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Note: Rocky's birth certificate says Rocco Apple, s/o Jackson Apple and Maggie Rich. Rocky was one of the kindest persons you will ever know. He and his wife Honey would have given their lives for their daughter and her family. Rocky started the son of an immigrant who had to quit grade school to go to work in the mines. He spent most of his life there where he acquired respiratory problems and had to leave in the 50's because of black lung. He then ran a car storage garage and gas station until his retirement. In his younger days, he played trombone in local orchestras. He also operated his parents bar in Marion Heights. He spent the last half of his life enjoying his grandchildren and attending every event they had even when he had health difficulties doing so. He continued this love on to his great-grandchildren. He was worshipped by his family and they knew the love that was there for them in anything they needed or wanted. At age 91 he was still traveling to State College, Hershey or Berwick to see his great-grandchild participate in sports, dance, or other activities just as he had done with his grandchildren. Honey was a goddess to her children and grandchildren. She started as a baby sitter for her daughters children and was always available whenever she was needed. The love that flowed both ways between her daughter, her children, her husband, their children and their children's children was over whelming. A devoted wife was an understatement. Everyone could see the love she had for her husband and family. This made for a wonderful life for their son-in-law who is the author of these comments. This family lived together and played together. Every summer vacations were planned where all four generations could go and participate, usually in Ocean City, New Jersey. They went there for over 25 years. When you look for the perfect couple, perfect parent, perfect in-laws, you look to Rocky and Honey Apple. The following was the Eulogy given by his granddaughter Allison Richards Pensyl at Rocky's funeral: "Rocky Apple was my grandfather and I stand here today to help celebrate his life with my family and his friends. His life was well lived and he was a man well loved. He was a loving and devoted husband, he was the most remarkable father to my mother, he was a beloved grandfather to me and my siblings, he was an amazing and proud great-grandfather, an adored uncle and an admired friend to many. My grandfather was a small Italian man with a huge heart. He loved music, loved to play trombone with his bands and he loved baseball, bowling and Penn State football. He loved to dance and anyone that knew him knew that he loved to laugh, he had a great sense of humor, and his laugh was contagious. He met this beautiful Lithuanian girl named "Honey" at a Maysville dance in 1933. They quickly fell in love. My grandfather found his soul mate that night. 70 years later, he was still sure he made the perfect choice. A love and marriage unlike any I have ever seen. It was a tremendous example for my family. I think what made my grandfather so remarkable was he didn't care what your beliefs were, he believed that how you respond with your heart and your actions matters. His deepest desires were for what was good and right. And God filled him with the grace and the strength that enabled him to choose what was right and good for himself and for his family. My grandfather worked his fingers to the bone in order to lift his family to a better place. And we all climbed right up his backbone to escape the hard labor that ringed his life. He held us up, all of us, strong and unwavering, always pushing us higher. My grandfather kept daily journals for about 30 years. He would write just a few lines each day about what he did or what was going on the world, the weather, the price of gas and other general thoughts. His words are priceless. The other night my Mom, my sister, my Nana, and I sat at the kitchen table and started reading the journals. We had a good cry. His goodness was reflected in his words. We also had a good laugh because we began to notice this pattern, week after week, year after year, Nana and Pop were constantly in Danville baby sitting us and we were constantly in Shamokin for weekends. In one year alone, 1964, we spent 100 days with Pop. A little simple math made me realize that David, Kelly, Rob, and I spent 1/3 of our childhood with my grandfather. And because of that, we all have a deep connection with him. He was able to pass something of himself on to each of us. David spent many days at Pop's garage learning the importance of a good work ethic and customer service. David is a successful businessman today because of Pop. Pop also shared his love of baseball with David. They spent hours together watching the Phillies and talking baseball stats. Kelly is our creative artist. She inherited Pop's ability to paint and create artwork. He would spend hours in his basement creating beautiful lathe art pieces. Kelly was lucky enough to get his creative spirit. My brother Rob can fix anything and he has an understanding of cars and engines that he could only have gotten from Pop. My grandfather loved talking with Rob about all his home and garden projects and sharing stories of his days at the Black Diamond Garage. Pop passed on his passion for journalism and reading to me. Pop was an avid reader and a brilliant man. He told me everything I ever wanted to learn could be found in a book. I have also been journaling for many years, never knowing that Pop had all these journals. It was so special for me to make this connection with Pop. We talked about his journals a lot over the past few years. I will value his persistence in writing every single day and his words will be with me forever. Pop passed his gentle and kind soul to my Mom. He loved my Mom with a devotion that is beyond compare. She was his angel. Just a few weeks ago he was still listening to a cassette tape of my Mom singing when she was nine years old, her voice barely audible on the worn cassette tape, but he just loved to hear her voice. He treated my father like the son he never had. One lesson we are all thankful that he taught my Dad is that the leader of the tribe always pays for everything. My grandfather was a great provider for his family. He felt a duty to pay for all meals and all gasoline, always handing out money to his great-grandchildren. My father has taken on his generous spirit. Over the years, Pop has taught us all so many things. I would love to share just a few of them. He taught us the importance of faithfulness in marriage. He taught us to love and be devoted to your spouse more than to yourself. He taught us that parenting deserves the best we have to offer. He taught us that music is what makes life so sweet. Music moved his soul and made him feel alive. He taught us that whenever my Nana or my Mother cooked anything and they ask you how it is, the response should always be, "That is just the way I like it." No matter how burned it is! He taught us that Ocean City, New Jersey is a little piece of heaven on earth. He taught us how to get seven people to Disney World in a car that was only made for six. He taught us that the best pitchers throw a good fast ball right down the middle and let their outfielders do their jobs. He taught us not to spend money that we did not have. When a bill arrives in the mail, you pay it that day. It was not your money to begin with. He taught us how to plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, and basil. Pop taught us the importance of loving your family, He spoke often of his parents, his brothers and sisters and the life they had together. He loved his nieces and nephews. He talked as if they were his own children. Pop taught us that laughter is always the best medicine. No matter how sick he was, he always loved to laugh. We are comforted by the fact that God perceives our pain here today and we know in our hearts that God is with us through this difficult time. My grandfather was a gentle and kind man. He had a passion for relationships with his family and friends. He was deeply loved and adored by us all, especially by his wife and daughter. He knew us all so well, we all have a special place in our hearts for him. We were blessed by his life, Pop was our knight in shining armor, and he was our hero. We thank God for every day he gave us with him. Pop will miss you and love you always." The following was a Eulogy written my his granddaughter-in-law given at the viewing before the Church Service: Eulogy for Robert William Apple By Jane Richards July 2, 2003 Rocky was important to each of us in different and very special ways As a husband As a father As a brother As a grandfather As a great grandfather Or as a friend. We will say a kind of good bye today But there is a sense in which we say hello Because while we say good bye to the kind of connection we have had with Rocky, We will so try to strengthen our memories today And say hello again to the Rocky who lives on within us in our hearts and minds. This is a time for expressing our sorrow at his death And for trying to comfort those who were closest to him But mostly for celebrating his life. And what an incredible life we will celebrate. Rocky's spirit and his life were a part of the spirit and the life of the people who were close to him And with his death I guess there is a part of us too, that dies. We mourn for him but we mourn also for that part of ourselves which, with Rocky's death, Is now behind us. But there is something also that remains Because Rocky's influence has not ended with his physical death His warmth And his love And his values Were given out and shared around And they have become a living part of the people who were close to him So Rocky is not just part of the past Each of us carries something important of him with us into the future. We think, today, of those who were closest to Rocky. Lives which have been closely tied together Cannot be separated without pain So our thoughts today are particularly with Honey, his beloved wife And Maryanne, Rocky's devoted daughter. One thing we can be certain of today is that Rocky would not want us to remember Him in sadness But rather in love Perhaps with a smile And with a thought to all the good and happy moments of his life. But although we know Rocky would not want us to remember him in sadness We who knew him are inevitably sad right now This sadness is a hurt But it is a hurt which could only have been avoided If Rocky had never been a part of our lives. It is worth remembering that sadness comes out of caring - out of love And that all human love ends in sadness Sadness then is a measure of love and therefore in its way a kind of privilege. It also marks a new stage Rocky will not be here in the same way for his family and friends any more And his love is changed. But his love lives on In the things he has given in his life And which remain in the hearts and memories Of those who knew him through his life. Along with our sadness at Rocky's death We also find something to be glad about at this time We are glad he is not suffering And that he is at peace We are glad for the joys that Rocky had And for the fullness of his life We are glad for having known him And for the things he gave And the things he taught us. When I was thinking of about Rocky the last few days I kept trying to think of words that described the "essence" of Rocky. I came up with a myriad of descriptive words but one word kept rising to the top of that long list . . . . LOVE. And then I realized that Rocky truly embodied the biblical definition of the "fruits of the spirit". The fruit of the Spirit is love. Only as we live in love can we fulfill the will of God in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is manifested in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control: Joy is love's strength Peace is love's security. Patience is love's endurance. Kindness is love's conduct. Goodness is love's character. Faithfulness is love's confidence. Gentleness is love's humility. And Self-control is love's victory. The secret of a Spirit-controlled life is found in dedication to God. And Rocky was truly dedicated to God and to his family. A favorite quote of mine by Mother Teresa seems to sum up Rocky's life - "We do no great things, only small things with great love". Rocky might not have climbed Mt. Everest, or fed the hungry in India or performed open heart surgery on a dying child But he loved And he loved selflessly on a daily basis. He showed his love in everything he did. He loved us all unconditionally - he might not have always approved of every decision we all made but he loved us just as much anyway. He let us fly but was always there to pick us up if we fell. He shared his love of sports - especially Penn State football, the Phillies and the Eagles with his daughter, his grandchildren and then his great grandchildren. It is truly a special man who can spend a day conversing with his great grandchildren about sports and life in general. He established tradition in his family that will go on for generations to come. It wouldn't be New Year's Day if we didn't each receive a Silver Coin or Christmas Eve if we didn't get our instant lottery tickets in our individual little Christmas stockings! And I know I speak for the entire family when I say that some of our fondest memories will always be from the two week vacations we took together each summer to Ocean City, Rocky's treat!! Rocky never wanted to "bother" anybody. When someone inevitably burned the dinner rolls at family meals he always said, "That's just how I like them." He cared about others feelings and he valued others time. He never complained, even when we all knew that he must be in a lot of physical pain, he suffered in silence. He wouldn't have wanted anyone to worry about him - even though he worried about everyone. If one of the great grandchildren had the sniffles he called to check on them and he worried about them until they were well again. If any of us were travelling Rocky couldn't stop worrying about us until we were safely home again. He cared deeply about us all. Rocky owned the Black Diamond Garage when his grandchildren were growing up and it was fun for them to go with Pop to work during the summer. His oldest grandson David still shares the lessons he learned from Pop about customer service with his own employees now, years later. Rocky valued treating people with the utmost kindness and generosity. He didn't even have to think about it - it was just part of who he was. His relationship with his wife of 68 years Honey was something that books should be written about. Their devotion, selfless love for one another and commitment to family is rarely seen in today's world. I know we all look at their marriage as a model to aspire to in our own relationships. Thank you Rocky Thank you for the good times Thank you for the hard work Thank you for your love Thank you for your laughter Thank you most of all, Rocky, for being you You have filled your niche and accomplished your tasks. You leave this world a richer place than you found it. We will remember you . . . In the rising of the sun and in its going down, In the beginning of the year and when it ends, When we notice things you liked When we see in others glimpses of your ways When we see in ourselves things that you would value So long as we live, you too will live. Today is a closing and an opening - A saying good bye and a saying hello again So while we say farewell to the Rocky that we knew We greet the Rocky who has become a part of us The Rocky who lives on with us In the thoughts and memories that we cherish. If all who knew him can learn from his experience If we can profit from his example If we can live a little better for having known him Then this will give continuing purpose to his life And be a living memorial to him. May we find comfort And richness and example in our memories May we find support In our love for one another And may we find strength in our hearts. Amen The following was a poem written and delivered by his Great Granddaughter Meghan Richards at the Viewing before the Church Service: A Poem to my Papa Rocky By Meghan Richards July 2, 2003 My Papa Rocky was the most kindhearted person I have ever known. He would always welcome me with open arms and say "How are you Maggie" in his gentle voice that I will never forget. I will always remember sitting down in my Grandmother's living room with him and he would tell me funny stories about my dad when he was my age. I am the person that I am today because of my Papa Rocky. He was so special to me in so many ways. He had such a big heart. Here is a poem I wrote about him and how much we all loved him. We saw the passion in your eyes like Shooting stars in the night skies We felt the love pouring from your heart like No One could ever break us apart We know that you will always be near To comfort us when we shed a tear We know now that you will always be holding us close And you will never ever let us go
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