Born: November 10, 1958
Died: November 01, 2019
"The Creator looked around his garden and found a special place and put his arms around you in a warm embrace and flew you to join mom and dad in their's & now your heavenly place."
—Your brother, Dennis
I would normally relish this view of the New York City skyline from the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel in Weehawken, NJ, where we are staying (photo). But with my brother Michael’s unexpected death, it has taken on a more somber view.
It is ten minutes from Hoboken where Michael, my sister Josephine, brother Stephen and I grew up.
His passing was sudden and a gut wrenching reminder of the fragility of life. He died on Friday, November 1, at around 10 PM. He was 60.
Eerily, his death fell on All Saints Day, one of the six Holy Days on the Roman Catholic Church calendar, when Catholics pray for the faithful departed, my brother-in-law Joseph Mcallister's birthday and 9 days from his birthday (November 10). It was also a day before the anniversary of our late mother Maria's birthday (November 2) who died on Mother’s Day in 2013.
My brother is survived by his sons Michael Jr., Brock, Alex and Andrew Augustine, a serviceman for the Air Force who flew back from his base in Japan to be at his father’s bedside before he passed. My brother always collectively and affectionately referred to them as “My Boys."
Dear Michael, your actions were always kind. You had a big heart and warm smile, always anxious to please and loathe to offend. You were a loving brother, father and faithful friend. I will always treasure the memory of the time you, our brother-in-law Joe went on a camera safari to Kenya and Tanzania for a long overdue vacation. I never saw you so happy and it was the greatest bonding experience a brother could have. May you rest in peace!
Our family welcomes all your thoughts and prayers as the family enters a difficult grieving process.
