Remembering With Love Always…
Humphrey Oswald Shanks – (June 8, 1929 to December 25, 2010)
Os left port for his final cruise on December 25, 2010 in his 82nd year, welcomed by calm and peaceful waters into the great sea. Beloved captain to his first mate of 55 years, Sheila Elizabeth (nee McDonald). Devoted father to first officer Patrick McDonald (Lorna), second officer Lesley June Mauro (Rick) and third officer Gail Elizabeth Shanks. Proud grandfather to deckhands Nicole, Brendan, Raymond, Andrew, Danielle and Peter. Dear brother to chief engineers Patrick (deceased), Fidele Edelsward (Rolf), Raymond (Helen), David (Win), Merle Louden (Ken) and Eileen Hawkins. Os will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by family and fellow voyagers, at home and abroad, as well as his many friends in the dance community. At Os’ request there will be no funeral service. Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be held at Glendale Memorial Gardens on a later date. The family will receive friends for a final “Bon Voyage” at Newediuk Funeral Home, 2058 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke, (just North of Rexdale Boulevard), on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 from 7 – 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences to www.newediukfuneralhome.com.
Quotes to remind us of you Dad
There is so little we can say, so little we can do;
When God has called a loved one home, who means so much to you.
When smiling eyes are closed in sleep, according to God’s will;
And that dear voice you love to hear has suddenly grown still.
Gone, but in our hearts you liveth still.
One father is more than a hundred Schoolemasters. ~George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640
A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown
The father who would taste the essence of his fatherhood must turn back from the plane of his experience, take with him the fruits of his journey and begin again beside his child, marching step by step over the same old road. ~Angelo Patri
It is much easier to become a father than to be one. ~Kent Nerburn, Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man, 1994
Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. ~Author Unknown
The greatest gift I ever had came before me; I call him Dad! ~Author Unknown
Why are men reluctant to become fathers? They aren’t through being children. ~Cindy Garner
Fathers represent another way of looking at life – the possibility of an alternative dialogue. ~Louise J. Kaplan, Oneness and Separateness: From Infant to Individual, 1978
There are three stages of a man’s life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus. ~Author Unknown
Death is nothing but another obstacle in our lives
I think of you often
and make no outward show,
But what it means to lose you,
no one will ever know
You wished no one farewell,
not even said good-bye,
You were gone before I knew it,
and only God knows why.
You are not forgotten
nor will you ever be,
As long as life and memories last,
I will remember thee.
To some you may be forgotten,
to others a part of the past,
But to me who loved you dearly,
your memories will always last.
Nothing can be more beautiful
than the memories I have of you.
To me, you were someone special,
God must have thought so too!
If tears could build a staircase
and memories a lane,
I would walk all the way to Heaven,
and bring you back again.
Love Pat & Lorna,
XOXOXOXO
2010-12-29 @ 9:01 am
Hey Pat & Lorna,
Sorry to hear about the passing of your great father. What an amazing man he must have been.
Thanks for sharing this with us. It reminds me of the great gift and responsibility it is to be a father.
Thank You Thank You Thank You.
Blessings to all of you.
Make it a great day!
God Bless,
The GREAT Edward!
2010-12-29 @ 2:25 pm
Hi Edward,
Thanks for your kind words and for thinking about us at this time.
With a father I became a boy, with a great father I became a man, and being a father I’ve become a very humble human being
Thanks so much,
~ Pat & Lorna
2011-01-04 @ 8:53 am
Pat,
Sorry to learn of the loss of your father. My thoughts and prayers will be with you this evening as you are receiving friends and family and celebrating his final “Bon Voyage” The picture and your comments tell the story of a life well lived.
Blessings,
Susan
2011-01-08 @ 1:46 pm
Susan,
Thank you so much for your well wishes, thoughts and prayers.
Os Shanks definitely enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He also made a difference in so many people’s lives.
Thanks again for your well wishes, we appreciate it so much.
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-01-04 @ 9:28 am
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. It is especially difficult to lose someone at this time of year. I lost my father on January 10, 2005 and your quotes in this post brought back many fond memories of him.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like you have many fond memories to cherish and I’m sure they will help you through this.
God Bless!
Wendy
2011-01-08 @ 1:50 pm
Wendy,
It is difficult to lose a family member that was so close to our hearts at this time of year… yet it is difficult no matter what time of year it is.
And we do feel that as long as we can hold on to the fond memories, as you have with your father, he will not really be gone, but live on in our hearts and minds. These memories definitely help us through the tough times.
Thanks so much,
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-01-09 @ 12:37 pm
Dear Pat and Lorna,
Dawn and I were sorry to hear about your loss and we wanted you to know that our thoughts have been with you over the last couple of weeks.
You are both true leaders and I’m sure that your father was very proud of all your accomplishments throughout life.
Stay strong and know that your TSA family is here to support you during this time!
Blessings,
Dave and Dawn
2011-01-09 @ 2:52 pm
Dave and Dawn,
Thank you so much for your condolences, kind words and generous support.
We are so blessed to have met you two and to have become a part of the TSA family.
Thank you!
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-01-09 @ 12:55 pm
Hi Pat, sorry for the belated message. I didn’t realise until I heard you on the webinar on Saturday. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Blessings,
Gavin
2011-01-09 @ 3:27 pm
Gavin,
Thank you so much for your condolences and generous support.
Thanks,
~ Pat
2011-01-14 @ 7:44 am
Hi Pat & Lorna,
What a man Os Shanks must’ve been to have created such an atmosphere of love within his family. Whatever else he did in life, his greatest success is here. Tears came to my eyes when I read your tribute and realized how close you were to him. The pastor in me wants to encourage you to take lots of time to grieve — the process doesn’t happen overnight. May God sustain you in your time of loss.
2011-01-20 @ 12:00 pm
I’ve recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
2011-02-27 @ 12:18 pm
hi Pat & Lorna: I’m doing research online while developing my blog-site (as of today Feb 27 there’s nothing there yet, just a WordPress theme), and while checking out your cool site, I noticed that Pat lost his Dad on Christmas day. I hope you two remember me from our MOSHOG in late August 2007.
Just wanted to send you a shot of love and sincere condolences from NYC.
I hope your hearts smile with all the great memories that Os left you.
love and OPA-HEY!
Sandy Feder