My dad, Edward, was born in Galway, Ireland, and he carried that Irish pride and hard-working spirit with him in everything he did. He was a grafter through and through, working constantly and buying and selling cars and vans. He always had an eye for a deal and knew how to hustle for his family.
At heart, my dad was a man of simple, genuine pleasures. You could usually find him unwinding with a cigarette, a cold Budweiser, and his favorite Irish tunes playing in the background—he loved Big Tom more than anyone. He was also incredibly close to his own dad, my grandad Martin (who everyone called Ginger), and that strong family bond meant the world to him.
Life wasn’t always easy for my dad, and he went through deep heartbreak as a father after losing two baby boys, Edward and Martin Francis. But he poured so much love into us girls, raising me and my sister Katie. He was proud of us, and he was the absolute heart of our family.
We lost my dad way too soon in 2007 when he was just 24 years old. Even though he was taken from us early, his memory and his spirit are so alive in our family today. I see pieces of him in my own life every day, and I’m so proud to share his story and his roots with my twin girls, Jessica and Serena. He’ll always be loved, remembered, and deeply missed.