It is done.
Yesterday evening my father entered hospice. He was lucid enough that he was able to hear my SO and I over the phone sharing our love for him with him one last time.
Today at 12:45pm local time, my father died. It still feels so unreal in some ways. We all know that death is a part of our lives. I have known for some time that my father was old and had numerous health problems, and I still imagined that my daddy would never die, right?
So today, I begin to grief. I want to thank each and every person who has shared stories, thoughts, prayers, etc. with me here on these forums. Y'all have been wonderful, and I so appreciate it.
I may not be on much over the next few days, and then again I may be a lot in order to distract myself from some of these feelings. My mother is a wreck and even at a distance I have much to do to help her make this transition.
Again, thank you all. 
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I am so sorry for your loss TM99! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I just spoke again to my mother and her priest. We discussed the funeral, and while I will not be able to be there, they are recording all of it for me. It sounds like it is going to be a wonderful reflection of his spiritual path and for that I am very grateful.
Blessings on your father, you and your family in this time of sorrow.
It has been a long day. I have cried some but I haven't had much time. So many arrangements to be made even at a distance. I finally got to speak with my mother alone and she shared that he died very peacefully. For that I am so thankful. 
When he died this morning, I was teaching a seminar. About 10 minutes after it finished, I got the call from my sister. I smiled, because my father, the professor, is who I got my love of knowledge and sharing that knowledge from.
I've known about your pinned thread since we decided to put it up there, and yet I said nothing. I usually don't because I end up tongue-tied as to what to say, without it sounding trite and half-hearted.
I truly do not know what you're going through because I haven't yet experienced it. Still, I give you my heartfelt condolences at this time, and hope you can accept my apology for remaining quiet through it all
I know that probably three times as many posters here read my thread, reflected on it in their own lives, and may have even offered up prayers without ever letting me know.
Your heart-felt expression now is wonderful, and I thank you for it.
Yes, I had such hope, and yet I know how old and chronically ill he was. He had a wonderful 80+ years of life.
of your wonderful dad. From your words, we were privileged to know him, if only a little. May the peace and love that passes understanding be with you and your family.
Yes, my father was a quietly great man. He was not famous or a celebrity. He was one of those men who through his words and passion inspired not only me but so many other young men and women. That came through with so many that were touched by him even tangentially.
