Remembering Our Veterans

This post has been  sitting in my draft folder  since August but I did not have the courage to post  it but since  Veteran's day is coming up, I am now publishing it.  After  my father-in-law died  in March,  we lost another  beloved veteran in our family.

We might not  be related by blood but he certainly was a huge part of my little family.  Don and his wife Ruth were there  for us especially my kids  ever since we bought our first home in Park Avenue.  Don died  of  brain cancer.  He was diagnosed earlier this year and passed away in August.  He was a great man, he was like a true  grandpa to my kids and a father to me.  We loved him dearly.  He was a Vietnam veteran

The Fancher's have always been there  celebrating especial events and milestones of our kids.  Halloween, Christmas, Birthdays, and  even on ordinary days, they were always around.  He was our  constant companion in our regular walks during the summer.  It was a  huge shocked to us because he  was the most active guy we knew around the neighborhood.  A very social man who was a friend to everybody.

We had so many great memories with him and his wife.  There are two families that we are so close with when we still live in Park Avenue, we were always  together every time, my kids have events or special occasion.  He taught my kids so many things like  doing handstand, climbing up on their  shed roof, eating edible  grass, biking, and  so on and so forth.  I can  write a book if I list everything but yes, he will be surely missed. 

This was the last time we all got together. These were taken in January of this year. We hosted a little birthday celebration for our son at our new home.


 The song below  is dedicated to all the men and women in uniform who are currently serving and for all of those who sacrificed a lot to serve our country. 

It's heartbreaking that one of the best people that touched our lives has departed on this earth. Don was like a father to me and a great Lolo to my children. Him and Ruth are always there for us. They attended all of our children's events and functions. It's hard to wrap around the truth in my head that he is gone. you will be truly missed Don, May you rest in peace with God! #death #cancerSucks #family #friends

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Aug 27, 2017 at 9:56am PDT

This post is  dedicated to all  the veterans, my husband included, his late  Dad and Uncle (WW2 veterans), our late neighbor Don,  and to all who served.  Thank you for your services and your sacrifices. 

Honoring a WW2 Veteran with 21 Gun Salute

As I have mentioned in my last post, we visited my FIL on President's Day and we noticed that he was very skinny already and he  didn't really want to  talk.  He didn't even want to  do anything.  By then, we knew that something was  wrong.  A week after that, he was rushed to the  emergency at Trinity hospital.   The doctor said that he   had a flu then a  a sepsis, a life-threatening complication of an infection. .  Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail.  He stayed there for  over a week, he got better, he even  got up one time and said " Get me out of here".  I think that was his way of saying  that he is ready to go because  after that, his internal organs started to shut down.

Here at Trinity #hospital to visits FIL . We were informed that he has the flu.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Mar 1, 2017 at 3:46pm PST

On March 10th, I was attending a school mass at church and I had this feeling of uneasiness. When the mass was over, I was very surprised to see my husband outside the church. He said that he got a message from his niece that Dad's condition turned for the worse.  He was transferred to the hospice.   He passed away the next day (March 11th).  It was hard saying goodbye to him because he was a great father to his kids, a great grandpa to his grand kids, and a great  FIL.  However it was a relief that his sufferings has finally ended. He lived a long  but  wonderful life.

My FIL, Jennings worked for Weirton Steel for 35 years. He proudly served in the United States Army, where he received a bronze star.  World War 2 veterans is slowly thinning out.  Not many of them are still alive.  He was honored with a 21-gun salute during his  burial.  

I have never seen my husband   get so emotional with anything so it was  humbling to see him grieved for his Dad.  Even though we  kind of expected my FIL's passing, it was still very hard for all of us.  I guess, when a person that dies have touched so many lives during his lifetime, it's hard to let go.  

The funeral services was  done by Greco-Hertnick.  The viewing was March 14th and he was laid to rest  on March 15th at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Relatives and friends from  nearby states came to give their last respect  to him.  Funerals is always a sad time but most of the times, you get to see  family and friends that you haven't seen for a long time.  

Dad's younger sister  sister from Ohio was really heartbroken.  They were very close.

The #21GunSalute🔫 made us so emotional.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Mar 15, 2017 at 12:17pm PDT

I am so glad that before my PC crashed, I was able to upload these photos because now, I can't access my documents.  This computer won't even read my camera chip anymore.  I was able to fix some issue and able to use it to post but I still can't access my documents. I am not a very techy person so I don't like when this happens. I have to figure out how to access my documents again because I have so many photos and videos that I need to back up and save to a portable drive. I should have not put it aside but that's what happens when you exercise mañana habit.

11 Years Have Gone By

 11 years have gone by but the pain remains.  How I wish that you are still with us.  11 years today when you suddenly left us but I know that things happened for a reason.  I hope that wherever you are, that you are free from pain and that you are looking over us especially Mama.  I hope that an angel will relay my message to you.  I lo]ve you  and I miss you very much Pa!

Visiting Loved Ones

I can tell that my husband is still grieving about his brother Dave passing away. We went to the cemetery last Sunday after we attended mass at church. Laying beside Dave is also one of John's brother Harold then  their Mom was at the bottom near them. My BIL Dave's grave  has no tombstone yet so  we  are browsing around online where we can order one. 

Have a great weekend everyone. Share your favorite color with us every Friday through Color Connection.

School Activities, Showing, Funeral, etc.

Today is a busy day for us. Ms. Burrito has to dress up as an Angel  with other students at church then after that we have to go to the school gym for their Halloween event, Mr. Burrito is part of it too. We won't be able to attend the showing of my BIL that is scheduled at 1:00-3:00 pm today but we are going there tonight for the showing at 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friends can leave messages for the family by signing the guest book at Greco-Hertnick website.  The photo below was taken the day before my BIL's surgery, the last Easter  we spent with him.

Lesson learned from this ordeal:  Ask a second opinion from other doctor about your pain.  When he was  having  severe stomach pain, the doctor told him that it was an acid reflux but it was actually the cancer that was causing his pain.  Your memory will remain in our hearts Dave, you're a great guy to cherish forever!

Surrounded by his family, David Jennings Cottrill, 57, of Weirton, passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at his home. Born March 12, 1954 in Weirton, he was a son of Jennings Lee Cottrill of Weirton and the late Nadine Cox Cottrill. He was also preceded in death by his Brother Harold Cottrill.


With 30 years of service, David retired from Weirton Steel where he worked at various jobs in the Tin Mill. He also owned and operated Cottrill's Auto in Weirton. An avid fisherman, he was a member of the WSX 25-Year Club. Most of all, David enjoyed the time spent with his family. 


David is survived by his wife of 33 years, Michale Campbell Cottrill, of Weirton; sons Bryan David Cottrill and Lee Michael Cottrill and his wife Leanne; daughter Tina Marie Pavel all of Weirton; brothers Rick Cottrill and his wife Jill and John Cottrill and his wife Rose; sister Crystal Bolock; grandchildren Kalee and Shaye Cottrill and Matthew Pavel and his loving dog, Jack.


Friends will be received Sunday from 1-3 and 6-8PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton, where funeral services will be celebrated 11:00AM Monday. The Reverend Larry Barkley will officiate. Interment will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Weirton.

Thank you all for your support!

I barely slept last night thinking about my brother, his family situation, and my mother. Mama's memory of Papa's death is still fresh so she is finding a hard time accepting the truth that the second father to the family is now gone. I talked to her on the phone yesterday and she wants me there to help with the situation. How I wish I could just ride a jeepney and be there. To give her a hug and comfort her. It is very painful to me and I know that it is more painful to a mother. I grew up with my brother and it is so hard for me to accept the truth too. I am actually in denial, thinking that all of these are just dreams.. bad dreams.. Thank you all so much for your comforting words and for the prayers, I really need it right now. I know that God has plans and I am not questioning HIS will.

We are leaving tonight...

Again my sincere gratitude to all of you who offers us such a strong support through your prayers and encouraging words. We will be flying tonight going to the Philippines to attend to my brother's funeral.

I am sorry for not being able to visit you for a while. I'll visit you back when we come back. Please include us in your prayers especially my children, for them not to catch the h1n1 virus that is going around the country. Thank you all once again!

Special thanks to Mads Fe (Germany) of Around nature Spring, Malou (New York) of The Journey, Ate Beth (Germany) of Missing Pinas, Seiko Misaki Fukami (Japan) of Seiko's Diary, and Ate Lelet (Korea) for your generous donations to the family. May God bless you more for having such a generous and compassion hearts!

My brother died...

I just receive a horrible news back home, my brother died from a motorcycle accident yesterday. Please help us pray, thank you!