This poem was written for my father Giovanni Difalco when he passed away in 2005 by a beautiful woman who was part of our family. Her name was Dorthy Leaver and she recently passed. We used to call her "Nanny". Here is her Tribute to the Life of John DiFalco This was a man with a heart of gold When God made him he broke the mould He came to Canada, for a better life With Antoniette his lovely wife. They worked their fingers, to the bone To build a home to call there own And God bestowed to their loving care Two beautiful children their lives to share. Money was scarce and times were tough But John was a diamond in the rough He worked to jobs, a labour of love All for his children with help from above. Carm the daughter married a lad By the name of John, same as her dad Two grandchildren were were born for this fine fella Adrianna and Daniella. Then Cal his son married his love My granddaughter Terry with blessings from above Their marriage united us to the John DiFalco family Donna and Bill, her sibilings and me With two more grandchildren to even the score Amanda and Marc, making it four Then to make this family complete A great granddaughter Vanessa so sweet. Terry and Cal opened their doors For Christmas, birthdays and so much more BBQs, videos music and song And wonderful stories from our dear John. On one occassion all was fine Till Antoniette got into the wine She looked at me said "you hold your peace" "you say something, I call the Police. I told her what I am going to do "I'm getting the werewolf after you" It was then John said "lets play a game" A game called Bocce that won him fame. He organized our little group And said "now listen heres the scoop" "Me and my tema will play over here and yousa people go down there". Carm looked at me with her big brown eyes "he thinks I'm a stranger here in disguise" "Yousa people, isn't that wild After all I am his child". I said "Baba boom bada bing When it comes to Bocce he's the King" Sure enough when the game was done He threw up his arms saying "ey we won" Then one dark day the terrible news The special man were were going to loose Cal thanked God for the special bond He had with his Dad to make him strong. I sat in a room with Cal and his dad Saw the love and respect they had I saw there eyes meet and it tugged at my heart That glance I felt just tore them apart. John crossed the bridges with dignity and pride His faithful family righ by his side He made all the arrangements for that final day And faced the death we all must pay. He dId all this to give relief For the family he loved to ease their grief He soon passed on with a gentle sigh His love ones beside him whispered goodbye. The final scene was so serine Led by Father Augustine The fervent prayers by this young Priest Gave us comfort and inner peace. Family and friends all gathered around Knowing John was heaven bound A eulogy was prepared and read aloud By his loving family whom he loved and was proud. A dedication prepared and read in his native tongue By my Granddaughter Terry of all the beautiful things he'd done. Now death may be final but it's not the end When we pass on we are together forever World without end - Amen. Husband, Father, Grand-Father, Great Grand Father, and Dear Loyal Friend. The poem was signed Love, Nanny (Dorthy) I know are family members who have passed are all in heaven playing bocce....as my father used to say" these people and those people, that was the name of our teams. Carmela.