Miss you so... am so very sorry to hear about you Father. meeting him was a true delight. hang in there, I am praying for you.

Rose and Family,
So incredibly sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad.Thinking and Praying for allof you.

Rose and family So Sorry for your loss, Your Father was such a wonderful spirit.

Rose, Geri and I wish to offer our condolences. We will always remember when he came to our Gathering at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, He played his harmonica for our enjoyment. His music will live forever in your heart.
Gary and Geri Craven

Albert, Rose, Pat, and Family
I was so sorry to hear when your father passed away.
He always had a smile and glad to see you. 
He enjoyed laughing as he visited with you. 
Ben was a good man and a father to be proud of and his life.
I always enjoyed my time with him and will miss him too.
Remember all the good memories that you had with him and that will help through the tough times
All of your family is on my mind and prayers

Dear Rose and Family,
So Sorry to hear about your Papa .... So Good to know that he is with Jesus. Our Love and Prayers are with all of of you. miss you

Albert,
 Im so sorry for you and your families loss.Love to you and to your family.

Dear Rose,
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved father. It is never easy to say good-bye to our loved ones. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of bereavement. Thanks for letting me know and for sharing the wonderful photographs.

Rose,
I am so sorry to hear about your father's passing. He lived a long happy life. For that you can be grateful!
Karen Petersen
Black Diamond Realty, LLC

Rosie and Albert,

Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful pictures of your Dad and family.  I know he went to be with angels in the best way possible.  Your hearts are missing him so much I know.  I feel so lucky to have known him for so many years.  I will always have such great memories of him. 

Love to you all. 

Pammie

Loved your Dad so much Rosie and Albert!!  I will always have the wonderful memories of him.  I know how loved he was by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Ben was a very kind soul and will be so missed.  Our hearts go out to your entire family during this time of loss. Hugs to all of you wish I could be there with you all.  Pam and Bruce Reichenberger

I miss you Papa... I wrote you a long letter about all the love our family has for you ... Ill save it and we can read it one day. Your long wonderful life was full of Kindness, Generosity and Love, Listening  and Patience. Thank you for many years of the lessons, you taught by example.
Enjoy Heaven, Christ's Peace and presence....
all my love forever more,  your Rose

Papa ...i miss you so much....you were always there for me and for all of us.That humor of yours was so light hearted and those two thumbs up was always a 
sign of things were okay.Your gentle way of calming the storm was such a gift and a lesson to be learned. to stay calm..."not to worry" "be happy" "do the best you can do" "keep the family together" "love one another, always".... your voice is engraved in my heart forever. 
Your beloved son, Albert Joseph carries your middle name and your same birth- day...He also carries your heart. This is all too bittersweet... he really thought you might live too 100! Your earlier years of travel with your son were like too buddies exploring. The sense of discovery for you both had to be enlighting and endearing... All the while Papa you were watching over him, protecting and raising him. Most parents try to raise their children well, 
You did the best you could do and my brother and proud uncle turned out to be an honorable, honest, loving and generous man... fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree , as they say. 
You insisted no one else barber your hair... we all knew it was because that was a very special time together...Your sense of entertainment was identical, and you both clearly have a individual style all it own. You encouraged us to be our own person. No regrets. 
You encourage him to have a business, one that would sustain integrity of its own. Your positive influence and your principled ideas has stayed with your son and been a major guiding influence to this very day.There are few words from your son....Other than..."I miss you dearly Papa".... "Being an orphan is aweful"... He is so bereaved...Father and a son.... Inseparable, strong and magical...one of a kind. 
Albert was truly the only one that could provoke a true feeling of nostalgia for you... and through those special times your bond with your son was extraordinary. Albert truly understood your wistful affection for the past, he provided a true period and place for you to go to together. Those associations always ended on a Happy, Joyful note. 
Papa you and your son always enjoyed a good quote ... here is one for you both.... 
I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, perhaps with a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning J.P priestly 1894-1984(English author)We will stay together ...no worries , papa. 
What to do now without my starbucks buddy... you would light up when your 
mocha frapacchino xtra whip, came out ... won't be the same ever. Those entire car rides singing to John Denver, Frankie Sinatra the ole classics, big bands and westerns on the AMC channel... you even like our music... you stayed current. 
I still see you whistling or tapping your hands to the beat... never missed a beat, either. Music ran through your veins. 
You'll always be at the table on Sundays for Pasta, homemade rigatonis, hot Italian bread and those...few glass of that good red, you always asked for.... or your grandson Nick's homeade brew beer... critiquing the taste and wanting to know how he made his recipe...if you had more than one glass of the brew over the wine then Nick knew he won out over the wine... that was victory! You attended almost every soccer, baseball and sporting and religious event of his... even his wedding... you were always present. 
Your grandson, was always ready to help you in and out of the cars or hanging or assembling items for your apartment or just plain visiting about anything really... you had a lot in common and the love was felt and showed between you both. Nick always walked along side you, lending a hand, helping you lead the way. 
Nick new you could do it he just made sure you didn't stumble and you never did. You were sure-footed and stable all the way through. 
We still jest about him having the same hands as you do.... handsome hands, identical... strong, stately and most of all giving just like you grandpa.Nick always checked in to see if you were comfortable and you and him would chuckle ... when he addressed you as the "Grampinator"!! 
Whether fine dining or assisted living chow you were such a foodie.... Didn't want to be in your way if you did not like it. Yes, you had a good appetite and palate... your craving for hot food was like no other... ever!Pizza night was amazing to watch you put hundreds of hot pepper seeds (hot flakes) on you pizza.... we all watched in amazement. Even those last 3weeks with us you were still eating pizza with seeds.... we all said that was one of your secrets to long life... "fire in the veins"! 
Visiting with your granddaughter Lauren, offered you great pleasure as well. Happily dotting over you, she read to you whether it be menus or articles or just plain assisting you to understand what was being said ...Lauren became your mentor, teacher. 
As your eyes failed and hearing weakened she would make sure you understood the words. Through her patience ...you felt at ease, a sense of comfort that all was going to be okay.Lauren called frequently during the week checking on you. You both knew it brought joy to both of you. She spent time taking you shopping and that day was for you alone. She is the one that always insisted on Rigatoni as the pasta of choice. 
You watched her grow into the beautiful person she became from dance recitals to soccer making her first communion and etc.... all the way to her wedding day, she enjoyed sharing her time and love with you as you did her. 
You once told me  her greatest achievement will be her children, she is a good mother and will do very well with her family Thanks Papa.. yes she will.We all know you were thrilled when Isabella izzie was born... and we were so thankful that you could be with us during those special moments in memory. You adored and appreciated your grandkids and they knew that. There sense of belonging was real and they'll will never be another one like you... it showed. 
Their spouses Katelyn Boesen and Santino Bruno "Santo", you would call him... touched your life. 
Katelyn would always give you squeeze hugs and touch you, she enjoyed your acknowledgement, she would bend down closely to you ... your laughter together would cause us to pause, and look... like... did we miss something, we all wanted to be a part of that. That something special you had with her for over a decade.... 
" Katelyn you always called her, always asked how you were and just knew he could count on you.He knew if CPR was ever needed (he called you his nurse) you would be there. It comforted him ... 
and Katelyn always enjoyed showing and giving you the love and kindness she so very much wanted to share with you too. 
When your 1st great grand daughter was bornMila Rose, your holding her was the single most greatest joy at that moment, seeing the look in you eyes as you teared up and smiled with such great amazement, and you wanting to live forever so you could watch her grow up too.Katelyn, always made sure you had plenty of time to hold the baby... and just watch you and Mila enjoy that moment together. 
Papa, Katelyn will always remember how much you enjoyed and loved her. 
Papa, that endearing way that you would call on Santino Santo only you could do. It made it special for him.Not everyone was given a nickname.... But Santino had his.There was never a handshake only genuine hugs from you both. Papa you were eager to listen to Santo's share his idea's and thoughts on many a subject.... 
Always appreciated very much how Santo would fix every glitch on your telephone and share photos or videos of yourself through his eyes. Santo... was always willing to help you, enjoy you, and listen to you and feel your kindness. Santino, was very touched by the Love you and all the family have for each other. 
Papa, you were like a grandfather to him as well. You were able to strike a curiosity cord with Santino ... whether playing the harmonica or your taste in nice textiles .... 
Like back in the day you would say we dressed nice and there was a classic look about you.Santino , appreciated your classic, vintage style. He still holds very dear to him the little items that will forever be keepsakes. Santino, never hesitated when it came to you, papa... he trusted you ... and loved you very much. Santo loved hearing all your stories.... Too. 
Even when I would walk away Santino would still be there just listening taking it all in. 
We will always be grateful how you accepted deeds no matter how big or little gestures of kindness... you always made sure that ... that person felt special. This reflection is one he will always remember and hold very dear to him. 
Papa, you lived in the moment.always never missing a Halloween taking turns at their house passing out candy. There was a tradition that started 25years ago... it stared with you Gloria Essy (patricks mom ). All the way to 2015... even one year just recently not long ago dressed as Darth vadar. 
The only complaint if ever was .... We would all run out candy and hour into trick or treat...your generosity cost us a small fortune in candy.And boy sometimes you could really put some fear into those poor little kids. 
I'll remember and use some of those tricks! 
Lilly (tea cup poodle) will miss you keeping her company on your lap... we know she kept you company too, papa. Caesar, K.C., Vinnie, Sonnuchi, Gabi,Capone, Luca,Frankie, Lilly... how they would wag there tails... 
they knew a good toss of a toy or some extra treats were in store.... not to mention the good scratch behind the ear they would get whenever you walk in. 
You were an avid walker... miles and miles you would cover... on foot, city hiking... I'd like to call it. You will be remembered for sure loving the outdoors and spending your days sharing kindness and spreading joy to everyone you met. 
And how about all that music you gave all of us on your "mouth harp" Harmonica.... never missed a birthday or holiday... the rolls of coins, you would save and wrap them in the coin paper sleeve.... Always saving your money... you taught me well. The comics' newspaper as the wrapping paper... Never store bought. Nope! 
Every birthday, Christmas... comics from the funny pages. The good chocolates, yummy. The three stooges ... out side your door at assisted living ... not to mention the life size one in your apartment. 
The staff...adored you and the sense of humor... how you would greet the staff in the early morning hours and let them in ... as to let know they had someone that cared 
enough.. Like our Katelyn would say they don't make em like they used too. She repeated that saying many times from you. 
A real gentleman. Handsome and well groomed.In the younger days you could always be seen at daily mass at St. Augustine in Des Moines, Ia .... Always in the same pew... towards the back, helping with the collection basket if needed. As the years went by, and you moved to Colorado, you would make it to mass at St. Francis off Assisi in Castle Rock as often as you could. 
You attended the gathering social at St. Francis and played your harmonica for the all the seniors in attendance just as recent as last year 2015.It is there that your great granddaughter Mila Rose was baptized and great granddaughter Isabella Rose will be this February 2016. 
It is there that you wished for blessings be said for the faithful departed and a private family memorial in your honor.Saturday the 6th of February.Papa, we are having masses said for you and mom too. 
A rosary of the Divine Chaplet will be said as well .Your acts of good will, and love of God... remain with you always. 
Papa, the most fitting is for last as you would tell me your son-inlaw Patrick... He touched your heart very deeply... he knew you loved him like another son from the very first handshake to the very last Hug...You both trusted each other... encouraged each other. Patience was nothing new for either one of you. You both were Masters at it. 
Because you could just be stillness quite listenersthe voice of reason. Your son in law knew, long before I did what you needed. He wanted for you papa... a sense of comfort and surroundings that you became use to and too feeble to give yourself. 
You asked for indulgence, tolerance, forbearance... and you gave him another father that he could love, spend time with plan the future always including you, spoiling you...Patrick full well knew your heart and your sense of being gave him calmness to be around. 
Papa, you knew Pat's intentions from the very early years... You both are men of integrity, righteous men of honor, men of family and got along together beautifully. 
Thanks daddy for everything. 
Thank you for all the wonderful videos and memories that we hold so very dearly. You were so filled with gratitude for your family... but really Papa... We were more thankful for you.... because you lit up the room... a sense of history, charm, love, kindness and hope. You were so proud of your grandkids, the decisions they were making in their lives and continue to make. 
A beautiful life that comes to an end he died as he lived everyone's friend.In our hearts a memory will always be kept, of one we loved and never forget. Rest in Peace Papa... Till we meet again. We love you....Your FamilyBen, papoo, papa, grandpa, friend, mentor, and a good soul and wonderful father Born 3/7/1923  1-31-2016.

My deep, heartfelt sympathy goes out to you today Albert.  May the precious memories that you have of your papa carry you through this difficult time, and continue to light your path for brighter days ahead.

OBITUARY

Benjamin Joseph Curtis-Caruso

March 7, 1923 – January 31, 2016

Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel

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