Paul York Cunningham Jr.

This post is in honor of my Great Uncle

Paul York Cunningham Jr.

 November 25, 1942 - February 27, 2017 

Uncle Paul not only helped make the town of South Padre Island what it is today, but he helped to create heaven on earth for our family and anybody who visits South Padre Island.  

Back in October we found out that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

He was going to do treatments, but we knew that there was/is no cure and that his time would be limited.

Between October 2016 and February 2017 he lived his life to the fullest. 

He traveled and spent quality time with his kids and grand kids.

On February 20th, 2017 I woke up to a text from my mom that said Uncle Paul had been in the hospital and was sent home with hospice.

For the next week I had anxiety every time I received a text message. At the same time I was getting to chat with family members I hadn't heard from in a while.

On Monday February 27th I was walking home from work (8:15pm China time) when my cousin Camille messaged me. Thinking it was just an update I opened the messaged and my heart stopped. I fell to the ground as I read her message that my Uncle (her Grandpa) had passed away earlier that morning (Texas time). I sat on the sidewalk and cried for a few minutes feeling utterly lost and alone while ignoring stares from the locals walking past me. After I collected myself I made it to my apartment and instantly got online and on the phone with airlines to see if they offered bereavement fares. Next few hours past in a blur. I had heard the news from my mom and a few other cousins. I ended up face-timing my parents while looking for flights, before deciding to wait until we knew more info on when the services would be.

My friend Lauren convinced me I needed to shower and go to bed, that there wasn't anything I could do at the point in time, so I did. By the time I woke up we had confirmation of when the funeral services would be. I called my dad and we spent an hour searching flights to get me home.

We were able to find reasonably priced flights and got them booked, I was headed home the next day.

Lauren and I had already had plans for shopping on that Tuesday. She knew I needed cheering up, so she even took me for Mexican food! I am beyond thankful for friends like Lauren. I honestly don't know how I would survive without my wonderful friends around the world.

You know the saying "Planes, trains and automobiles"!? Well that was me getting home and down to South Padre Island for the service.

I took the metro/train from my apartment to Hong Kong, took the bus from the border to the airport, flew from HK to Albuquerque, and then hopped in a car with my brothers, mom and cousin and drove down to SPI. 

Jet lag kicked my booty big time, but I wouldn't have missed the services for the world.

To me Uncle Paul was a Grandpa figure in my life.

Both of my biological grandfathers passed away when I was a baby. Both Grandma's remarried but for some reason I was never that close with Nate or Jim.

After summer of 2010 I really got to know Uncle Paul. I loved sitting and chatting with him. He was wise beyond his years. He loved to tell stories of the Island and when he was growing up. He would joke with me and was one of the few family members who understood and could out wit me when it came to sarcasm. I don't think I ever told him how much he meant to me, but I hope he knows now that from 2010 to now he was and always will be more than just my great Uncle.

Leave it to Uncle Paul to gather the WHOLE Cunningham family for the first time in years.

My heart has never been so broken yet so happy at the same time. 

Uncle Paul didn't want a funeral. He wanted a celebration. And while there were lots of tears, we celebrated his life. The whole town of South Padre Island was invited to his service, and it seemed like just about everybody showed up to celebrate him.

After the service the family went back to his house. We had a private ashes ceremony and released him in to the Laguna Madre (the bay behind his house).

From this point forward anytime a Cunningham sees the ocean we will know that Uncle Paul will be waving and smiling back at us. 💛