Memorial website in the memory of your loved one


 Tom Tabala

06/11/52 - 11/17/04 


This memorial website was created
in the memory of my honey, Tom Tabala
who was born in New York on June 11, 1952
and passed away on November 17, 2004
at the age of 52. I will love him forever.

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

My heart still aches in sadness 

and secret tears still flow.

What it meant to lose you

no one will ever know.

R.I.P My Love

  


  
   







                  

         
     

   

  



















   


 




























 
 
                         

  




       












































    








    

 




 







 

 


 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

 

    

   




If I could have one lifetime wish,
A dream that would come true;
I'd pray to God with all my heart
For yesterday and you.

A thousand words wont bring you back,
I know because I've tried.
Neither will a thousand tears,
I know because I've cried.

You left behind my broken heart,
And happy memories too.
But I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you














 



   




 
     


          
             I wish you would not be afraid to speak my loved one's name. They lived and were important, and I need to hear their name.

If I cry and get emotional if we talk about my loved one, I wish you knew that it isn't because you hurt me; the fact that they died causes my tears. You have allowed me to cry and I thank you. Crying and emotional outbursts are healing.

I will have emotional highs and lows, ups and downs. I wish you wouldn't think that if I have a good cry my grief is over, or that if I have a bad day I need psychiatric counseling.

I wish you wouldn't expect my grief to be over in six months. The first few years are going to be exceedingly traumatic for me. As with alcoholics, I will never be "cured" or a "formerly bereaved", but forevermore be recovering from the bereavement.

I wish you'd understand the physical reaction to grief. I may gain weight, lose weight, sleep all the time or not at all, develop a host of illnesses and be accident prone, all of which are related to my grief.

My loved one's birthday, the anniversary of their death and the holidays can be terrible times for me. I wish you would tell me that you are thinking of me and them on these days. And if I am not in touch and withdrawn, just know that I am thinking about them and don't try to coerce me into being cheerful.

I wish you wouldn't offer to take me out for a drink, or to a party, this is just a temporary crutch and the only way I can get through this grief is to experience it. I have to hurt before I can heal.

I wish you'd understand that grief changes people. I am not the same person I was before my honey died and I am a different person with no dreams or hope to look forward to. Please try to get to know me--I am the one who'll be here from now on.

-Author Unknown- 


         

  

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 




 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 








 

 

 

 







 





 





 

 

 





















 
   
       
   


   





  



              
               



    















Tom, His Brothers and His Sister
This is the only picture we have with all of Tom's
brothers and his sister together. We lost Robert
shortly after this picture was taken
and then Tom 15 month later 




















               



















                   



 Family  

Those who share laughter, joy and sorrow,
Those who share memories, hopes and tomorrows,
Not bound just by ties at birth,
But by our journeys on this earth




  

       
         
                    

         


         

 
 








































In Loving Memory
Of Tom & Robert


Something will remind me
I never know just when,
might be something someone says
and it all comes back again

The times we spent together
The happiness, the fun,
Once again I feel the pain
Of life without my Sons

It's said that time's a healer
I’m not sure this is true,
There's not a day goes by my Sons
That I don't cry for you both 




      
            
 











              

































Look at this one of Bub's Rockets and
He is wearing your sunglasses.







 

 
































Your Favorite Show
of All Time





Your Favorite Movie Honey

 

 














This will be you and I one day together again
dancing to the disco music from Saturday
Night Fever. Tell Uncle Cookie that yes I will
dance with him also.
I miss you so much honey.








You are the light that shines so bright
You're in my heart where I hold you tight.
Someday we will be together in the light.

































Tom loved all types of sports but his passion was Football.
Below is a response that Tom’s Football Coach posted on a local web site when he heard of Tom’s death.
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It had been a great holiday season until I read this. Tommy was the League MVP in 1968, he could and did whatever he wanted to on the field.
Ran and threw TDs, Intercepted passes, snapped the ball on punts, then ran downfield and made the tackle. When his team was tied late in a game that meant the B/Q Champ. the coach told quarterback Quinn "I don't care what play you call ,just make sure Tabala gets the ball."
One play, 60 yds later Greenpoint became undeafeated Champs.
I would like his family to understand how grateful I am for knowing this Cool-handed Crusader.
Just as he is still your Son, brother, friend and teammate to me 38 years later he is still one of my kids.

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And so began the Greatest of All Time
Tom Tabala


    
 






                




              












           








 








 

Tributes and Condolences
fishing picture   / Tommy Youngfleisch (Cousin)
another year without you and Bub. It goes so fast but you are never forgotten.When I saw the picture of you holding that "MUTANT" fish I laughed because I was there!We picked you up at 5 30 am and you had your beer and sunglasses on. After ...  Continue >>
MORE THAN A BROTHER TO ME   / Johnny Cruz (Best Friend )
           MORE THAN A BROTHER TO ME by Johnny Cruz

Tom and I were friends for 45 years. We gre...  Continue >>
Thinking of you Tom   / Jenny Tavendale Mum To Ross
 
May Your Candle Always Shine Bright Tom   / Carol Pizzi (Angel Debbie's Mom )
Click here to pay tribute or offer your condolences
His legacy
About My Honey  

I have loved Tom for over 30 years and I always will love him. We weren't always together but I never stopped loving him. There always seemed to be something in the way either he was involved with someone else or something but I always believed that someday we would have a life together. I kept in touch with his family and friends for along time so I would at least know he was okay. Then I stopped because it just hurt too much. I moved to Virginia and started a new life without him. Not one day ever when by that I didn't think of him.

Then one day in 2000 his sister found me and wrote a letter to me. In her letter she told me that Tom was alone and that he was trying to find me. I called him and after talking for hours we realized we still had feelings for each other. I left everything I had in Virginia and moved back to New York so we could finally be together.

It was wonderful I loved him so much and this time he really loved me back. He was so loving and we made a home together. Tom was such a loving and giving person. When he really loved someone it was forever. Funny he never called me by my name. it was alway My Honey, even in his phone phone my job number was under the H's for Honey.

We were very happy but I had a hard time adjusting to city life again. I loved country living and hated the crowded nasty city. I tried really hard to make the best of it yet Tom knew I was unhappy living in New York. Then in 2004 Tom said okay lets get out of New York. He had some property in North Carolina where some old friends from New York had moved. Tom surprised me and said we were going down to Carolina for Labor Day weekend. When we were there Tom said we going to lunch but instead he took me to pick out a house. I was so happy I always wanted a yellow house with a white picket fence and I found one that weekend.

We were going to move down there in February because Tom had to wait until then to retire from his job. All of my dreams were coming true. I never thought Tom would ever leave New York and his family but he was to start a new life with me. We also decided to get married in Febuary nothing big just go to a small church and take our vows in front of God.

I moved back to Virginia so I could start training for a new job. Once the training was complete I would be working in North Carolina. I missed Tom so much but I knew that once we moved to Carolina we would be together forever. We spoke on the phone and on some weekends I would drive up there to be with him.

Then one Sunday it was November 14th I didn't hear from Tom. I tried calling him but there was no answer. I kept calling and leaving messages but I knew in my heart something was wrong. I called his family and they haven't heard from him. I was up all night and finally I called his sister again. I told her she needed to go over to his house and see if he was there. They had to get the police to break in and there he was on the floor. Once they got him to a hospital we found out he had a brain aneurysm. I got some clothes and started driving up there. His sister called me as I was driving and told me the doctors said there was no hope he was brain dead. I was driving 100 miles an hour when she told me that and I almost went into the wall. I just kept praying it wasn't true but once I got to the hospital the doctor told me that same thing. I stayed with my Honey and never left his room until Wedneday morning November 17th the doctors took him off the respirator. I stayed with Tom and watched him die. I held his hand and felt it getting colder and colder. Then I just held him in my arms as he left and I promised him I would love him forever and I would always keep his memory alive.


So now here I am back in Virginia all alone again. No Tom, no happy life, no more dreams and no home. Everything is gone except the wonderful memories that nobody can ever take from me.

Until we meet again Honey.....





More of his legacy...
 
Tom's Photo Album
Tom and Mary
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