Tag: tribute

A Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend- Remembering Theresa

Theresa Simok McDonald. 

She is going to be sorely missed.  Wednesday and Thursday the family gathered in at Aunt Linda’s and Uncle Frank’s house.  One neighbor next door brought over nut horns and apricot and cherry cookies, and the neighbor on the other side brought a Jell-o salad.   There was ham and bean soup and a tray of baked stuffed shells, haluski, a chicken, hoagies from the Triangle Bar and lots of salad and fruit.  There was laughter and tears and stories and sifting through the pictures of growing up.  A round of hugs and kisses and fresh tears at every greeting and farewell.   The family drove in from Ohio this afternoon.  Doing schoolwork at the kitchen table, the little ones watching a dinosaur movie in the family room.  Aunt Linda making everyone welcome with food and drink and hospitality.

A wonderful woman Allison at the Waterfront COSTCO printed an 8×10 memorial portrait just before closing time.

Friday the family will gather together at the  Memorial Service.

Family and friends will be received from 10- 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the THOMAS L. NIED FUNERAL HOME, INC., 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. A Blessing Service will be held at the funeral home on Friday morning at 11 a.m.
http://www.niedfuneralhome.com 
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

Theresa,  the sister of my daughter-in-law Erika’s mother, Marlene.

Theresa had a great sense of humor and a beautiful spirit. She adored her granddaughter.  And one thing about Theresa,  she spoke her mind!

Didn’t mind if you didn’t agree with her point of view.  She’d present strong arguments for her stance.

Love and sympathy to all who loved her – dear daughters Shannon and Jaclyn and to her dear granddaughter Parker Rose.

And to her sweet sisters Linda, Marlene and Georgeann.  Rest in Peace, Theresa.

 

Ready to go to the wedding. Mother of the Bride Theresa

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The Four Sisters Picture   L to R  Georgeann, Linda, Marlene and Theresa

at Jaclyn and Mike’s wedding

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I love this photograph.  Don’t know who took it.    Left to Right-  Theresa, The Four Sisters’Mother Marion, Linda the Bride, Marlene and Georgeann

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Growing Up-   Mother Marion with Linda in the middle and Theresa on the left and Marlene on the right

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I took this one at Erika and Mark’s home

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Theresa with her daughters, Jaclyn and Shannon293433_1947228325903_3142736_n

With Granddaughter Parker Rose at her baptism.

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by Categories: Tribute to a FriendTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 21 Comments

A Day to Remember

A neighbor’s display in his yard.  Each flag has a metal marker of a different war.  Too many wars.

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They Sat on a Davenport

with antimacassars…….

Marian VanSickle married Roy Joseph Hendricks August 1939 in Durand, Illinois

This is not their wedding photo but they look like newlyweds to me.

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by Categories: Childhood, FamilyTags: , , , , , , , , , 21 Comments

100 Years Ago Today

Roy Joseph Hendricks  

Born Farmersville, Illinois

February 26,1912- October 26, 2002

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Remembering My Friend’s Mother- Olga Melynchek Muraska

Today’s post is in loving memory of my friend’s mother, Olga Melynchek Muraska.  Born 11-29-1921 – Died 6-27-2011.  She was always so good to my children and me.  And her homemade pierogies were the best!  I took some photos of classic photos her daughter Marianne compiled for the memory collage when she was putting them together at her house the other night.  I asked if I could make a tribute to her mother’s memory on the blog and she said that was fine. I took the more recent one at a Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast a few years ago. You can see her downtown and as a bride. She had a smile for everyone and was working well into her eighties.  An amazing hard working woman who loved wholeheartedly. 

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Mother Mary- Springtime NYC

Someone placed a bouquet in the crook of her arm.   Today’s post remembers friend and poet Christina Murdock who passed one year ago today, a week short of her thirtieth birthday.

from Let it Be by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
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A Tribute to Lori Lynn Baur Meli- 7/21/69 – 2/19/11

Lori and Fredi at Ritter's Diner, Pittsburgh, last May.

A valiant fight! A wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a granddaughter, a niece, an animal lover, a friend to many.

Her grandfather, Robert E. Van Sickle,  was my mother’s brother.

As  Aunt Nancy VS put it so well, ” a sad day for our family.”

When you hear the term”battle” in reference to cancer,  Lori Lynn Baur Meli exemplified the definition.   Despite metastaticbreast cancer, Lori planned each day of her life to the fullest.   She sent us recordings of her singing a hymn or a Christmas song, always creative and musical.  She and her husband Fredi went on her dream trip to Hawaii returning just Feb 7th.

They came through Pittsburgh last May and here’s the photo I took of them in Ritter’s Diner that night.  It was right before she got to be honorary bat girl for the Yankees so it’s nice you can see the print on her shirt.  She loved the Yankees.   Especially Jeter.   She called and asked if a newspaper could use the photo for a story about her and another one of the pictures from that night was in a show in the 1650 Gallery in Los Angeles last summer. Lori was pleased with the images so I felt pleased, too. And she made sure I got the photo credits in the paper and sent the hard copies to me in an envelope.  Despite her diagnosis she was determined to live as long as possible, which is exactly what she did!     She had a plan. Always.    I will remember her first time in the batting cages in Connecticut a few years ago.   She touched a lot of people.   Here is an excerpt from her online journal–   “Love really is everything. There IS nothing else.       We have to let go off the other crap to begin to live in love and light, every day of our lives.” Her friend Jennifer pulled this clip- youtube video of Lori telling her own story.

A Bright Life Well Lived

Lori Lynn Baur Meli
A tribute.
She made the most
of the time she was given.

by Categories: FamilyTags: , , , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

Will Miss His Good Words

If you read the blog comments you might have read Bernie’s name.  He passed in his sleep on Saturday night, his sister wrote to tell me, asked me to let David know.   Bern was my brother David’s best friend growing up in Morris Plains NJ in the ’60’s.  Bonnie said we brought a lot of smiles to him lately as he did us.  We are going to miss his sense of humor and generous heart.  He especially liked the Sept 3rd post so I am posting a butterfly for Bern today as  final arrangements are made in Kalamazoo.

Obituary link

Love and Sympathy to the Gruizinga family, Ruthie

In memory of Bernard Gruizinga
Remembering Bern Gruizinga August 31, 1949- September 19, 2010

 

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Tribute Reading & Reception 9-18-10/Scroll Down for Information

Celebration of the Life of Christina Murdock
Tess created this bouquet for Joan when she hosted Book Club. Christina was a member of Book Club, too.
Christina Murdock

Christina Murdock was awarded the 2006 Sara Henderson Hay Prize from The Pittsburgh Quarterly Online, and her writing has been published in The 10th Floor Review, Collision, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Voices from the Attic and Pittsburgh CityPaper. She died in April just one week before her 30th birthday and is survived by her husband, Terry, and daughter, Sophia. A  tribute reading of her work will be held at 1:00-3:00  p.m. on Sept. 18 at Kresge Theater, Carlow University. Free and open to the public.   Sales of her book, Burying the Body,($12.95)  will benefit a scholarship fund for her daughter. Sponsored by Madwomen in the Attic, a creative writing group for women @ Carlow University.  If you would like to order a book let me know.

by Categories: photo of the day, poetry, Tribute to a FriendTags: , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

Remembering Joyce Brengarth Singh,Ph.D -“Farmgirl at heart.”

Professor, Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend.  Joyce grew up on a honey bee farm in Boonville Missouri.   These jars of honey were photographed at night in Croatia and are posted as a tribute and celebration of her life. Photographed in the town on Cres on Cres Island when I visited Matthew two summers ago. Joyce and her husband Bunt (Dr. Singh as well) were loving parents to both Mark and Matthew during their high school years and beyond. Thank you.  Click here for newspaper article about Joyce’s life.  After Monday’s funeral, her husband and sons, Prem and Davinder, will accompany her to her final rest in a family plot in Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial is Monday(today) at 10AM St Bede’s.  Newspaper article is from Sunday.

Jars of honey to remember Joyce B. Singh growing up on a honey farm.
Pollinators are so important. Jars of honey to remember Joyce B Singh.
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