Lost my only Brother on 21 November, 2023
Last edited Wed Nov 22, 2023, 10:24 AM - Edit history (2)
After suffering a massive heart attack, loss of blood to the brain on Sunday night, my 50 year old brother(the only boy after 3 sisters) died in a Sacramento, California hospital. My only remaining sister was with him as he took his last breaths. His name was John Anthony Horvat. 
Prior to that, I was involved in a conference call with the Doctor, my sister, and my daughter that the only option was to gently let him go because the prognosis of ever recovering was not going to happen. But the story of a troubled man began in 2000 when our father died. It was not a good death and it hit him hard, as he was to take care of our mother. In 2013, our mother died in a Reno, Hospital. Again, not a good death. Once again, a hard hit reality and a journey to the depths of mental and physical damage that would take its toll through alcoholism and addiction to pain killers. (Another long story).
Now my Brother, John, is in a place where there is no more pain and worry. He is joined with our parents and sister, Deborah. My relationship with him was strained for the past 2 years when I last spoke to him, letting him know that I unable to loan him a large amount of money. All throughout those 2 years, I prayed for him, for good health mentally and physically.
I will miss my Brother. In February, I plan to go out to California for a celebration of his life with my Sister, my daughter, Family, and friends when it would be his Birthday. Perhaps take his ashes to the Reno-Sparks area to spread in the canyons near the place he lived with my late mother where the wild Mustangs would graze down by the Truckee River at that time of the year. He loved the horses.
Goodbye, John. I will see him again and we will have much to catch up on.
= new reply since forum marked as read
of your brother 
. May your good memories and the stories you’ll tell help ease the sadness. Rest in peace John .
I know you have thousands of lovely memories.
Treasure them.
So sorry for your loss.
When I saw my brother for the 1st time, it was at the time of my Grandmother's death in February of 1974 in Cleveland. John was 1 year old. When I looked at his tiny face, I saw mine. He looked so much like me at that age. My 46 year old son looks a lot like him on the Horvat side in build, etc. But my son is far healthier.
Cherish your memories as well. It is always a bummer when death occurs around Holidays. My last remaining Grandparent died on Thanksgiving Day Nov.28, 1991, 40 minutes before the Macy's Parade was to start. He did not get to see my daughter, who partook in the Parade that year.
I lost my only sibling, my sister, last Tuesday in a car accident. She was 72, not in great health, and we had spoken only a few times in the last couple of years. We had a difficult relationship; she was 8 years older and had a controlling personality. I always said we got along wonderfully when we rarely saw each other. There's other family drama involved, and for my own sanity and peace I'm staying away from it, but I'm feeling quite a bit of angst and grief right now over my sister's death and the current family situation.
May your sister be at peace that despite the circumstances, you loved her.
I left a Good bye John voice message on my sister's phone so she could play it back to my Brother before he died. Jesus will also let him know what I said. Our memories of the good times give us strength.
It is so hard to lose a brother
