Thanking Many for Care Extended to My Dad, Clinton Patten

I have said so many times that we as people, take life for granted.  How many times do we pick on someone, find fault with somebody, point out their errors, trying to degrade someone and the list goes on.  However, when a person does that, they don't realize how precious time on Earth is.  When someone passes away, are we ever prepared for it.     I can tell  you that some people are lucky to have large families while others have a small one.   Recently, my dad, Clinton Patten left  us to join our mother, Maxrene in Heaven.  He was so lonely when she passed away in July of 2008.   Dad and I spent many Saturdays doing errands and enjoying lunch.  I would like to thank to following for all they did in his final days.    He did suffer from colon cancer and  it was a terrible time.  He was being treated at Concord Cancer Center at Concord Hospital.  Many thanks to the staff especially Alex for the tender loving care they extended to him.   He always felt he was going to beat this dreadful disease.    However, he tried to keep his spirits hopeful.  

My sister Miss Debra Patten and on nehalf of my wife and i would like to thank Dunbarton and Bow Rescue Squads who responded to the residence he was at that morning enjoying breakfast.   They brought him to Concord Hospital where the ER staff was waiting.  I couldn't believe my eyes how prepared they were.  I had never witnessed something like this, doctors, nurses, machines, staff members, and a priest along with hospital faith community.  It was apparent Dad was very ill.  The next few days were troubling.  I can't thank enough the ICU staff, Dr. Brent Richardson, and Dr. Tangny who were excellent and helped my family and I understand what was happening to Dad.  Dad had his living will instructions and they were followed to the fullest.  However it became apparent that dad was not going to recover.  Dr. Tangny was wonderful as he talked to us several times about what could or might not happen.  He stressed it was early to make any serious decisions.   I would like to thank Rev. Richard Roberge, who was called urgently to the hospital Tuesday evening.  He was very comforting as I tried to make sense of this.  The same to Fr Don, Keith Broyles, and Jim Decker at the hospital.     

I would like to thank Rev. Christian Tudor for his spiritual assistance.  I wanted to thank everyone who helped me as  i had to make a decision that i wish i didn't have to.    Many thanks to Mike Pilllsbury and the staff at Bennett Funeral Home for all they did to  make this difficult time as easy as possible.   

I would like to thank Rev. Ray Ball from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Rev. Mark Dollard (came down from St. Rose of Lima Church, Littleton) who concelebrated Mass, Brian Waldron who sang beautifully songs that were chosen by Dad before he had passed away;Elaine Dame who read the readings in the funeral Mass; to pallbearers  Chris Hillsgrove, Mike Bouley, Andrew Georgevits,(nephews, Donald Patten, Harold Patten, Justin Spaulding, Danny Anderson, Wayne Hoyt), Steven Dame, and Robert Boynton Jr.   These young men all  held a special place in Dad's life.  Much appreciation to Fr, Ray for all the time he has given to my family and myself. Thanks to the City of Concord Cemetery Crew, who despite the weather had the gravesite ready for burial.   Thank you to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church who provided a wonderful lunch for everyone to enjoy following the funeral and burial.  I would like to thank Concord Grange and the NH State Grange for providing a Memorial Service at the Funeral Home. 

I would like to thank everyone who sent sympathy cards, made telephone calls to us, special floral displays to my home and my sister's home at 34 Pembroke Road.  He would have been so proud and happy with the the many people who came to pay their last respects. 

I appreciated the donations that were made to Concord Grange and to Concord Fire Department in his memory.   Dad moved to the Concord Heights in 1950 when he married my mother who was born on the Heights or Plains as it was called in those days 1925.     Dad loved gardening and for many years when he lived on East Sugar Ball Road and then at 34 Pembroke Road, to give people  his extra garden vegetables free.  He and my mother enjoyed helping people, which is a trait that I was taught and believe strongly in. The summer cottage that he and my mother built together in 1964 at Scituate Pond, in York, Maine brought our family so many pleasures.  



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