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Sunday, March 3, 2013

In Loving Memory . . .

 
 
Remembering Rita Ann
 1940-2013
 
A dear friend of my family died a month ago.
She was a beautiful person,
kind, gentle, gracious, humble,
faithful, faith filled.
She was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend.
 
She is missed unbelievably
by her husband Jim
her children Ann, Brian, Kathleen and Matt
and friends and extending family.
 
Rita and her husband Jim
 live in the subdivision where Gary and I lived
when we moved from Wisconsin to Michigan.
 
it was a wonderful neighborhood
for our children to grow up,
live, play and enjoy.
Building forts, sledding on the creek hill,
playing barbies,
games, skiing,
plenty of mischief too.
 
Rita was like a mom to my two
and I felt like a mom to her family.
 
Brian and Scott have had a chance
 to reconnect in the past few weeks.
 
Kathleen and Suzie live near one another
and have stayed connected through the years.
 
Rita and Jim were very kind, giving and caring
to me and to Scott and Suzie when their dad
and my husband died suddenly in 1980.
 
My heart is sad for Jim,
Matt, Kathleen, Brian and Ann.
 
I am here for them
with my love, prayers
hugs and caring.
 
May God Bless Each of You
 

Rita



Ann and her mom
 


Kathleen and her mom
 

 Surprise 65th Birthday Party at the cottage
Rita and Jim
Kathleen, Ann, Brian, Matt
 

 



Rita and Jim
 

In the words of
Kahlil Gibran
". . . Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow . . .
When you are joyous,
look deep into your heart
and you shall find it is only that
which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful
look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth
you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater, than sorrow,"
and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come,
and when one sits alone with you at the board,
remember that the other is asleep upon your bed . . . "

~ ~ ~


22 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Lynn, so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. My prayers go out to you and her family.

Rain said...

Lynn I'm so very sorry for your loss. Such a lively tribute to a dear friend ....we can feel the love and hurt and joy in your words. Peace to you my friend......
With prayers and blessings,
Rain

Rain said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Musings from Kim K. said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful woman and dear friend.

Jojo said...

You are in our thoughts. So sorry for the loss of your friend and the family that is hurting.

Ann said...

Thank you Lynne for the lovely tribute to my mom and for being there for me during this very difficult time in my life!

Pamela Gordon said...

I am sorry for the loss of your dear friend, Lynn. It's wonderful to have so many good memories and photos of your times together. Blessings and hugs. Pam

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

Prayers and sympathy to you and the family <3

Catherine said...

It is a sad and hard thing that as we go through life we increasingly experience the loss of people who are dear to us. But, as in your beautiful quotation, the flip side of this is that we also gain more and more people coming into our lives in the middle years. Bitter sweet.

A Joyful Cottage said...

What a lovely tribute to your friend Rita, Lynne. That last photo of Rita and Jim is bittersweet. You can see the love so clearly in their expressions. I guess I didn't realize you were widowed, and remarried. My first husband of 36 years passed in 2007and I remarried in 2011.

TexWisGirl said...

very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. bless you all.

At Home in English Valley said...

Dearest Lynne, So sorry for your loss of your friend Rita. When you think of all the people God puts into our lives, and how they touch us, you were so blessed to have Rita in your life. What I know about you my friend, what a blessing you must have been to her as well. Thinking of you, and praying for all who loved Rita. Love, Penny

Jill said...

I'm so very sorry for your loss, my friend.

This N That said...

So sorry for your loss..It's hard to lose dear friends like that..What a wonderful tribute..

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Lynne, my condolences to her family at this very difficult time. May God be with them all in extra portion of grace, mercy and love.

Heather said...

Lynn, my condolences on the loss of your dear friend and to her family... hold on to your memories of her for they are the photographs our heart takes and you carry them with you always to be recalled at any time when you need a happy thought...

GardenOfDaisies said...

So sorry you have lost a good friend. Prayers for you and for her familly.

Lynn said...

Lynne, dear, I am sorry for your loss. I also believe joy and sorrow are inseparable. Lovely tribute.

RURAL said...

Lynn, I am so sorry for your loss..it's like part of you is missing when a friend passes away,

Beautiful quote...I've only ever seen it paraphrased.

Jen

LANA said...

Sorry for the loss of your good friend. What a nice post to honor her.

24 Corners said...

My heart and prayers go out to your dear friends family, and also to yours Lynne. It's so sad to lose such a wonderful kindred spirit especially one that was such an important part of both families...what a sweet soul.
Blessings and comfort to all in the memories and love that she left behind.
xo Jessica

Unknown said...

Khalil's words remind me of something my dad said to me, a single mom, starting over, and at my lowest..."it takes the bad days to appreciate the good ones".

I'm sure it was difficult saying good bye to someone who was there for you during very rough days.

Hugs to you my friend.
xoxoxo