Eric G. Prawl

Celebrating the life of our dearly beloved, Eric G. Prawl (April 1, 1957- September 6, 2021) on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, 19713. A viewing will be held from 1 pm until 2 pm, where a funeral service will follow at 2 pm. Any family members or friends who are unable to attend the Celebration of Life for Eric can live stream the service by clicking here. A Remembrance for Eric George Prawl, written by Allan Ridgeway Eric George Prawl was born in Port Royal on April 01, 1957 to parents Ildebert Prawl and Monica Dahl and was the 6th of 12 children. He attended the Port Royal Primary School where he completed the prescribed course of study. During his childhood days he lived with his Uncle Jimmy along with the rest of his Family. He was married to Caroline Knight and the union produced two children, Duran and Erica. Eric also fathered three other children, sons, Dwayne who resides in Canada, Damon in Jamaica and Tedane, who predeceased him. After completing school, Eric followed in the footsteps of his Father who was a career seaman and Captain by gaining his first employment in his late teenage years as a boat help with Mr. Pat Hastings then proprietor of Morgan’s Harbour Marina. This was the “launch” of what would become Eric’s lifelong career as a seaman. Eric’s ambition to climb the mariner’s ladder took him to the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club where he gained employment as a mate on the Sport Fishing Boat “Lolita” owned by Mr. Butch Stewart. Through hard, diligent and commitment to work he was successful in acquiring his Captain’s license, one of the most valuable and coveted credentials for boatmen. This also enabled Eric to enjoy his passion for the sea, cruising around behind the wheel in his usual pleasant and humble persona while deservedly getting paid for it. His career as a boat Captain spanned many years and numerous trips to the Caribbean Islands the U.S.A. and the Bahamas. He captained many boats for various owners enjoying relationships of mutual respect, trust, understanding and honesty. Eric had an excellent working relationship with his peers most of which turned into personal friendships. His pleasant, orderly and neat persona was developed from his early teenage years which he consistently displayed throughout his life and which is evident in his immaculately kept home and surroundings. His cousin Valerie to whom he was attached from an early age has attested to his neatness during his teenage years by recalling the times when he was given money by way of a gift in paper form that he would use the clothes iron to smooth out any kinks in the paper. She remembers him as a well behaved and adorable child who was rewarded by her and others who would look forward to take turns to take him for walks in the evenings. My own recollection of Eric, my Brother-In-Law, is that of a friendly, caring and unassuming person who was always willing to offer assistance to anyone. His calm and quiet disposition would see him treating with his disapproval or disappointment with someone as having a friendly conversation as he would not display any kind of rancour or distasteful behaviour. I recall a few days before his passing I was speaking with him and out of my admiration and respect for him I threw him a kiss and he said “Don’t feel anyway doing that Ridge” and He responded with a reciprocal gesture of a kiss. I will cherish that moment. It was to be our farewell gestures. Eric’s naturally infectious personality touched everyone who knew him. Messages of condolence to his family after his passing were accompanied with expressions of thankful gratefulness to him for impacting their lives positively through his willing and selfless endeavours to encourage and pass on his boating skills to others. Many have attributed their own personal success and accomplishment to him. From the average person to the affluent who shared in his vocation have since expressed gratitude to him for his teaching skills as a captain. His very close and respected friend, Steve, recently called his sister, Mechelle to express his sincere gratitude to Eric for contributing to his personal development and success. He spoke to the respect and the fondness extended to both Eric and himself by their employer Mr. Butch Stewart who predeceased them earlier this year. Unfortunately, Steve passed away a week after Eric’s death. In July of 2019 Eric was diagnosed with Stage 4 Terminal Lung Cancer after a routine chest x-ray. His prognosis was not encouraging and he was informed by his doctor that his condition required immediate treatment with Radiation and Chemo therapy which he started at the Hope Institute in Kingston. His medical prognosis saw him being given a life expectancy of twelve months or less with treatment. His Sister, Mechelle, after conversation with Eric decided to seek a second opinion in the United States that would offer advanced treatment that would offer a better outcome. They teamed up and began their fight with this monster. Eric and Mechelle’s mother, (Monca) as she is affectionately called by her children and who resides with Mechelle, has had her fair share of illnesses and hospitalizations and all efforts were made to protect her from seeing Eric’s sometimes debilitating side effects of his treatment. Her Motherly instincts kicked in just a few weeks before his passing as his condition began to deteriorate and which saw her becoming more concerned. Eric’s children, Duran and Erica after learning of their dad’s serious medical condition decided to offer their support by visiting their Dad in Delaware where he had begun receiving treatment. Eric’s eldest Son, Dwayne and his fiancé who reside in Canada also took the time to visit with his father. Eric and Mechelle encountered many challenges, but Mechelle was not prepared to surrender and was relentless in her fight to secure the best medical treatment for him even if it meant driving for 2 hours back and forth in an effort to arrest the spread of the disease, to improve his odds and to give him a fighting chance. During his illness and the resultant pain and discomfort associated with this type of cancer Eric never complained. Whenever his sister Rose and Myself would video call him, he would always rise above his pain and discomfort and offer a smile and say he’s hanging in there. Not long before his passing he surprised his sister Rose, his mother and Mechelle by entertaining them with his reggae dancing. The video speaks to Eric’s courage and his resolve to accept any respite from his illness. His former employer, Mr. Christopher Levy, CD, MBA, President and CEO of The Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies, contacted Eric by phone in what would be their farewell conversation hours before his passing. Eric became emotional during the call as he humbly accepted sincere words of comfort and prayers from Mr. Levy and his expression of thanks and appreciation to Eric for being a respected employee and a good friend. Eric, with the help of his sister, Mechelle were courageous in their battle with this unrelenting foe, but she can have the consolation that her effort defied his medical prognosis of 12 or less months to 25 months. Eric lost his battle with Lung Cancer on September 06, 2021. Eric is survived by his mother, Monica, Children, Grand-Children, Brothers and Sisters, aunt and uncles, numerous relatives and Friends. The Family wish to extend sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all who offered through their prayers, assistance and contribution to Eric’s care and comfort during his illness. Special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Chang and their Son, Bob, (Tastee Ltd.) Mr. Christopher Levy, Mrs. Nicole Marshall-Walker for her invaluable support, Mr. Adam Stewart, (A.T.L Group), Mr. Halsall, Mr. Reuben Bajo, Mr. Anthony Richards, Mr. Henry Wade, Neighbour, Alicia, friends, Aaron, Adrian, Jasmine, Anthony (U.S.A.), Crystal (Property Manager, Christiana Meadows), Bay Health General Team of Doctors, Specialists and Nurse Practitioners. For my soft-hearted, soft headed, true and grateful Brother-In-Law; Though your smile is gone forever,And your hand we cannot touch,Still we have so many memories,Of the ones we loved so much.Your memory is our keepsake,With which we’ll never part,God has you in His keeping,We have you in our hearts. Rest in Peace, Rico and may light perpetual shine upon you.

Eric G. Prawl

April 1, 1957 - September 6, 2021