Our family: Jessica, me, Tom, and Jon
My husband, Tom, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sun. Sept. 23, the first full day of fall. We will all miss him terribly. When confronted with the choice of two weeks (with no treatment) or two months (with more chemo and hospital procedures), he bravely chose two weeks. “What can you do in two months that you can’t do in two weeks?” were his words of wisdom that will echo in my heart forever. Tom was generous, thoughtful, intelligent, witty, and inquisitive through his very last day on this earth.
Our newlywed son, Jon, and his wife Brittany, and our daughter, Jessica, did so much to care for him in the past three years since his diagnosis with multiple myeloma. We are both proud of them and thank them for their love and strength. Please pray for comfort and healing for them during this very difficult time.
Tom’s memorial service will be held Sat. Sept. 29 at 11 AM in the chapel at Grace Presbyterian Church (at Beltway 8 and Westheimer in Houston) with a reception following at Royal Oaks Country Club from 12-3.
We thank Vitas Hospice for the angels who helped us care for Tom during his final two weeks at home. There were no more hospitals, no more treatments, no more labs… just time at home with his family and close friends… which is where he wanted to be. Tom asked that donations be made in his honor to the SPCA. He loved his Great Dane, Atlas, who was also by his bed until the end.
Debbie…your family will be in my prayers.
Dear Debbie and family,
May you all find peace knowing he will now be looking down on you all. I was always told that when someone you love passes away, you now have a direct line right into heaven. Bless you all.
Lisa Ortner
Wisconsin
This is sad to hear. May there be peace and wonderful memories in your hearts to carry your through the time ahead. Prayers for you and your family.
So very sorry to hear of the passing of your beloved husband, Debbie. God bless you and your family and give you strength during this difficult time. May your memories bring you joy.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time of profound grief.
I am sure he must have been proud of you and your work with those of us in the educational community.
God bless you all.
Terry
CA
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Your warmth, humour and spirit inspired me when you visited Nova Scotia last spring. It sounds as if your husband was a brave man.
I am very sorry for your loss Debbie. May the many memories of your life together be a tremendous comfort for you at this time and my God bless you with His peace.
Oh my, Debbie…I am reading this with disbelief! I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I was lucky enough to meet you at a small workshop in West Laf. IN and feel like you are a friend! I used so many of your ideas and suggestions in my classroom and cherish the autographed books I have of yours. You and your children and Atlas are in my sincere thoughts and I will be praying for you frequently. May God wrap his arms around you and may you have family and friends to comfort you and help you through. My sympathy, Carol Rush, Peru, IN.
So sorry for your loss Debbie. Sending prayers your way.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope your memories and time spent together these last two weeks will help you have peace. May god bless you and keep you lifted up in knowing he is heaven with no more pain. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m very sorry for your loss! May you find comfort in your happy memories and in knowing that you now have a special angel watching over you.
Love and prayers for your family. So sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry Debbie. I remember at the IRC last spring that you had mentioned you were going to take some time off to stay with your husband. God Bless you and your family.
Debbie, you and your family have my prayers. God is good, even in tragedy. You are loved, deeply.
Debbie, I am not sure if you remember me. I am the co-founder of ERG in Winston Salem, NC. you came and did a two day event with us (Hope and Alice). I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I had no idea your husband was sick. Perhaps I was not keeping up with updates in your posts. I want you to know that I hope you find peace during this very sad time. I will send positive thoughts your way Sept. 29.
My deepest condolences, Debbie. You’re words were lovely, but I’m sure they can’t come even close to conveying your feelings. I wish you well. Adele Stanfield
You are in our thoughts and prayers as you grieve this loss. May you be wrapped in the warmth of his legacy and comforted by the love of your family and friends.
Debbie I’m adding prayers to the many that are mounting up for you and your family. May they surround you with strength and comfort as you move through your time of grief and sorrow. Thank you for your kindness in sharing your experience with the wider world — that we who still have another day with loved ones, may treasure that opportunity. Take very good care of yourself in the hours and days to come. May you find comfort in your treasured memories of wonderful moments stored in your heart.
Debbie Clement
sending prayer of comfort and peace your way.
Saddened upon hearing of your loss. May the Lord be especially near and dear to you at this time.
I’m so sorry, Debbie. I will be praying that you and your family experience God’s peace and comfort even this difficult time.
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss…although I do not know you personally, I have followed your blog for some time, as well as taught in the Houston area for almost 18 years. I will be remembering you and your family in my prayers during this time and hoping for peace and comfort!
Blessings to youand yours!
Debbie, I am so very sorry to hear this. I remember his smiling face from your Houston conferences. Prayers for peace for your family and comfort in your sweet memories.
So very sorry for your loss. May God bless your family with strength, comfort and peace. Prayers are being sent your way.
Debbie I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I know you are a really strong person and will get through this tough time. Keep up your contagiously positive attitude.
Debbie, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I met you at the early childhood conference in Johnson city. I talked to you about my father in law who is suffering from this same mean cancer. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this time of grief and healing.
Oh, Debbie! So sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers for God’s peace and comfort going up now.
Hugs and prayers during this sad time for your family.
Debbie, I am so very sorry. I pray that you and your children will find peace during this very difficult journey.
Debbie, so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and family.
Praying for you and your family.
My prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort in the wonderful memories that you cherish and comfort knowing he is at peace with his maker.
Your family is in my prayers…so sorry for your loss…
Sorry for the loss of your wonderful husband. God bless and keep you and your family.
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear husband Tom. The picture above of your family is beautiful. Please take care of yourself. I hope you and your family are able to find some peace during this difficult time.
What a beautiful picture. I was really sorry to read about your husband but also glad that you seem to be at peace with the way that he was able to spend his last couple of weeks at home. You family is in my thoughts.
God bless you and your family in this time of need 😦
Debbie, so sorry to hear this. May he rest in peace and rise and rise in glory.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Debbie. May God comfort and strengthen your family as only He can do.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Debbie. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family..
I am so sorry!! Your post put my day into perspective. Sending lots of prayers for peace and understanding your families’ way. ~Debbie
Debbie, I am so very sorry for your loss. May God wrap His loving arms around you and hold you close. Prayers for you and your.
My heart is heavy for you and your family. Praying God’s intimate peace and comfort~
May God bless Tom and you and your family.
Sorry for your loss.
I am thinking of you, friend, who I’ve never met. I just lost my mother-in-law to leukemia a few weeks ago. A tragic loss, but you are all so blessed that he chose a peaceful end surrounded by those he loves. Bless you all, Mary
I am sorry for your loss
May your memories bring peace to your heart.
Jonelle Bell
Jonelle
A Place Called Kindergarten
Praying for peace for you, your family, and friends.
Debbie, I too remember Tom from the Houston conferences. I am so very, very sorry. We are praying for your family. Hugs from Love Elementary.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Peace be with you during this difficult time.
Lauren
Thoughts & prayers being sent to you. May peace wrap her loving arms around you and your beautiful children.
So sorry for your loss.Tom lived around the corner from me growing up in Lancaster, PA..I knew him and his father quite well. We were lab partners in science class, and on the track team together. We had alot of fun together and got into mischeif too. He was a great guy and a wonderful friend. May God Bless and comfort you now and always. – Randy Millhouse
Praying for peace, love and comfort for you and your family. May you always remember your best friend with joy.
You and your family are in my prayers.
So very sorry for your loss, Debbie. Prayers and blessings.
Blessings, Lisa
Keeping your family in prayer.
It is best to have loved, then to never have loved at all. Without love I have nothing.
sorry for your loss-strength, prayers, peace and only good memories ❤
Debbie, with sincere condolences and vivid memories of Tom, I start my day. Prayers continue to be lifted for your family so that peace and strength can fill your days. I will be in spirit at the memorial service.
Sending peaceful thoughts and condolences to your and your family, Ms. Diller. May God give you to strength to carry through these trying days. Sincerely, Lynn Donohue, a fan
“Love builds a bridge to forever.” These words brought me much comfort in my loss. I hope that you, too, can find some comfort in them.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Debbie.
May your memories of him carry you through rough times. My prayers for you are for comfort and peace.
Sent from my iPad
I know you olny from your blog, and you do not know me at all. But know that my heart goes out to you in your time of loss. My prayers to you and your children as you celebrate your husband’s life and move foward in life with his spirit always by your side.
Debbie, I am so sorry for your loss. I am a great admirer of yours, and logged on today to find new ideas. Instead, my heart aches for you. May your family and loved ones surround you with love, and good memories of your beloved husband carry you through.
Debbie, you are most definitely in my prayers. I will specifically pray for constant comfort from the Lord in the coming months, as Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 1. It doesn’t make it easy, but praise Jesus you have your family by your side.
You and your entire family are in my prayers. The hospice caregivers you had also cared for my family member and were awesome for not only her, but for us as well.
Time will be beneficial for you. Know that.
I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers to your family in this sad and lonely time.
Debbie, you are in my prayers. Your husband is in good hands, with God. God bless you and your family.
Debbie-I’m so terribly sorry to hear about your loss…Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers..I am working today to prepare for my very first K-5 inservice on Debbie Diller Math Workstations, and I could not be more excited to share your work with the teachers I coach! Your work is an inspiration to me, and I know that by sharing your insights on math workstations you will in turn be helping many teachers to provide successful experiences in mathematics for hundreds of our students.
Sorry for your loss.
I have been thinking of you often and send warm wishes and prayers to you and your family.
Debbie, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
hugs and prayers…
May you feel comfort and feel that you are lifted up at times when you feel lowest. May you find comfort and peace in times of uncertainty as you feel Tom cheering you on. My heartfelt condolences.
I am just another teacher who has learned much from all that you’ve shared. Thank you for sharing this tender side of who you are.
God bless you and your children.
Gaye Vaterlaus
Mesa, Arizona
So sorry to hear of your loss. May God surely give you peace and comfort as he has surely provided a place of rest for your husband.
Dear Mrs. Diller, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I can tell in your words that you wrote that you shared a great love and a great life. Sending you prayers and hope and love.
Sincerely,
Lizzie McStay Norkus (just a teacher/student)
I’m so sorry. My prayers are with you and your family.
Hi,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have a quick question about your blog, would you mind emailing me when you get a chance?
Thanks,
Cameron
Debbie, I just saw the post about the loss of your husband. I am so sorry and want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I lost my husband when he was 37. It will be 20 years ago this year. It isn’t easy, but we all go on. Please, please let me know if you ever need anyone to talk to. I live in OKC, so we aren’t that far away. Hugs to you!
What a beautiful photo of your family. Tears when I read what your husband said. Wise and moving words.