My Great Grandfather : The Phoenician People Who Disappeared From History 2000 Years Ago Essay

My great-grandmother was the matriarch of my family. When I was in seventh grade, around thirteen years old, she passed away due to breast cancer. This misfortune created an extremely difficult time for me because, not only was I adjusting to the environment of junior high, but many other issues were occurring in my life; this was the third death that I was having to deal with. Unfortunately, one of the previous deaths (that I was still trying to hurdle through and come to terms with), had occurred almost exactly a year before the passing of my great-grandmother. The second death that I had gone through occurred only one or two months before my great-grandma has passed. All of this turmoil created numerous internal conflicts for me, but also taught me a key lesson to keep note of, for the rest of my life.

At some point of our lives, we’ve all wondered who our ancestors are, and what might

On May 11th 2013, my grandma passed away due to pancreatic cancer. A little later that year on September 25th, my mom received a call from my aunt in Guam that my dad had passed away in his sleep. Then on May 14th 2014, my grandpa passed from complications of an allergic reaction to a medication. So within a year, I was left to deal with three immediate family deaths, one right after another. Losing such important figures in one’s life could leave someone depressed and unmotivated to move on with their own life and to rise above those challenges is difficult, yet possible. During this time of hardship, I grew discouraged and saddened, but over time I became motivated to set aside these struggles and make a change.

The grandparents of both sides of my family based their faith in fundamentalist Christianity. The dominant religious beliefs are Congregationalism or modern day Church of Christ on the maternal line primarily due to the influence of my maternal step-grandmother Georgia. My grandfather (Uhlan) was influenced by her in

I was raised mostly by mom after my father wasn’t in place once I was 10. I learned, both my paternal great-grandparents are deceased bon in the years 1909 and 1911. I do however remember a slight glimpse my father’s mother (my grandmother). She would always have homemade chocolate chip cookies for me every time I come visit. She passed away when I was 12. My father dad (my grandfather), I don’t remember much about him. I only remember that he enjoyed fishing, but never would invite me on his trips because he would say “It’s too dangerous out on the water kiddo”. Unfortunately, he too was diagnosed with cancer and passed when I was

In 2015 my grandmother died. When I received the news I was on the couch and my mother told me “Miguel we have to talk” I was sweating because my mother was so serious and she told me that my grandmother was dead, and in that moment all I could think about was being back in the Dominican Republic, growing up with her, imagining the moments I spent in her house and the mornings that I sat in her living room, watching TV and smelling her amazing food wafting through the pass-through window from the kitchen. Then I snap back on reality and realize the future my grandmother would want for me.

Lebanon is my hometown, that is where I was born and raised. I moved to america when I was thirteen years old to live with near my grandparents. Lebanon and america are two very different cultures in many ways.

My grandfather, J. King Burk, is a man of very few words, but if you get to know him you will come to find that he has been through a lot in his lifetime. My brother and I have a connection with him that most grandchildren don’t have with their grandparents because he was with us when our parents separated. He understands how difficult it is to be raised by one parent, he helped raise my brother and I, and I go to him when I’m making important decisions.

In reading this book it triggered a memory from over ten years ago. In 2001, I lost my great-grandmother to heart related issues. For me her death went farther than just losing a relative. As far back as I can remember my great-grandmother was a part of my daily life. My mother had me when she was still in high school so naturally she still lived at home. My father was nonexistent in

My grandmother’s parents immigrated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania from a small town in Poland close to Warsaw. As a young child she spoke two languages Polish at home and English when she went to school or with friends. Life started out very difficult and never really got any easier.. Her life continued to get worse when she lost her husband in a mining accident and her eldest son to a car accident. My grandma used to tell me the stories of their deaths, and how it taught her how strong she really is. She turned the hardships in her life into something beautiful, something joyous, and something sentimental. These moments shaped her into who she is, but they do not define her. These moments that she shares allow me to move on and find something joyful about every situation even if they are not be ideal. When my grandfather passed away my grandmother gave me the strength to look on the brighter side of the situation instead of the sad side.

My grandma had survived a hard life, and yet managed to raise four responsible, well-educated, and successful children. All this she did while working as a respected psychiatric nurse and a state mental health board member. Although she had had and was still overcoming trials in life, I always knew she would be there and cared about me and my life. As my brother and I grew older and were unable to visit my grandparents as often as we

One impactful story that I’ve heard on numerous occasions has been the passing of my great uncle as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. For the last five years, my grandparents have made light of this unfortunate event whenever the entire family is together. My great uncle was born and raised in Sherbrooke, Quebec and was an individual of great intelligence and sensitivity. One such example of this was his uncanny ability to play the piano by memorizing chords and scales. In addition, I hear stories from the past that my great uncle was an avid chess player and was able to win narrowly every time against his opponent. When my great uncle retired to the state of Florida in 1989, he spent a great deal of time playing golf and collecting VHS tapes

You know it’s funny how some things are passed through families. It’s the first thing we learn as a Barger, or whatever you are, but some things aren’t. Some are just unspoken, but others are only talked about a few times and never learned. Last year, in English class, we got a worksheet about Heros. I picked my Papa Tim because he really was an amazing man and soon I wouldn’t be able to talk to him. We came to a question that asked, If you could give any advice to the youth today, what would it be? He said, breathing slowly taking breaks often, “Well when I graduated from college my dad, Pop, pulled me aside and told me something I’ve kept with me every day since. When you go through life Tim, you will encounter many people and just remember to always be a diplomat in your relationships.” After this, I REALLY thought about those words. I thought about how I’ve seen them alive in my Grandpa. I thought how kind and never failing generous he was. To be honest, I thought why I didn’t see this in my Aunt and mom all the time. I shared some words, I shared this. My mom, my aunt, my Grandma, and my Grandpa’s wife, didn’t even know this. These epic words would have been forgotten, lost with my Grandpa, if it wasn’t for luck. If it wasn’t for Mrs.Fulton and Mr.Norris. A trait so beautiful would have been lost. After I shared my poem, sooo many people came up to congratulate me for sharing, something that’s true. I realized I have to

My grandfather’s death was one of the first major deaths that my family and I had ever experienced. It changed me completely as a person, and helped me make the best of my life. Not taking a thing for granted. My education, commitment to sports and clubs, and family became much more important to me.

My grandfather had been working in his old antique shop since before he and my grandmother got married. He had tons of antiques from I don 't even know what age. On the weekends, I would help him run the shop, but one day, I had to work longer than I expected, for my grandfather had gotten an emergency call from the hospital. This is where my story begins.