Uncle Armand was such a happy, positive, optimistic and upbeat guy; and he would love all of the fun stories and memories that we’ve been sharing as we look through 83 years worth of pictures and memorabilia.
He was the biggest lifelong Philadelphia sports fan around, but was an even bigger fan of us “kids” - Lauren, Dan, and myself - and our kids. Growing up, he was at every softball game (including my 11 year old all-star game when, after I stole home plate, collided with the catcher, and was bleeding profusely from my upper lip, he yelled from the sideline “roll over and touch home plate so the run counts” - which I did and the run counted before going to the ER and getting 17 stitches!), every piano recital, graduation, birthday, holiday...every major and minor life event, he was right there to celebrate with us. From playing Wiffle Ball on the front lawn to day trips to Belmar Beach, he always had a huge smile in his face and truly enjoyed spending time with his family.
More recently, he loved coming to my kids soccer and baseball games, cheering louder than anyone else from his scooter on the sidelines. Mena and Connor adored him; they’d beg to go visit him at his assisted living facility to get scooter rides up and down the hallways and show him all their new toys, football cards, art supplies, and tell him all that was going on their lives. He was such a good listener and so interested in whatever they had to say, even when Mena would tell him about Harry Potter and he had no idea what she was talking about...he was still just as interested as when Connor would talk about NFL football games and player trades. He loved that Sean was a “guy’s guy” who he could talk about sports with at length, but more importantly, he loved how Sean took care of me and the kids. Family was of utmost importance to him, and he was so happy to see us settled and so happy with our families.
Despite contracting polio at 17 and having limited mobility for nearly 70 years, he never let his physical limitations interfere with his zest for life. He traveled the world with my Aunt Nancy, had an open invitation to sing Dean Martin in all his favorite piano bars, blared Pavarotti on his record player daily, and loved a good meal - especially rack of lamb when it didn’t have that “lamby taste”.
As my Nana was getting older, he and my mom Mary Anne took such good care of her, as she lived with us for over 20 years. They instilled in us as children the importance of family and how family takes care of each other, and having seen their example taking care of my Nana, we knew exactly how to care for him as his needs progressed the past few years. He always said “I don’t know what I did to be so loved” and I always replied with “you loved us so deeply and we love you just as deeply in return”.
Uncle Armand was truly one of a kind - the nicest, most genuinely joyful man - and while we miss him terribly, we are comforted knowing that he’s in heaven with Aunt Nancy and Nana, and that he’s watching over us and laughing along with us as we reminisce about all of the wonderful times we had together.
Rest In Peace Uncle Armand - you are so loved and always will be ❤️
~ Annemarie Murphy
Annemarie Murphy - Tuesday July 23, 2019 via Condolence Message