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Name: John B
Age: 20...ish
Home: Trenton
Died: Dec 16th 2004
Interests: Fatherhood, God, Sobriety
Hobbies: Astronomy
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 | In Memoriam
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| I didn't think when I began this year that two of my
boys would be dead by the end of it. John was hardly a boy but he did
have a love for, and was greatly loved by, all at Tabor House. Anyone
that knew him, knew that he had the miracle of sobriety, he lived in
the day keeping things simple right up to the end. His generosity for
the suffering alcoholic and his zeal for sobriety will be greatly
missed but was much appreciated by many and his memory will be
cherished.
When John got sick he had come over to the house, a man who rarely
complained it was odd to hear him concerned about being soooo tired,
with a little sarcasm I asked if he might have thought about a visit
to the doctors. He smiled and said "yeh maybe that's what I
should do...good idea"! I followed up with another quick retort,
"what's the worse that can happen... he diagnoses you with a
terminal illness and you are dead within 6 months" It seemed
funny at the time, but it wasn't totally humorous, John and I had
frequent conversations about death during his stay here...we were to
have more over the course of the next few months. This time, with a
seriousness like never before, He told me in absolute seriousness that
he was ready for death if it was God's will and after a while we said
our goodbyes...I thought little of it. Two days later I got a call
from him, "You'll never guess where I am?" I had taken the
call in my room and thought he'd dropped in (as he was prone to do on
a regular basis) and was in the basement, I said as much, "I
wish", he replied, "I am in the hospital, I've been
admitted, there is something wrong." John was diagnosed pretty
quickly with liver cancer and was only to live for another two or
three months. In that time he told me of his faith, he told me about a
confrontation with Jesus whilst serving in Vietnam, he called Him The
Man at The Door, he talked much about His family and especially of
the love for his kids. He always had words for the guys in AA and
especially the guys here, often giving specific advice for individual
members. He continued to serve, to be committed to A.A. He continued
to smile and still rarely complained, rarely put other people down and
rarely had a negative word. Of Tabor House he said it were like a
beacon of Light on the corner of broken dreams, now I pray that John
Braker might return to The Source and Father of all Light. Let us all
pray for him and his family often, J.B. I love you, Rest In Peace my
brother!
 
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