Jeff Odell
I’ve known Tony for almost 25 yrs. So many great stories, he truly has a heart of gold! & a personality second to none! Looking back not only was he a best friend, but a teacher as well. teaching me to always keep going, keep sharing, keep laughing, keep giving , keep loving! Times when I had moved and was busy with work, family, & life Tony was always there checking up, catching up, calling in, always keeping in touch, just by me observing his actions he taught me to do the same and how important family, friends, sharing and keeping in touch are! Always keeping in touch with Anthony and the boys, making sure everything was good with his brothers and Always calling Mom pretty much daily. If there was a problem he was the first one to reach out, pitch in, make a phone call or help in anyway and if he couldn’t he’d find a way. Always helping out showing up to court for other people, lending money he didn’t have. When the world was too busy to stop & check in Tony Always checked in to make sure everyone was still doing alright. Didn’t matter if you knew him or not restaurant waiters, grocery store clerks, 7-11 cashier anybody, he always had to share and say hello! “This is my friend Jeff, these are my grandkids, how’s you’re day?, gonna cook up this recipe tonight” or what have you. Always striking up a conversation to brighten someone’s day or his own. And then there’s Facebook posting recipes, sharing pictures, sharing other people’s good news. Weddings, funerals, Birthday wishes, holiday wishes, family get-togethers anything good, positive & uplifting! I still can see his posts “have a great day” #1 Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Son, Friend! Cooked this, watched that, enjoy your evening! Beautiful day, walked to Smith’s, Luv ya! Miss ya! and just had to share” lol.
I feel so blessed to have been so close to Tony all these years! He always had the best stories, after he’d say “true story!” I should write a book about my life but nobody would believe me” then we would just hysterically laugh!! Then he’d say true or not? That was his line. I’d laugh and say True!
Now I see Tony from such a wider perspective how compassionate he was even when he was going through much. Days when he was depressed, he’d say “I could complain but nobody’d listen” then that would make him laugh! & things would brighten up again. I truly believe that when we transition to our next journey we are Free from all suffering and All the Love, kindness, joy, & compassion we lived we take with us! It’s the loved ones that are left behind who feel the pain, the emptiness, & sadness. But through time we heal.
I now carry Tony in my heart his laugh, his smile, his kindness, his joy, his love and all his goodness, I get to share that unconditional love with others that he shared with me! He will truly be missed but I feel comforted knowing that he is with everyone feeling love and loved, happy, healthy & free!
-love ya Tone’ #1
