My Dear Sister, Karen,

      I'm so heartbroken that you had to leave us so soon, but knowing that you are happy in heaven with Tony, Mom, Dad, Robert, Monte and many other relatives and friends gives me some comfort.  I prayed so hard for a miracle, as we all did, but God had other plans, setting you free from all the struggles that you courageously endured for so long.  As much as I miss you, I am grateful that you are as free as a butterfly now and one of God's angels.

      After we married, we both went our separate ways, you and family moving to Wisconsin and I moving to Arizona with my family.  Although, we kept in touch, not nearly enough, while keeping ourselves busy exploring our new environment and raising our family, I always felt we missed out on a lot of family ties, because of the miles between us.  This is why it seems like I was just getting to know you during the past 16 years, enjoying and looking forward to our Sunday morning phone conversations and suddenly you're gone.  What I remember most is how we always found something comical to laugh about and laughed ourselves silly until we finally decided to hang up.  You always had a way of brightening up my day with your phone calls and most of all with all your beautiful cards and notes, which I saved and still read when I'm missing you.  Sunday morning as I was attending our local TV mass, the phone rang at 10:15 AM, which is abour the time you would call every other Sunday and for a moment I thought is was you.  Oh, how I miss talking with you and for the past several months, I've only had your picture on my desk to talk to, but perhaps now you'll actually be able to hear me in heaven.  When you weren't able to communicate anymore, I searched the Internet trying to find E-cards, poems and prayers to send to your DynaVox, hoping to give you a smile, as you did for me, but now I'll never know whether you were able to retrieve them.  I realize how difficult it must have been for you to use the DynaVox, but yet I'll never forget the struggle and effort you put into sending me a "Happy Birthday, I love you" E-mail, which I printed and will cherish forever.  Before I forget, I'm so grateful for Lasata taking such special care of you, making you as comfortable as possible and I will be sure to write them and express my appreciation.

      With Thanksgiving coming up very soon, Jim and I were reminiscing last week about the Thanksgiving you spent here with us 5 or 6 years ago.  Thanks to Kristen's thoughtfulness and generosity for setting up that trip for you.  That was the most memorable time we had together, as we spent Thanksgiving weekend at Harrah's in Laughlin Nevada.  We were hoping to plan another trip for you, but had to put things on hold for a while due to both our health problems and now I'll never see you again.  If you only knew how much I wanted to visit you, especially while you were at Lasata, if only to hold your hand, whisper "I Iove you" and perhaps sing our favorite song "Ave Maria" to you, as you did for Mom.  I'm especially heartbroken that I can't be there with our family for your service to say goodbye and give you one last kiss.    I'll be playing and singing along to "Ave Maria" during your service and hopefully you'll here me in heaven.  Although, I love you and miss you more han you can imagine, I'm happy you are in heaven now with God and all our deceased family members.  We will be together again when God calls for me and until then, keep listening or reading my messages in your "Book of memories."  Thank you for all your love.

                                                                               Your Loving Sister,

                                                                                                                  Lucy