The below poem was read today at the service and laying of mum and dad's ashes at Hinton Park, Christchurch. It is three years today that we tragically lost mum, all dad ever talked about was that he wanted to go and join mum, on the 1st October 2012 dad tragically passed away after being in hospital for six weeks. There is not a day that passes that I do not think of both of my parents, sometimes it is with tears and other times it is with laughter as I remember something that happened when I was with them. I always promised dad I would read a poem at his service as I did at mums and the one below is in memory of my dad when I visited him in hospital and how I felt as one day he would just sleep and then the next he would have both Neil and laughing at something he said, dad would look at us and say ' I am being serious you know' Neil and I would say 'sorry' and then we would see that twinkle in his eye. This is the moment I realised just how much I loved him. I will cherish that last visit. To my dad (Superman. Do you know how it feels to lose someone? How you go through grief and pain? I know how that feels, and how it feels to always live in rain. I remember it like it was yesterday, how I stood by my dad's side. And how I couldn’t bare to look at him, but all I did was cry. I knew I couldn’t help him, I couldn’t fix his pain. I couldn’t stop myself from crying, I couldn’t help him in anyway. I wanted to help my dad, but they said it was to late. How could it have come to this, to this horrible fate. My dad was loving, he was a caring guy. Maybe he wasn't perfect, but he didn't cheat, steal or lie. I loved my dad, I loved him with all my heart. But there was nothing I could do, It was too late from the start. there was nothing they could do. But just let him pass on, it was hard but it was true. It's been a few months now , It doesn't feel like it's been that long. And it still hurts, but he's now where he belongs. No matter what happens, he'll always be loved. Until the day I die, and I join him up above. He's up there somewhere with mum, He’s in his rightful place. And even though I want him back, It's a tragedy I have to face. Sometimes at night, I cry myself to sleep. But through this time of darkness, the depression I’ll have to defeat. His love, is what keeps me hanging on. Love is a strong word, Because it's kept me alive this long. But there is one more thing, that I have to say. My dad's love will go on and on, and he’s in my heart to stay. Love Carole and Linda xx