To all,
With Thanksgiving approaching I have spent some time on Thanksgiving reflection. For the first time that I can remember in my life I am having difficulty giving out a blanket Thank You God! Certainly not all the blessings in my life have been removed, but the loss of Diane and the blessing she has been to me has left a big void in having a thankful Thanksgiving. I know I was blessed overwhelmingly, beautifully, powerfully for so many years with Diane, and now there truly is that void. Because all that you have meant to Diane and myself, especially during the last year plus of her life, I felt I wanted to tell you this. But there is so need to dwell on this within this email.
But really a no brainer during this Thanksgiving season, is a huge blanket of thanks for all you have meant to us during this last year and a half. Your loving support, encouragement and prayers brought us through to where the fight against CA ended on November 1. Also all the practical assistance that you have given to us – everything from being ride companions, to shot clots, to child minders, to cooks, to giving special things to the kids, to….so much & more to thank you for.
Since November 1 I have heard from so many of you about what Diane’s presence in your life has meant to you. This happened during the wake and the luncheon after the funeral. It happened in cards and letters. So many emails and phone calls coming from so many of you. It is spoken about in the Guest Book of Newday’s Death Notice (http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141) Please read through it and add to it if you are so inclined, I love reading them and through the years I expect that it will be good to read them over and over again with the girls. A great way to remember what a tremendous gift my wife, their mother was to us and to so many others.
So many wonderful things she has meant to so many of us. And so often the comments include phrases such as feeling blessed, of being thankful just for being a part of her life. And that is what I feel toward all you wonderful people during this Thanksgiving season – blessed and thankful that you chose to be in our lives, to take this journey with us. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving day.
Love, George
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
To all, Below is a Eulogy that Diane’s sister Catherine wrote for the day of her funeral. It was distributed at Church, and now we would like to share it with the wider community of those who have been so lovingly touched by Diane.
This link should bring you to Diane’s Death Notice in the Long Island Newsday. Within this web page there is a link to the Guest Book. Please read the entries. I encourage you to sign the Guest Book, it has been a positive experience to read through them.
Thanks, George
http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141
George and Diane’s family would like to thank all of you for gathering for this celebration of her life today. We would also like to thank everyone for all of their love and support during this difficult year and a half. This time has been painful and scary and loving and hopeful and prayerful. Diane’s struggle has taught so many of us how to love and to nurture and to put aside our differences and to focus on what is important.
Diane has taught us that we have all been given a gift. Some can do things that others cannot. There were people who could care for her physical needs and others who could give love and hope and nutrition. Others spent hours in prayer, whether it be silent or verbal. Some held her hand. Some sent comforting meals. We have become a community of love where everyone had a part to play. Diane knew this. Her heart was so full of love for everyone she knew and even those she didn’t know.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone here to extend themselves to someone in need. It could be today or next week or next year. To take yourself out of your comfort zone and do something kind for someone else who needs it. It could be a hot meal or a ride somewhere or a compliment or a prayer or a smile to a stranger. Remember that we are all broken in some way, whether it be illness or sadness or poverty or emptiness. We are all carrying something in our hearts and in our lives and we are all in need of some comfort. Let us all make an effort to commit to doing even the smallest of things for one another. Diane’s illness taught me to enjoy even the little things like being able to enjoy air and mobility and family even in times when our loved ones “drive us crazy” I am quite sure that we all at times may be the person who may sometimes “get on someone’s nerves”. I figure we can give a pass on them as I would like a pass on the days that maybe I may not be so nice to be around.
I also trust you will keep Diane in your heart. And call on her in times of need and in times of Thanksgiving, She has been given both need and Thanksgiving in her life.
She loved each and every one of you. May she rest in peace. We are all blessed with the privilege of knowing, and loving her.
This link should bring you to Diane’s Death Notice in the Long Island Newsday. Within this web page there is a link to the Guest Book. Please read the entries. I encourage you to sign the Guest Book, it has been a positive experience to read through them.
Thanks, George
http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141
George and Diane’s family would like to thank all of you for gathering for this celebration of her life today. We would also like to thank everyone for all of their love and support during this difficult year and a half. This time has been painful and scary and loving and hopeful and prayerful. Diane’s struggle has taught so many of us how to love and to nurture and to put aside our differences and to focus on what is important.
Diane has taught us that we have all been given a gift. Some can do things that others cannot. There were people who could care for her physical needs and others who could give love and hope and nutrition. Others spent hours in prayer, whether it be silent or verbal. Some held her hand. Some sent comforting meals. We have become a community of love where everyone had a part to play. Diane knew this. Her heart was so full of love for everyone she knew and even those she didn’t know.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone here to extend themselves to someone in need. It could be today or next week or next year. To take yourself out of your comfort zone and do something kind for someone else who needs it. It could be a hot meal or a ride somewhere or a compliment or a prayer or a smile to a stranger. Remember that we are all broken in some way, whether it be illness or sadness or poverty or emptiness. We are all carrying something in our hearts and in our lives and we are all in need of some comfort. Let us all make an effort to commit to doing even the smallest of things for one another. Diane’s illness taught me to enjoy even the little things like being able to enjoy air and mobility and family even in times when our loved ones “drive us crazy” I am quite sure that we all at times may be the person who may sometimes “get on someone’s nerves”. I figure we can give a pass on them as I would like a pass on the days that maybe I may not be so nice to be around.
I also trust you will keep Diane in your heart. And call on her in times of need and in times of Thanksgiving, She has been given both need and Thanksgiving in her life.
She loved each and every one of you. May she rest in peace. We are all blessed with the privilege of knowing, and loving her.
Unexpected Update and thanks for the last 1.5 years of prayer
This message was emailed on November 3, 2008
To our friends and families,
This is the email that I did not expect to write for a very long time, always hoped it would not be anytime in the imminent future. Diane died Saturday night just before 11:00 PM. As Randy (our nurse) said on Friday morning, her will, her heart, her head was still fighting, but her body would no longer allow her to do the things that could help make her better. Let me thank you for the so many months of faithful prayer, loving encouragement and acts of kindness shown to Diane, myself, Masha and Anya. All of that and our faith and hope in God and one another is what has kept us going for so long. As Diane would say, always needed, always appreciated. Hopefully as I get my act together in the weeks to come I will be able to better express myself, but for now please accept my heartfilled and sincere thanks.
Love, George
To our friends and families,
This is the email that I did not expect to write for a very long time, always hoped it would not be anytime in the imminent future. Diane died Saturday night just before 11:00 PM. As Randy (our nurse) said on Friday morning, her will, her heart, her head was still fighting, but her body would no longer allow her to do the things that could help make her better. Let me thank you for the so many months of faithful prayer, loving encouragement and acts of kindness shown to Diane, myself, Masha and Anya. All of that and our faith and hope in God and one another is what has kept us going for so long. As Diane would say, always needed, always appreciated. Hopefully as I get my act together in the weeks to come I will be able to better express myself, but for now please accept my heartfilled and sincere thanks.
Love, George
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
