Michael J. Dwyer

It was such a privilege to be introduced to your mom and dad on my trip last october to visit my daughter Angie Brewster and her familyin Houston. Your little mom came over to the yard sale and just has one of the sweetest and kindest little faces I have ever seen.You would think we had known each other for ever. Sawyer and I went to their house latter and I got to meet your dad. They made me feel so welcome in their home and both gave me a hug. I am so sorry for your lost but, thankful that he is not in pain.You have been richly blessed with great parent. May God protect all of you and give you strength and support for each other at this time.God Bless each and everyone of you. Your friend in Christ. De Lora

I had the privilege of living next door to the Dwyers during my first years of parenthood. It was truly a blessing and Mike always had a smile and a helping hand. It was a sad day for me when the Dwyers moved from our small Pennsylvania town. My condolences to the family.

Barbara Gough
Ashland, PA

I am sorry for your loss and offer my deepest sympathy. I will always remember Uncle Mikes' kind hospitality when the Hoods would come visiting from Rome, NY. He was a terrific father and has a wonderful family to show for it.

Jackie&family-----memories are many--he will remain with us forever---GOD BLESS. bob&peg.

Memorial Ceremony Remarks:

Good Morning,

There are obviously quite a few Dwyer’s in this room plus my two sisters and their wonderful families, the Berkeys & the Roadarmels. We also have friends who have come to share this time with us. I want to particularly thank our friends for being with us today.

We are here to both mourn the passing of and to celebrate the life of Mike Dwyer. Several of us called him “Dad”, his grandchildren called him “Pop-Pop”. I used to jokingly call him “Mickey”. I am not even sure where that name came about. He liked humor and joking. My son Kevin pulled me aside recently and pointed out how confusing it was to anyone who didn’t know us that my Dad primarily called my mother “Mom” and I always called my mother “Grammy”. The fact is that my dad did not care what you called him, as long as you were together and enjoying each others company.

When I think about it, my Dad led a relatively straightforward life. He grew up in a small town in PA. He went to a very small Catholic School and was raised by the nuns. Grade school & high school were in the same relatively small building. There were 26 kids in his High School graduating class. He, like all the other boys during that time, went immediately off to war where he served in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Upon his return to PA he met my mother and started a family. Kids filled the house quickly - at least in the case of three of us. That was in the early fifties. My parents took some time off, waited until the early sixties, and then had a set of twins. Somehow I got stuck with changing their diapers more that the other two. When the twins were in their early teens they all moved to Indiana.

But when you look back to the early fifties, from the very beginning, once the kids came, my Dad, along with my mother, then went about their most important job. Providing for and raising a family. While my dad’s work as a draftsman at the local Alcoa plant was important, there was nothing that he was more dedicated to than his family. Our family became and continued to be the center of my dad’s existence.

For many decades he supported us both financially and emotionally. He never really pushed us hard. He wanted us to lead a good life but was OK with whatever we did, as long as it followed Christian values and was committed to our families. Following through on the early influence of the nuns, I regularly saw him stuffing the very limited $5.00 bill he had into an envelope addressed to the Maryknoll Fathers. His religion was important to him. He was easy going and mild most moments, however did possess a sudden burst of Irish temper & stubbornness at times. My mother would attest to this, I am sure. It is certainly good that none of his offspring ever picked up the trait.

My parents retired in the early 1990’s and moved here to Houston. This is where most of their grandchildren were and there was no stronger draw. Together my parents helped raise the younger ones that you see here today. They are their pride & joy. Their stamp, a good stamp, is on all of them.

I recently sat with my Dad at the bottom of his bed at his home. It was just the two of us. He made it very easy for me to talk to him. I told him how proud I was to be his son. He told me, in a very clear and controlled manner, not to be sad. He said that he had a wonderful life and that he was so very proud of his family. He told me that he felt so fortunate to have the experience and that it was now time to go. I have never in my entire life seen a person with such class and someone so peaceful.

The fact of the matter is that there are five adults in this room who are so fortunate to have had Mike Dwyer as our father and to have Jackie Dwyer as our mother. And to be members of the family – or should I say “families” that they and God created.

In closing, I thank my brother Dennis, my sisters Sue & Denise and especially my mother for the long hours, day & night, that they sat with my dad the past few days, weeks and months. I would also lie to thank my brother Mike for his resent visit and for his prayers all during this time.

While we will severely miss our Dad, we know he is at peace.

Thank you.

Jack Dwyer

My husband and I only met Mike (and Jackie) once, but enjoyed our short visit with him - as neighbors to Jack and Sharon. Having just lost my father-in-law in December, we are empathetic to your loss of one still young. He is in a better place and no longer suffers. Bob and I pray for strength and peace for the family.

Dear Dad,

I simply want to say thank you for the beautiful gift you have left with us.

That gift is the wonderful example you have set for your children and grandchildren.

You were so caring, loving, supportive, generous, and kind to all of us.

This is your legacy and it means more to us than anything else you could have achieved in life.

You and Mom have raised a great family for which you should be proud, and for which we will be forever grateful.

Cancer did not invade your soul.

Cancer did not steal God’s gift of eternal life.

Knowing this will get us through the days ahead. You are now in an awesome place, where there is no more pain and suffering.

We look forward to seeing you again one day, and together we will sing praises to our Lord and Savior.

I Love You,
Dennis