July 23, 1947 - Feb 26, 2016

Francis Rodrigues passed away February 26, 2016. Francis is survived by his soul mate and wife Cecilia Ashton Rodrigues and loving daughters Anastasia Hernandez, Michelle Rodrigues, Victoria Rodrigues and Tara Rodrigues. Grandfather to ten.

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The past few months have shown me how my dad positively impacted so many lives. It has given me the opportunity to witness the way, that one person can affect so many others, without asking for anything in return… It has truly humbled me.

During dads last weeks in the hospital, people upon people flowed through his room, overspilling into the day room, the quiet room and even the ward corridors. Messages, flowers, phone calls, letters - an outpouring of love, a testament to the man he was.

As many of you know, my dad could be a man of few words—but his main form of communication was action. If any of us expressed that we wanted a certain food or drink in the house, he’d disappear and go get it. If the garden needed cutting he would appear the next day with a lawnmower. If the car needed fixing then the next day it would be taken to the garage. If you needed help, he would always be there.

What I’ll always appreciate most about my dad, was how supportive he was. How he taught me to drive and always told me, from my first lesson to my last, I was the best driver which I knew to be untrue but it didn't matter, he had confidence in me. He never said “I told you so”, never shouted at me, he never judged me.

Just before dad became really unwell, we were having a heart to heart and I said “Pops I have met someone”. For most dads the first questions would be... What does he do for work... Where is he from... How old is he? But not my dad. His first question was... “Will he look after you and the girls”. I said yes... And his reply was… "then plum I am happy for you. You deserve some happiness". And that's the kind of man he was. The detail was unimportant, the only thing that mattered was that the people he loved were happy. And if there was anything he could do within his power to aid that, then he would do it. And he knew that all I wanted was his blessing.

Friday 26th February 2016 will remain the worst day of my life. Whilst every night that week I had waited by my phone expecting the phone call, the heart wrenching moment when it arrived will remain in my mind forever. “He's gone” - those two words have irreversibly changed my life.

The world will always be a little less bright, since I will miss his conversation, his silence, his laugh, his smile, I will miss walking into the living room and seeing him sat opposite the television, feet up, Ipad in hand watching eastenders, I will miss the relationship that he had with Mya and Olivia, the love that he showed them, the care with which he looked after them, I will miss his presence in my life… When I get lost who will direct me home, when I am heartbroken who will hug me, when I get dressed up who will tell me “you look nice plum”. Who else will love me unconditionally?

I know you can hear me dad. I can feel you around me already, carrying me through these difficult times, telling me it will be ok, saying don't cry Vics.

I miss you. I love you. I will be forever proud to call you 'my dad'.

By Victoria Rodrigues (daughter)