PAUL F."WALSHY" WALSH III.
DEC 27, 1971 ~ JAN 20, 2007
"YOU ARE LOVED & WILL BE MISSED"
When someone I know passes away I try to write a letter to the person I thought was closest to them. The purpose of the letter is to try to ease their pain by pointing out some of their loved one's good qualities and happy memories I share with them.
This is by far the most difficult I have ever had to write. I have never had to write one to a parent who lost a child. I can only hope my words give you slight comfort.
For all of the demons Paulie battled he was by far one of the best people I have ever met, as big and tough of a guy as he was, underneath all of it he was one of the kindest and gentlest men I have ever met.
He told me one night to never squash a kids dreams and to believe in them and they will go far. I took that advice and Justin will play football in college, as he has always dreamed. All you had to do is see him with Bray and the other kids and you knew you were dealing with a special person. I was always thankful for the interest he took in Justin.
There are very few people I have met whom I would say made this world a better place to live, but Paulie was definitely one of them.
He was a gentle giant.
I will always remember the fun nights we shared at the campground. There is no way to explain why God took him from us at such a young age other than to think maybe He saw how special he was and thought he was needed in Heaven. Despite his demons he fought I have no doubt Heaven is his new home.
I am truly sorry for the loss and pain you are feeling. I keep thinking back to the night Joe and Paulie stayed up playing "Everybody Hurts Sometime" and how fitting that song is now.
The next time I am at the campground the first shot I have will be raised in toast to my good friend Paulie.
Our hearts and prayers are with you.
Jim, Shannon & the Kids
On behalf of my mother, Waulie, Danielle & Brayonna, my brothers and sisters and my father, I would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support during this very difficult time - a time we certainly didn't expect.
Most importantly this is a time of the celebration of the life of Paul, my brother...Paul was many things to many people...
A natural born protector - especially for the girls in the family. People in high school were probably scared to date Mona and Tanya, because you would have to answer to their big brother. You weren't just brothers and sisters either, you were great friends too. He might have been very intimidating to some, but boy did he have the biggest heart. He was full of love for his family, especially you Bray.
You were everything Paul could have asked for. You and Danielle made Paul a father, something he couldn't be prouder about.
Paul was an amazing brother - so interested in everything going on in our lives and so fun to hang out with...whether Melissa was telling him what she didn't want Mom to know or he was teaching Ryan how to drive and then Patrick, he was always there to listen and to have a good time. Pat, thanks to Uncle Paulie, you're 12 and can drive a stick and I'm 22 and have no idea.
As for a son, Mom, Waulie, I think you two are the luckiest because you were able to bring Paul into our lives, and you also had the opportunity of spending 35 years with him. Mom he was also your best friend. I'm not sure I know another guy who was still a mama's boy at 35.
Dad, you were his mentor and his strength. You were also "jayballs" to him. He always sought advice from you and had such respect and gratitude for you.
Paul was full of laughs and full of fun... Paul was full of life...
He loved everything from camping at Slumber Valley, eating Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps his favorite, or even just working painting with Louis and the boys. I can remember just a few weeks ago we sat in Mom's living room and Paul named every single song that was on TV. He had such a love for music especially the Rolling Stones. I remember when I was crying that I wanted Jelly sandals as a kid and I had Paul and Carl singing "you can't always get what you want" in the background. Carl and Ryan, Paul loved you two so much, you're still his little brothers.
Paul also loved working out. Grab a camera and he'll flex and pose in every way. I can think of everywhere Paul has lived over the past years and he always turned one room or even the neighbor's basement into a gym. His love for working out and Tyson fights was sparked by Rocky. You could put Paul in a room with those movies and he could watch them for days. I'm so glad that he had the chance to see the new Rocky movie with Bray, Nicole and Danielle. Paul loved those Bengals too, no matter how they were doing. I asked Ryan what he was getting Paul for Christmas this year he said well i was going to get him the Bengals jersey but he doesn't think he can wait 'til Christmas, so he's going to have Danielle get it...It had to have matched some pair of Puma sneakers he had. He was like a little boy in a big boy's body sometimes, and we all loved that youth and fun inside of him.
Paul was caring. He loved helping people and got the greatest satisfaction when he was an EMT. I remember him telling me how much he loved the adrenaline in the emergency room and how he loved something different coming at him all the time.
Paul once signed a letter to me as "Walshy the Warrior". He was the strongest man I knew...
He could handle anyone, but there was one person that he couldn't fight, and that was God....
Paul,
We little knew that morning that God would call your name.
In Life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It breaks our hears to lose you, you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you...the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide
and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
Terry, I know you and Paul had a pact that you would find each other in Heaven...This shows you it isn't the end...it's the beginning of when we will meet again.
We love you Paul. There's not one day that will go by where you aren't on my mind.
Love Always and Forever,
Your Sister, Jayana