Hi Dad,

The other day I woke up and all I could think of this song... and you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZbhrO4IEtI

And how much we all miss you... it will be a month tomorrow since you passed. It seems like forever and yet it seems like it was yesterday that we walked up the street and we went to Benjamin Brothers.

I spent the past week with Mom.  We worked on paperwork and thank you notes.  We went to DPW to speak to the director about the memorial bench at Coopers Pond.  We played and colored with Noah.  We went grocery shopping and even walked around Coopers Pond.  We found the perfect location for the park bench - right near the porta-potty, where you often stopped on your walks around the pond. 

Love you,

Susan

Good-bye and welcome

 My friend Kate posted today, "I really do love this image. After dad died, the thought of him reuniting with family and friends long gone brought me tremendous comfort."

"Goodbye and Welcome" by artist Charles Santoso

So very true, Dad.  It brought me great comfort to think of you and Uncle Jerry and Aunt Betty having Sunday dinner together. Of you and Uncle Jerry having long conversations on Sunday afternoons.

April 1987 - before Steve and Roberta's wedding

October 11, 1986 at Simon and my wedding reception

Aunt Betty made a cake just for the occasion.  And Uncle Walt put a roast in the oven just before he went to church, allowing God to do the cooking, just as he used to do, many years ago.

But I miss you, Dad.

Barbara and I - sometime in the 1960s in Troupsburg, NY - with Uncle Walk

Grand Canyon

Hi Dad,

Been thinking about you lots, and missing you.

The other day a post appeared from February 2013 after your first round of chemo.  You talked about wanting to go see the Grand Canyon.  I'm sorry we never got there with you.

A friend of mine was posting photos yesterday as she was visiting the Grand Canyon (before she is running a 50 mile, yes, 50 mile race).  Its been almost 27 years since I was out there with Simon. I was pregnant with Quentin at the time.

And then today, I went downstairs to run on the treadmill.  And where was today's run on the ifit.... yep, in the Grand Canyon.  And so we ran 4 miles in the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River!

Hope you enjoyed the run... I didn't want it to end...

Missing you, Dad.

Love you,

Susan

What a nice man!

 Tribute read at Dad's funeral by Roberta Masten-Davies

I wanted to take a few minutes to honor my father in law on behalf of Steve and our children. There are so many nice adjectives to describe Dad. Sweet, Kind, caring, loving knowledgeable, wonderful, persistent.

Anyone that got a chance to know my father in law would say the same thing – what a nice man.

So many people from the community have reached out to me via Facebook and said how much they loved working with him and how much they learned from him. He made a difference in the world with everyone he encountered

Steve learned first hand how to fix so many things from Dad – and am I thankful for that.

He taught him electrical, how to fix cars, how to solder pipes together: Dad was Mr. Fix it. Give that man a project and it may take him a whole day but he will fix it.

Steve and I went down to the shore and our Jeep caught on fire. Steve put out the fire and hotwired it home. And dad, wire by wire, rebuilt the engine with Steve.

When I bought my first car that I loved – Dat B10 turquoise. I had the first of many accidents to come. Dad fixed my car dent by dent. I was forever grateful – I kept saying Thank you and and he would say “don’t thank me yet” - We had to wait for it to be finished.  Dad helped us with our first house with endless hours of repairs

Steve had the pleasure of working a few years with dad as an electrician. When Steve worked Belvi electric. Steve would sleep at my house and dad would pick him up and they would go to work together. And dad would always have his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Dad had a strong work ethic which I believe all of his kids got. He was a family man that loved his children and grandchildren with all his heart. My kids loved going on adventures with grandma and grandpa in the big white van and loved the idea that grandpa drove a school bus.

Dad loved hearing about his grandkids and what they were up to his eyes would light up when we told him what they were up to.

Right up until the end dad fought and came back so many times. He was persistent in anything he did. A few days ago Dad even tried to make Steve a cup of coffee.

He had such a big impact in our lives and taught us so much. He has an influence on all his children and grandchildren. We were blessed to have you in our lives and will continue to speak of all the memories so you live on in all our hearts.

Our celebration of your life and love

Friday, February 16, 2018, we celebrated your life and the love you have for all of us.  I refuse to speak in past tense, Dad.  I just can't do it. You may be in a different form, but you're still you.  A good friend of mine offered me this advice:

I once asked my good friend and rather genius science teacher what he thought about that and he simply said, "energy is neither created nor destroyed. Your dad's energy has to be somewhere."

Since there was no nuclear reaction, neither mass nor energy were created nor destroyed. So you are here - just not in the same form.  Though, I surely wish you were hear with us, in the same form you've always been - but one that can breath easily and is without pain.  

Well, back to Friday.  We celebrated your life with Mass at St. Anthony Church in Northvale. Fr. Jerry did a wonderful job with the homily, using the tributes we sent him to portray you as the man you are... the one who was always willing to see the best in everyone, who never forgot anyone, who never spoke ill of anyone.  

We picked Scripture passages that spoke to us - of love, of food and sharing bread, and of the hope of eternal life together.  Jennie picked the Old Testament reading:
⁶ On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
    a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
    the best of meats and the finest of wines.
⁷ On this mountain he will destroy
    the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
⁸     he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
    from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
    from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

- Isaiah 25: 6-8

I picked the New Testament reading:
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

- Acts  2: 42-47

And Fr. Jerry picked the Gospel reading:

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

- John 13: 34-35

We are so proud of Mom.  She hadn't planned to get up to offer a eulogy, but she did.  I stood by her as she thanked those who came to honor you, as she spoke of your kindness and love.  And then Christopher, wearing one of your flannel shirts, joined us on the altar.  Roberta and Jennie both gave their eulogies also, telling stories of you fixing cars and driving them here and there - on long windy roads.  And wishing for just one more ride.  Yes, Dad, its really hard to let go.

Well Mom and Steve took you to the luncheon via - what else - but your Model A!

At the luncheon, Brenda, the hospice chaplain said grace and Erica sang your song.  I'll post the video when Roberta sends it to me.  

And then at the end of the day, we celebrated your life and love with Bischoff's sundaes - because your celebration would not be complete without ice cream. 

Love you, Dad!!!!

Tribute to Papa

Tribute to Papa – written by Paulette Murphy

William G Masten was truly one of a kind. He was a loving and devoted husband. Married for what seemed like a lifetime in which he dedicated all of himself to his beautiful wife and family. He was one of the most caring fathers you could ever meet. Raising his children with everything he had and giving off a little piece of himself to each and everyone one of them. When you look into the hearts of his four children, you honestly can see him in all of them.

He devoted his life to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. When his children had all grown older and had children of their own his job still continued. He poured out more of himself to each and every one of his grandkids. There was more than enough love to go around! He helped raise his grandchildren and shaped them into the people they are today.

If you look into the hearts of his 8 grandchildren, you see a piece of him in each and everyone. Yet again the house didn't grow quiet as he continued to play an important role of raising his great grand children. The smallest of the small still had a piece of their papa in their hearts so great that you could see a bit of him when you looked at them.

His love was so great that he could light up any room or brighten any situation. He loved his family, his friends, his neighbors, his coworkers, his pets, and just about anyone who crossed his path. He could find the good in any human being.

William Masten was a hard-working man. He would have worked until the very last moment if you let him. He made sure that he provided for his family and that all of their needs were met. He always put his family first! His job working for Bergen county sewer wasn't an easy one. It was often dangerous and yet he went out every day with a smile on his face because well he was making a living to care for those he loved. When the time came and he decided to retire, he couldn't stay at home and do nothing. It just wasn't in his nature so he continued to work driving a bus filled with children with his loving wife as his aide.

He showered the children and their families with love. Always going above and beyond. Of course there came a point in his life at a young 87 years old when driving the bus just wasn't possible anymore. He was busy working around the house at this point and continued to raise grandchildren and great grandchilsren while going to many, many doctor appointments and chemo therapy treatments.

Yet his love still poured forth. His love for the medical staff and nurses who cared for him these last few years was a beautiful sight to see. The staff at the hospital often would come in a hug him when they saw him because they remembered him from a previous visit and he had touched their hearts.

Although he was weak at times he continued to get down on the floor and play with his great grandchildren and teach them many skills they would need in life. Most importantly he taught them to love. He continued to push on and strive to be the best husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather he could be.

I loved my grandfather, I admired him, I am proud to be his granddaughter. I know all of you loved him too and that each and everyone of us will continue to carry a piece of him in our hearts and souls. He will live on through each and every one of us. And while it is natural for us to be sorry he is gone-it is infinitely more important for us to be happy he lived and to continue to let him live through us!