Yes it could of been you father. I believe spirits come around to make sure their families are doing okay and to be there for them when their not. My boyfriend of 12 years died in April 2001, and Im sure he's with me some of the time. Just little things happen to let me know he's around, like when he first passed, for several months after the phone at work would ring, almost off the hook, but when my boss or I would answer, there would be no one there or just static. The lady who spoke to your mother was probably a medium.