ROSE! She is such a wonderful Lady that she surely comes from obvious good stock! As I read through the previous descriptions of what a Great Human & Father Bill was, it brought tears to my eyes! God knew it was time for him to rest and come home! I will continue to pray for your family as you endure the painful separation and loss. Focus on the joyous and happy memories you have and be delighted in having this opportunity!
A
Aurelia Bridges posted a condolence
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Fathers are very special, and I know this father will be greatly missed by the family and all who knew him. May the Lord Jesus comfort every member of the family with His love and caring.
R
Rose Russell-Herczeg posted a condolence
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Dear B.D.,
This has been the longest week of my life... and I know that eventually it would come to this, but I never really was prepared to get the call on Monday, I had just talked with you days before and you called me when you got out of surgery. I was so looking forward to your getting to rehab and back on your feet, but we all know that you had much more going on.
All I can say is that I miss you more than I can say, my emotions this week have been all over the place... I look for your emails, your IM's, I still can't believe that you'll never send me a message again or call me on the phone. I remember so many of the funny emails you sent me and you would never complain about the pain you were going through, you were one of the Fightin Irish! You laughed when I caught you sleeping in your chair on the days I tried to IM you... and you would try to say that something on TV was so boring it put you to sleep. It was never your condition, it was something else. You really were a trooper through all these bad times and I know you put your best on when I came to visit with you in June. We had a wonderful visit and looking back, I am so grateful to God for making that trip possible. I knew it had to be then or I'd forever regret it. I am so glad I got to be with you, share laughs, and to catch up on some old times. I really wish my kids could have known you better, they would have loved their grandpa... and you always said such nice things about them. I am always going to remember your warm and generous spirit, your happy face, the way you would always get everyone laughing! I always heard you telling me to 'lighten up, life is serious enough' and now I know what you mean. I have memories that others don't have and they have some that I'll never know, but we all, deep in our hearts, know what a wonderful person you were, you never asked for much, you loved each and every one of us the same... and you were one of the first men I ever knew that didn't feel it was a horrible thing to feel sad and to cry in front of anyone. You had a sensitive side, and I loved your ability to just feel what you felt and to tell it like it was. I have sweet memories of our Christmases, Thanksgivings, and Easters, the times we talked about religion, and just glad I was home these last few years to be able to talk freely with you. I learned a lot and was so happy that we got to deepen our friendship and our bond. You will be remembered for many things... and I have to tell you, you were the hippest dad on the planet... when I heard the 'Banana Phone' ringtone you had on your phone... it blew me away.. my own kids knew that one.. what a Dad. You made us all laugh, and you're now having a good time with all the ones that have passed on already... be happy with your old friends and family and think of us sometimes, okay? We'll see you again soon. I love you dad, thanks for always being there for all of us. You are soooo missed. xoxo Love, L.G. Aka Trix
G
Gail Cornelius posted a condolence
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Dear Bill,
I'm not sure how this works, but I believe you can look down and see the drama unfold. You would say, "Meggie, Cory you made your ole man proud." They have handle your affairs all by themselves, your arrangements, apartment, services. They are just so responsible, kind and loving. Their only regret is they weren't called and told you were failing so they could say goodbye in person. Rose has been so very helpful, with names, phone numbers, things she felt were special. Dot surprised us with a visit, which was planned to see you, but missed you by 2 days. The girls stayed up all night sharing and laughing. I also heard from "Billy", he sounds so great, mature, caring. He most of all feels the worst because he couldn't get to see you. I told him it's okay, you asked Courtney to bring his e-mail and picture and he was by your side for the past 3 weeks. I hope someday they will all get together and share their experiences over the years. I know your kids were the sunshine of your life and you were their shining star and beacon of strength. Could you do one favor for me, as you reach the Rainbow Bridge, take as many animals, deserted by their owners, across the bridge. When you reach the other side, tell my mom I love her and miss her. You did good by your kids. God Bless
Gail
B
Bob Russell posted a condolence
Friday, February 29, 2008
Although Bill's death was sudden and unexpected, even by his doctors, it was not a complete surprise to us for we all knew that he was generally failing. As Billy said in his recent email "what is important is that he is no longer suffering" - and he was. Now we can all be grateful for his passing as a blessing.
I can't begin to tell you how it felt to be his brother. Being five years older Bill got me into music, rescued me when some big bully was whooping my ass, told me about girls, shared my first cigarette and was my refuge from our parents and their old fashioned ways, whereas in retrospect they were good old ways.
Halloween was always a treat, seeing who could be scarier. And summers were fun riding bikes, eating pints of ice cream in the park, and wearing large cut-out cardboard boxes pretending to be robots landing on Mars, as we exited the old pigeon coop our grandfather built. The neighbors definitely knew that we were nuts. For nearly twenty years it was Mom, Dad, Bill, myself and Monga (she got that name from Dad when he was a baby learning to speak the word "mother"). And now I am the last of the five. It's hard to believe. I would give anything to live those days all over again. Those truly were happy days, and now look at the changes.
Over the years we always stayed in touch. Our last conversation before his bypass was friendly and loving. Often we would argue about, what else - politics and religion. But we always ended our conversations on a happy note with some silly last minute joke that had us in stitches. I will always remember him as he was from boyhood days, to our last reunion when Mary and I came to Goshen in May, and shared lunch with him and Courty.
He was always a good brother to me. I was his best man for all three weddings and out of those unions brought forth five wonderful girls and one great guy (thank God I almost gave up hope after the first three girls in a row). And now look at all of the beautiful grandchildren. He could have done a lot worse. He was proud of each and every one of his "kids". And even though he often blustered and pretended to be a feisty butt kicker, I have never met a more gentle good natured soul than Bill. He was a poor old slob who thought more of others and not enough about his own self. There is not a single one of us who is perfect, but when I think about those who may have made a difference in my life, Bill is at the top of the short list.
I want to end this note with the following poem by Isla Paschal Richardson. You may have read it before but is never tiring and very much applies to our current loss. See if you can hear him speaking these words...
To Those I Love
If I should ever leave you whom I love, to go along the Silent Way,
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears,
But laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there.
(I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief be barriers?)
And when you hear a song or see a bird I loved,
Please do not let the thought of me be sad...
For I am loving you just as I always have...
You were so good to me!
There are so many things I wanted still to do-
So many things to say to you...
Remember that I did not fear...
It was just leaving you that was so hard to face...
We cannot see Beyond...
But this I know:
I loved you so - 'twas heaven here with you.
C
Courtney Russell posted a condolence
Friday, February 29, 2008
I remember you pushing me on the swing when I was little and singing me the swing, swing song. All the silly nicknames you called me, LB, Louie, Little Baby, Whacky...and so many more to count. But I just remember you being there for me, me being there for you and helping eachother through our tough times. I never gave up on you and I miss you and our little jokes we had. You were my best friend and I'm going to miss talking to you and seeing you. Life won't be the same without you. RIP! Love, Cory
J
James Mattern posted a condolence
Friday, February 29, 2008
Bill was a wonderful human being. In the 7 years that I had the pleasure of knowing him he took me in as one of his own children. I'm so thankful for the fact that this man gave me my wonderful and beautiful wife Meghan. Bill I will miss you much.
M
Meghan posted a condolence
Friday, February 29, 2008
Memories? I have too many to even begin jotting here. But I want to say that I loved my Dadoo very much and will miss him so much.
J
Jen Russell posted a condolence
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Uncle Bill,
Your contagious laugh, the unique sparkle in your eyes when you smiled, the way you hugged so tightly (just like Nan), all the good memories of our family gatherings, the passion that you had for your church and spritual life, the strong will and positive attitude that you had in the face of hard times - all of these things and more, I will fondly remember about you.
Above all else, when I think of you now, it's not about a memory and it's not mine alone. The boundless love that you have for us all, your family and friends, is something that is a part of us that will live, inside our hearts - forever.
Love always,
Your "Favorite" Neice
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In Loving Memory
William Russell
1942 - 2008
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82 S. Church Street | Goshen, NY | 10924 | Tel: (845) 294-6422 | Fax: (845) 615-1479