2 days ago at around 5:00 AM, my dear granddad Frederick Villuame passed away in his sleep at age 91. It does make me sad, but in a way, I do feel it's for the best. He was very forlorn and limited by the time he passed away in rehab. Most importantly, the day before, I got everything I needed to say to him before his trip to the afterlife. The thing I remember most about him was his unlimited generosity, and I think he loved trains as much as I did. Not as much that he had his own for his hobby, but I think the trains really made him feel much younger inside. I will miss him dearly, but I still remember the good times we had years ago, and I'm glad I have the trains we used to play because they bring back so many memories, especially of Christmas past. They mean too much to me, and Pops means too much to me. He was the best friend I ever had.
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Thomas
Sorry for your loss!!! My condolences to you and your family
I am so sorry for your loss. Always treasure the time you had together and keep these memories alive. Your best friend will forever be by your side.
Our condolences to you and your family. What a nice tribute to your Granddad. Thanks for the wonderful photo of the two of you. Very meaningful.
Hi Thomas,
Very sorry for your loss. He certainly had a full life and passed the way I hope I do, sneak away in my sleep! Also nice that you were able to have closure and will remember him with your trains. Obvious that you loved him very much! Thank you for sharing with us!
Rich
Condolences Thomas, it is great to have those memories and the trains that make them come back to you.
I am very sorry for your loss.
My condolences for your loss.
A very nice tribute. It seems you were ready and he was ready. So thank you for letting us share your fond memories.
.....
Dennis
So sorry for your loss.
Peter
Thomas,
Sorry to hear this news. Cherish the memories and he will always be with you.
Please accept my condolences.
I'm sorry for your loss of your Granddad. He must have felt very gratified about the time you spent with him, whether discussing trains or anything else.
My grandfather died when I was three, but I remember him with great affection to this day. During the Depression, he built a platform layout for his children (one of whom was my mother), and spent a great deal of time adding features and details to it. There wasn't a lot of money to go around, but with his exceptional manual skills, he was able to use common materials to make the layout come alive. The train was a prewar Lionel #1700 "Lionel Jr." articulated streamliner. Not an expensive set by any stretch, but it must have seemed like the very top of the Lionel line to Mom's family.
A few years ago, I restored the streamliner to operating condition once more (cosmetically, it was fine). And I have three of the miniature wooden houses he made for the layout, along with a schoolhouse, farmhouse and passenger station. All of them were much the worse for the intervening years, but I was able to restore them to like-new. The streamliner shares an honored shelf with my father's Lionel #252 passenger set, and the structures are on my layout today.
Granddad may well have been the inspiration for my lifelong interest in railroads, prototype and model. For that and for many other things, I still thank him.
Sorry to hear abut your loss. It is great that you got to have such good times with your grandfather to remember. The great memories will always be with you.
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate the comforting words. I know Pops is smiling up there.
Very sorry to hear of your loss.
I lost my father a few years back and it hurts, but time will make it easier to handle.
Remember the good times, cherish your time together.
Good Luck and May God Bless you and yours.
Very sorry to hear of your loss, Thomas.
Cherish the memories of your grandfather. Trust me, they become more precious over time. I won't tell you not to grieve or that he had a long, full life. No matter how long we have our loved ones, the pain of their loss doesn't pass quickly - especially if we truly loved them.
May God bless you and your family.
George
May the warmest of memories comfort your loss and may friendship divide your sorrow.
So sorry to hear. He had a good long life, hope the same for you.
My condolences to you and your family.
-Greg
Thomas, my condolences to you and your family.
It was my Grandfather who ignited my interest in trains and took me to the hobby shops every Christmas season to get something new. He taught me to build benchwork and worked with me on my layouts until he became ill.
Our Grandfathers will always be watching our layout progress and you'll think of him through your journey through the hobby.
Thomas,
Please accept our condolences for your loss.
Norm Rish
May he rest in peace!!!!!
I'm so very sorry for your loss Thomas. He lives on through you, and now, through all of us.
I never met either of my grandfathers as they died before I was born. I'd give anything to hug them just once.
I am very sorry to hear of your grandfathers passing. Treasure the memories of the good times you had together and know that he is at peace.
Jon
Sorry for your loss Thomas.
While my American Grandfather was not into trains I inherited my love of American cars and Sears Craftsman tools from him. My best memory was being able to take him for a drive in my newly purchased DMC shortly before he passed away in 2001.
The years just melted away....
Nick