Experience description: 

My fianc was training as a nurse in Edmonton, AB. when I was transferred to Winnipeg at the beginning of 1954.  We were engaged to be married in September after her graduation in May.  On June 5th 1954.  I received advice that my father had died of a heart attack at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.  I immediately applied for and was granted ten days vacation and traveled by train to my parents home in Leslieville, AB.  There, I took charge of the arrangements, moved my mother and her belongings to Edmonton, where I secured  living accommodations for her. I settled the estate and returned to Winnipeg by train and resumed my duties.

Was this experience difficult to express in words? 

No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?           

No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?         

Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:  

I woke from a sound sleep to see my father standing at the foot of my bed.  After my initial reaction of shock and surprise, I sat up in bed and greeted him.  He responded with a smile and told me not to worry about getting married in September as he had no objections and encouraged me to go ahead with my plans. I placed my feet on the floor to get up and go to him but by  the time I reached a standing position, his image disappeared leaving no trace of his presence.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated? 

My father spoke to me in a clearly and concisely and in his normal manner.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?          

He sounded exactly like I had remembered him before his demise.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?          

No.  I was alone in the apartment.  It was early morning and I do not recall any noise or disturbance that would have awaken me.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?  

No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?           

No

Did you see the deceased?        

Yes

He was dressed in the brown suit we provided the funeral director for burial.  He was also wearing a shirt and tie and looked exactly like he did when I last saw him alive about one year prior to his death.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Life like.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       His upper legs, torso and head, all of which,  appeared above  the end of my bed.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       He appeared to be the age at which he died

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            He appeared healthier than when I has last seen him.  Having been gassed while serving in the Canadian army in France

during World War 1, he usually had a drawn expression on his face but he also had a ready smile.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No.  The bedroom was very sparsely furnished.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?     

No

How long did the experience last?       

Approximately thirty seconds.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

I awoke and saw him standing at the foot of the bed but when I got up to approach him, he abruptly disappeared.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Yes

He seemed to be in a good mood and spoke to me in his typical fashion.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know? 

His advice to me greatly relieved all the apprehension I had about being married so soon after his demise.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:         

I was fully awake and remained awake for some time after the experience.  I was conscious of my surroundings and felt  confident that my father, who was always pragmatic, had purposefully visited me to relieve my anxiety.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

I was happy and relieved to see and hear my father but did not have time to form any emotions concerning the event.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Uncertain

My fianc and I had decided to be married on the date already chosen as we wished to be together in the same household after a rather long separation.   This desire would have overcome any reservations I might have had but having my father express his approval, eased my mind.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

To see my father once more before loosing him forever was the best part.  Seeing him disappear so quickly was the worst part.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

No

What other attitudes and beliefs about your experience do you currently have?      A continued respect and admiration of my father who I deeply loved.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?           

Uncertain

Since I have no way of knowing and have no qualifications to understand what becomes of one after death, the experience did not significantly change my thoughts on the matter.  A Near Death Experience in 1990 sort of reinforced my opinion that there is a future after death but since there appears to be no scientific explanation for a  NDE, I am still uncertain of a person's destiny after they die.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?       

No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?         

No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?           

I was disappointed that I did not have more time to talk to him but was thankful he had relieved my apprehension and anxiety.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          

No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  

No

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?   

No

Did you become aware of future events?      

No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?    

No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?           

No

Did you see a light?          

No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?           

No

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?  

No

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?      

Several years after my experience, I shared it with a nursing class-mate of my wife who described an event when  her deceased father appeared to her in a similar manner shortly after his death.  She was thinking of quitting  her training prior to graduation as she was contemplating marriage and did not wish to delay the ceremony. Her father, who was very close to her, advised her against taking such action.  She did graduate and had a successful career as a nurse, a wife and a mother. She has since died.

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?        

No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?          

Yes,

I had a massive heart attack and was admitted to a cardiac intensive car unit.  Upon regaining consciousness, I observed  hospital staff at the end of my bed and my wife seated in the corner of the room.  I determined I was in serious condition and made a decision to go peacefully.  The wall facing me took on a mosaic appearance of field stone in pastel colors.  The mouth of a  tunnel was being drawn in the middle of the wall and I was floating towards its portal.  I felt warm and comfortable. A bright white light  appeared.  I audibly said "Good-bye" to my wife who admonished me and I was forcibly returned to my bed.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?              

Yes

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.   

A little more room to describe a NDE in question 45.