XaiJu
funeralkazoo
funeralkazoo

patreon


My father, Eugene Choma, 1935-2023

It is with the deepest sadness and thankfulness for the life he shared that I tell you that today I lost my father, Eugene Choma. He fled the Russian Army from his homeland in Ukraine to lead a life of hardship and adventure and profound love in Canada. The story of his life is too hard to capture here and my heart is too broken to try. I love him deeply and will miss him forever. With his encouragement, I will return to the show quickly, but for now I need to be with my mother who is also deeply heartbroken.

The photo of him holding me as a child remains one of my most cherished possessions, because it shows how I always felt when I saw him.

My father, Eugene Choma, 1935-2023 My father, Eugene Choma, 1935-2023

Comments

Molly, I'm sending love your way. I've been in a bad headspace for some time, but it does fill my cup so-to-speak when I hear from someone who found some solace or something helpful about the show.

Dr Z, I never thought about it this way before, but maybe there is a point to death and loss, that it brings people together through shared or similar circumstances. It can help people empathize, put us on a level playing field. And although I've spent the bulk of this this year to date in a bad headspace and a bit of a dark place, I know my feelings will change slowly over time. I appreciate you sharing, no matter how long it is. Look how long it took for me to respond...

I’m late to the conversation but I wanted to respond and say I’m sorry for your loss. Your dad sounds amazing and I know he must have been so proud of you. I hope you and your mom and everyone else who loved him find comfort in his memory and feel his spirit in the world. I lost my dad in May and I ended up taking long walks around my parents neighborhood listening to your podcast (the one about the Russian nuclear accident that isn’t Chornobyl was new but I enjoyed the back catalogue as well) and I found it comforting. It made me laugh when nothing else did, it gave me perspective and it reminded me of him because he had a smart, dark sense of humor too. I should have said something earlier and I should have subscribed long ago but I am here now. Take care of yourself please! Your podcast is my favorite and I look forward to it, I can’t wait to hear the longer episodes.

Apologies for not saying this sooner, but I'm so sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like an incredible human being. I'm fortunate to still have my amazing parents. I call them nearly everyday. They mean the world to me. I'm so happy to finally live close enough again to visit more frequently than twice a year. This is a reminder for me to continue making time for them and to visit in person more often. My dad had a rifle catastrophically explode on him while target shooting over the holidays. The only thing that saved his life is that he was shooting a right-handed gun left handed. He's a former Spec. Ops. vet and always said "when its yojr time to go, its your time to go". I'm so grateful that his time hadn't come yet. It sounds to me like your father improved the lives of numerous people along the way (and he obviously graced the world with an amazing son!). I suppose he had finally fulfilled his purpose on this earth, and it was time for him to move on. That said, it will always be too soon for those our loved ones leave behind. I believe he's still with you in spirit and will guide and protect you (Obi-Wan Kenobi style) through the rest of your life. I'm pretty sure my grandparents were promoted to my guardian angels (I need more than one) because I have no other explanation for a handful of extremely close calls where a gut feeling saved my life. Damn, this comment got really long...

Thank you, Mr. Park. I just realized your avatar is the spectre of death presumedly taking someone on a date to the River Styx there. But you're right about living in people's minds. There is a version of you right now living in the minds of everyone you've ever met, and they're all slightly different.

Always Remember, Mr. Choma. No one ever dies as long as they live on in the memories of those who continue on!

Thanks Gary, but on a brighter note, welcome aboard!

(Hug.)

Sorry to hear such sad news. Sympathy, hugs and take the time you and your family need.


More Creators