Vale Mark, May you rest easy.

I have just seen this.

This one hits a raw nerve.. I am deeply saddened to head Mark has sadly passed away. When he told us of the terrible news that his wife had passed away i PM'd him and told him I was here for a chat if need and was thinking of his children who had just sadly lost their mother. I am now utterly devastated for his kids that they have now lost not only their father, but a beautiful soul.

We got talking footy around the period and his biggest wish was to see the Dees back playing finals and hopefully winning a flag in his time. I engaged again a while back when he posted about his health battle and you wouldn't have picked it due to his positivity and just happy that he was still able to spend quality time with his kids.

I just seen that he was only logged into demonland last Friday.

To @Hell Bent I am deeply sorry for your loss as his close mate.

To his family and close friends if they are reading this, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

To Mark, RIP old mate. It was an absolute pleasure that I was able to connect with you even if we never met. Time to be reunited with your darling wife.

Edited January 20, 20214 yr by dazzledavey36

RIP Mark, condolences to family and friends 

I met Mark at his video store many years ago to pick up a copy of a Robbie Flower compilation video that was put together by Ash29 (an Essendon supporter who posts rarely now).

A truly gentle man and a lovely chat.

RIP Mark.   Condolences to his family.

Edited January 21, 20214 yr by Hannibal Inc.

RIP Mark.

The psychological battle is taken to a new level when when younger children are involved. To have both parents suffer and be taken is an enormous burden for for the entire family especially for those left behind with the trauma. So gut wrenching and so tragic.

I am certain there are many here at Demonland who, like myself, have been somehow fortunate enough to survive this illness, or at least be able to manage it. 

Thank you Hell Bent for your post  Your friendship and support to Mark and his family would have been most valuable and certainly cherished.

Demon fans to the end, this story and the many others like it, should provide us with some measure of perspective and an equal measure of the hope that our sport and our club provides.

l sincerely hope you get to savour that scotch and toast Mark, in the not too distant future.

 

Sad news, like Hannibal Inc, I also had contact with Mark when he was distributing the Robbie Flower DVD years ago. We both worked in Bayswater at the time  & being a fellow Demonlander he was more than happy to deliver the copy to me. 

RIP MarkC 

Edited January 22, 20214 yr by Old Man Rivers

Sad loss and I feel for his kids and other members of his family. He was a good guy and helped me when I was going through a bad time, we only met once for coffee but he gave me some advice on how to handle the situation I was in, similar to his.

We kept in, infrequent contact, and last time he messaged me he was rather upbeat, but that was a couple of years ago and I guess things change and can change quickly when dealing with that awful disease. 

RIP Mark, hopefully the boys can win a flag and if they ever do I'll have a glass with you.

Thanks everyone for your beautiful words.

We farewelled Mark at a beautiful service yesterday with the MFC ever present. There were quite a few people including his kids wearing Dees merchandise. His coffin was draped in a Dees flag and cap and `Grand old flag` was played whilst showing Marks life in pictures. I spoke of his love for our club during my speech. 

I`m once again grateful to the club for organising a video which we aired of Steven May who Mark sponsored, sending his condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.

I`m pretty sure I got the 3 votes at his wake last night, a very sore head today.

1 hour ago, Hell Bent said:

Thanks everyone for your beautiful words.

We farewelled Mark at a beautiful service yesterday with the MFC ever present. There were quite a few people including his kids wearing Dees merchandise. His coffin was draped in a Dees flag and cap and `Grand old flag` was played whilst showing Marks life in pictures. I spoke of his love for our club during my speech. 

I`m once again grateful to the club for organising a video which we aired of Steven May who Mark sponsored, sending his condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.

I`m pretty sure I got the 3 votes at his wake last night, a very sore head today.

Very moving.  Thank you.

Rest easy Mark.

My thoughts are with his kids.

8 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Thanks everyone for your beautiful words.

We farewelled Mark at a beautiful service yesterday with the MFC ever present. There were quite a few people including his kids wearing Dees merchandise. His coffin was draped in a Dees flag and cap and `Grand old flag` was played whilst showing Marks life in pictures. I spoke of his love for our club during my speech. 

I`m once again grateful to the club for organising a video which we aired of Steven May who Mark sponsored, sending his condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.

I`m pretty sure I got the 3 votes at his wake last night, a very sore head today.

Well done HB..

RIP Mark - recall your nearby  video store in Church Street and Demon number plates

22 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Thanks everyone for your beautiful words.

We farewelled Mark at a beautiful service yesterday with the MFC ever present. There were quite a few people including his kids wearing Dees merchandise. His coffin was draped in a Dees flag and cap and `Grand old flag` was played whilst showing Marks life in pictures. I spoke of his love for our club during my speech. 

I`m once again grateful to the club for organising a video which we aired of Steven May who Mark sponsored, sending his condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.

I`m pretty sure I got the 3 votes at his wake last night, a very sore head today.

     Mark would have been very proud of you to. H B for being his friend and being supportive. i am sure of

that . 

     

     

Edited January 28, 20214 yr by nosoupforme

RIP Mark, devastating news. 

BUMP

I know there is a thread on those no longer with us to enjoy this but this bloke deserves his own. It’s just so cruel he isn’t experiencing how we all feel today.

At Marks funeral which was adorned with red n blue scarves , flags and our theme song, I took the mick out of Marks dress sense and in particular his go to outfit of faded 10 year old Dees polo and loud board shorts that clashed something shocking. The next day I visited his children and to my surprise they gave me a gift. It was Marks outfit. I was speechless. I made a promise to them that I will wear it every single game I watch from home which thanks to lockdown turned out to be most of them. ( I would not wear it in public for fear of ridicule)

It felt like my suit of armour, he was our 19th man, and all season long I had this feeling of inevitability of what was about to happen.

My first call post match was to his 15yo daughter who has continued Marks sponsorship of Steven May, she is such a passionate, tragic Demon like her Dad. I bawled my eyes out. It’s rare to be so damn happy and heartbroken at the same time.

In my speech I promised Mark that when we win that flag I’ll come to where he is resting and we’ll celebrate. He’s in their lounge in an urn wearing his Dees cap. Can’t wait to go to their house, chuck the replay on and share it with them!

This is for you markc ❤️💙

 

 

9 minutes ago, Hell Bent said:

BUMP

I know there is a thread on those no longer with us to enjoy this but this bloke deserves his own. It’s just so cruel he isn’t experiencing how we all feel today.

At Marks funeral which was adorned with red n blue scarves , flags and our theme song, I took the mick out of Marks dress sense and in particular his go to outfit of faded 10 year old Dees polo and loud board shorts that clashed something shocking. The next day I visited his children and to my surprise they gave me a gift. It was Marks outfit. I was speechless. I made a promise to them that I will wear it every single game I watch from home which thanks to lockdown turned out to be most of them. ( I would not wear it in public for fear of ridicule)

It felt like my suit of armour, he was our 19th man, and all season long I had this feeling of inevitability of what was about to happen.

My first call post match was to his 15yo daughter who has continued Marks sponsorship of Steven May, she is such a passionate, tragic Demon like her Dad. I bawled my eyes out. It’s rare to be so damn happy and heartbroken at the same time.

In my speech I promised Mark that when we win that flag I’ll come to where he is resting and we’ll celebrate. He’s in their lounge in an urn wearing his Dees cap. Can’t wait to go to their house, chuck the replay on and share it with them!

This is for you markc ❤️💙

 

 

You’re a such a quality friend @Hell Bent

You’ve done your mate proud.