My Uncle gave me many gifts throughout his life. Of the greatest significance are:

Patience: He was a skilled and trusted mechanic that hand picked my "dream" car at the auction. Needless to say, my Camaro needed work done and he completed and delivered my car months, closer to a year, later. The waiting was challenging but I knew that the car would be safe and reliable.

Guidance: I suffered my first panic attack at the age of 18. I knew my Uncle battled panic attacks too, so I reached out to him. He guided me through that time of my life and encouraged me to seek professional help. I recall him telling me "you don't want to end up like me". I will forever be grateful.

Family: I babysat his children, my cousins, every summer while growing up. I witnessed the love he had for his wife and kids as well as his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. My fondest memories are waking up in the middle of the night to the smell of cigarette smoke and hearing my Mom and Uncle talk for hours. As I got older, I joined them. To this day, the smell of fresh cigarette smoke brings me comfort. Family was everything to him and he was everything to us.

Dignity: I had many a conversation with my Uncle about death. Suffering with panic, the ultimate fear is a sudden overwhelming fear that you are going to die. I was honored to be with my Uncle when he took his last breath. His last lesson was to show us how to pass from this life with dignity surrounded by love. Being present at that moment makes death seem not so scary.

My heart is breaking for my Aunt Kathy, Angie, Tony, Norman, Erika, the boys and my entire Banich family. I find solace in knowing that he is no longer physically suffering and enjoying the company of his parents, aunts, uncles and nephews that went before him.

Gone from our sight but never from our hearts,

Denise