Enrico's Note
Papa Titoes, Drs. Titoes Libert, M.Sn., 71, returned to the Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
In our family - Mama Rina, my older brother Ricky and his family, and I (Endri, Papa's name for me) and my family - Papa was always a figure of strength, discipline, and unwavering responsibility as the head of the household. Since we were little, we felt how he always tried to provide for our needs, despite the many limitations he faced as a civil servant and lecturer with a modest income at the time. And even when we had grown up, become independent, and built our own families, Papa remained the heart of our extended family.
I lived with Papa until his final days. So please allow me to share a few memories that remain vivid in my mind.
1. The Handy Man
Papa never hesitated to get his hands dirty fixing a leaky roof, replacing a broken faucet, or dealing with various house issues. Even though we often reminded him that his body was no longer as strong as it used to be, his spirit as a true "craftsman" never faded. His idealism and perfectionism meant he would flatly reject our suggestions to hire professionals. In the end, we simply let Papa do his work, because we knew that was his way of expressing love for his family.
But perhaps it was also what brought him back to the Father in Heaven. The hemorrhagic stroke that took him happened while he was digging a trench to create a water channel, trying to drain puddles caused by heavy morning rain. Until the very end, Papa always put his family above all else.
2. Birds and Plants
Birds and plants were two things inseparable from Papa's life. Ever since I was a child, these hobbies were a part of who he was. After retirement, Papa's days were filled with tending to his birds and gardening - often spending the entire day doing so tirelessly. His love for nature was profound, and many of his works were inspired by the beauty of flora and fauna.
Of the four paintings Papa left me, one is titled "Nature's Word," inspired by his beloved trees and bonsai. Another, "The Dynamics of Life," portrays a pair of swans, symbolizing warmth and balance in life. These two paintings were made during a time when Papa was still relatively healthy and I had just started my own family.
3. The Era of Prosperity and Eternity
The end of 2023 was a good time for Papa and me. We wanted to carry that sense of optimism into 2024, the Year of the Dragon - a symbol of strength, luck, and protection. During this time, one of Papa's final paintings was born: "Mystical Drizzles in Hues," depicting a dragon full of energy, spirit, and life.
Then, at the close of 2024, Papa completed his final masterpiece themed around the legendary bird, the Phoenix. While Papa was still with us, I saw it simply as a beautiful painting. But after his passing, its meaning deepened. The painting, titled "Eternal Dance in the Twilight Sky," became a symbol of rebirth and immortality. In our time of grief and loss, it serves as a reminder that after destruction comes renewal; after despair, new strength is born. Perhaps this was Papa's last message for us still living: to keep rising, keep living, and keep moving forward.
Farewell, Papa. Rest peacefully in eternity. Don't worry about us - we will be okay. We will always remember and cherish every trace you left in our lives.