Jacob Drillich

My father Jacob Drillich was a very, very good man. Sometimes he was misunderstood because he had a tough nature with a temper to match, but he had a very good heart and great character. He cared deeply about the important people in his life-his beloved wife- my sweet mother Minnie his 3 daughters, myself, my sisters Rhona and Audrey, his son-in-law Artie, and his precious grandchildren-Rob, Amy Marisa, Amanda , and Rob’s wife Liz. He was always surrounded by four women, and would throw up his hands in the air and wonder why he was the only male in the family. My father was a complex man. On one hand he did not need many people in his life- only his family and a few close friends. Yet even though he wasn’t a big socializer, he genuinely was a people person. He loved good, nice people and enjoyed to kibbitz with them and have fun. He had a great sense of humor as did my mother Minnie. Also if my father liked you, he was fiercely loyal to you and would do anything for you but, if you were a jerk and irritated him-watch out-he did not suffer fools gladly. He was a simple man who did not give a darn about material things – only people. I am so like him in that way, and proud of it. He knew what truly counted in life. After World War 2, he became a mailman, because back in the 1940’s that was considered a good job that paid well and offered great benefits and a very good pension upon retirement. He could have gone to college and been anything he wanted to be because my father was a very smart man, but he had to work right away to help his mother, who lost her husband when my father was 3, and had a very tough life raising 5 children by herself. My father deeply loved and idolized his mother and also spoke about her his whole life and marveled at her strength to raise 5 children alone, and always bragged about her cooking skills. So he chose not to pursue his desire to be a pharmacist and went to work right away to help his mother, as his brothers and sisters did. My father had no memories of his own father who died when he was 3 years old, but he would tell me that his older siblings would tell him that he was inconsolable when he lost him, comprehending his terrible loss even at that tender young age. My father was also extremely informed and interested in the world around him. There wasn’t a dinner served around the family table without the television turned on to the National News Broadcasts. My family couldn’t talk too much around the table at meal time because my Dad did not want to miss a word of what was going on in the world, especially if it concerned Israel. He was a very proud Jewish man. I know that is how I got my love of watching the news and caring deeply about the world around me. I was at a very early age a total news junkie, and still am to this day. I have always admired people of courage and strength, who would not back down from their principles. I always try to live my life despite my obstacles with that same courage and strength, and so admire people with those qualities. I know I also got that from my father. My dad was before his time as far as taking care of his health was concerned and very conscientious and vigilant about it, while also watching my mother’s health like a hawk because she hated going to doctors. If not for his wonderful devotion and care, she would have passed on a lot sooner. He was always about staying healthy, and I always felt he would live a long life, especially for a man. He did live a long life; he died 6 weeks short of age 94, even though that was not good enough for him or me. He vowed he was going to live to be 100. He would be very mad that he did not achieve that goal. But Dad you came close- you almost made it. You did good enough. Your hard work in taking care of yourself paid off. When my mother Minnie died he was so heartbroken and kept saying how he did not deserve her and that she was too good for him. He would tell everyone, as he put it “I had a good one”- that’s what he would tell everyone. “ I had a good one” he sure did and he cried when he would tell people he lost her despite his best efforts to take care of her. He would cry “I told her to wait for me.” As heartbroken as he was, he never gave up, or lost his zest for life. He was always the life of the party at the senior housing development where he lived. Everybody loved him and thought he was so funny and entertaining. They were so sad and cried when they found out he passed. He would be sad too – my dad still wanted to live as long as possible. Well Dad you did pretty darn good, and now you are going to be reunited with Mommy. She is waiting for you. And so are your beloved mother Rose and your father Max, and your beloved siblings Celia, Davey, Joe and Gertie. My father also had a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews. He loved all of them even you Ollie. He enjoyed all of you as friends as well as family. You all meant the world to him. In his last two years and 7 months of his life, he was also fortunate to have a wonderful aide named Deserie live with him and take excellent care of him. She is such a kind, sweet-hearted woman – I think she reminded him of my mother. My whole family is so grateful to her for all the care and kindness and devotion she showed to him. We can’t thank her enough for all she has done. Well Dad, it is time to let you go now. Your whole family is waiting for you to join them, especially Mom. They’ve missed you so much. And one day your whole family on this side will see you again. As your granddaughter Amanda told me she will always remember her grandfather as always jolly, laughing and chuckling when she would see him because he so loved to laugh, and so enjoyed people, mostly his precious grandchildren, to no end. Love you Dad. You were a good person in every way that counted and we will all miss you and love you every day of our lives until we meet again.