My Tribute for a great person and his family, our friends!

 Joe Budick, a man who was loved by all that knew him was a friend of mine. I have never seen Joe without a smile on his face and this is how I shall remember this loving husband, father and grandfather. I spoke with an elderly couple who came to pay their respects to Joe and his family today; they drove to Saugerties from way upstate in the Adirondak Region. I was told some wonderful stories about Joe and his brothers and his Mom, Rose Budick. I spoke with some other people and each of us had our own story about times spent with Joe and his family. Joes wife Barbara and son Scott and his daughters, Sue and Brenda greeted everyone who came to pay their tribute to him. Joes family has set up a Joe Budick Memorial Fund with the Ulster County Community College and it would be a wonderful thing to contribute to the fund because our contributions would be used to honor this very unique and loving individual.


We often wonder why God takes one of us from the earth and leaves others behind to grieve for them, especially when they are taken away so suddenly and in harsh circumstances. I guess that God needed Joe and if we do not question God's will we could safely assume that his need to have Joe with him was greater than our need to have him here. I love Joe and his family very much, as many of you do. Joe and his beautiful family have given so much pleasure to all that know them. How can we ever let the Budick family know exactly how much they all mean to us? Barbara, Scott, Sue and Brenda do know how much they mean to us when they look into our eyes. For Barbara,  kissing the cheek of the most precious thing in your whole life is why you breathe, it is why you wait. Yet there you sit, ever waiting but knowing that once in a lifetime, these feelings that were, still are, and will never ever pass.
Joe was a man for all seasons who soars upon the wings of Angels and who's spirit shall live on in the hearts of good men and women until the day when we can join him in his new home. Loving arms have taken Joe into heaven and someday we will fly with him through rainbows and streets of golden glitter.