My mother Born Dec.27,1927 Died Oct.7,2000.Mom you will always be in my heart and I miss you so much.Sandra

My dad, born September 28, 1922, died February 20, 2005. Miss you a lot, Dad!

My husband, born December 13, 1953 - died April 17, 2007. I love you and miss you, Honey!

My wife, born June 9th 1954 - died December 30th 1996. Miss you, Mary. You'd be so proud of the kids.
Ron

Mother in law Josie died Jan 18 2005, exactly 15 years to the day after her husband. I miss them both, there are reminders everywhere at Christmas. They helped move us into our home. She taught me to cook Italian dishes that my DH (her son) loves so much!

My brother, born April 20, 1924, died December 24, 2007.
Hobert, you were so much older than me, and I got to spend so little time with you, but I remember that when you were home from the Army and I was 5 years old, you shared your love of nature with me and taught me not to be afraid of nature's creatures. I love you...rest in peace.

I also lost one of my two best friends on July 10, 2007.
Her name was Angie, but in fondness, I called her Dumpster Diving Angie. She had a stroke and ended up in a nursing home and was there for about 11 mo., but was doing so well, she was going to move out and move into an apartment and live on her own. She died very suddenly. I wasn't home the last time she called me...she talked to my husband...and said she would call me the next day, and the next day, she was gone.

She loved to dive the thrift shop dumpster. In fact, we had furnished her apartment out of it. When I would go visit her in the nursing home, that is all she talked about. She would get me to drive her past it, just so she could look in.

One night, I checked her out of the nursing home, and took her to it. This is a picture I took of her, in the dumpster, playing her harmonica.

Angie, I miss you every day. I have never laughed so hard as when we were together, and we always had fun. I think of you every day, and the "little green box" just isn't the same without you.

My Dad...

+ Born January 09, 1916 - Died June 24, 2007 +

Dad, I will never forget you and you will always be remembered.

I love you.

I miss you every day.

Your daughter Carol

My Dad. Born May 11th, 1924-November 2, 1997. It's been 10 years, sometimes it seems like a 100. From someone born to a very abusive father you were one of the most loving and kidest men in my life. I love and miss you.
(there's still not an ugly one in the bunch, lol)
Leslie

Shane, you left us in 1983 at the age of 15, but we still ache for a hug from you. Thank you for the few short years you gave us.

Curt, you were the best brother anyone could ask for. I miss you terribly. You have a new Grandson and He looks just like Granddad.

Barbara, you were the funniest and most beautiful person I've ever known. I miss your "hand me down" clothes, but I couldn't fit into a size 4 if I tried now. Love You!

Grandma Agnes, my personal confidant and bank lender, I miss you. There hasn't been another person on this earth that has done more for me. Thank you for teaching me Music and learning how to follow a Spiritual Path. And you were right...."I shouldn't have married that fool".

Love to all,
Gayle

I always miss my mom at Christmas especially. We would call each other to see what kind of cookies and goodies we were making, etc. Missed her at dinner this year, as always. She was 89. died in '04.

Reading these posts brings tears to my eyes and reminds me of my Mom. She put so much thought into her Christmas gifts, always looking for the perfect thing to give her family. She died in 05 and I often find myself saying "oh Mom would have loved that" or "boy - this would really get Mom angry." Wonderful memories.

I miss a lot of friends and family that have passed on but these are the most important ones to me
and I think of them everyday; my dad born October 14, 1935 died April 15, 1977
my mom born October 4, 1939 died September 23, 2000
my grandmother born September 11, 1915 died August 24, 1983.
Deb

My heart aches for all of us - may our lost loved ones' memories never die!

My mom born Oct. 23rd 1938, died June 17th 2005. I think of you every day, and miss you so much. Holidays have never been the same since. There is always an empty chair, where she should be sitting.

mcmann - I feel that way about my Dad. I said again this Christmas Eve, "Daddy would have loved this", seeing his 5 children, 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

On Christmas Day visiting the in-laws, as I was packing some leftovers to take home, I found some pignoli cookies (Dad's favorite). I took it as a sign that he's looking down from on high.

cheeerful - I never thought of it as a sign from my Mom before but I will from now on. It doesn't happen that often but when it does it always makes me feel a little sad. Now I can think of it in a new way. Thank you.

Nice thread, and beautiful responses.

My mother, DottyÂartist, beloved wife and mother, adored sister and friendÂwas 38 when she died in 1952:

My dad, HarryÂwonderful athlete, singer, great reader, and playful father to a motherless childÂlived to be 90 and died in 1993:

My stepmother, Marion, who was my Mama for 42 years. I realize I don't have a digitized picture of her, but I'll do something about that very soon.

My husband, Joe, was 74 when he died in 2005. Highly educated and reassuringly competent in so many areas, he made us all feel safe.

My daughter Gillian (Jill)Âwonderfully creative in all the arts and possessing a strong kinship with the natural world and all lifeÂwas 25 when she died in 2001.

Our son Jason, 12 years old. Born May 26, 1970, died June 24, 1982. If you know a 12 year old boy, then you know Jason!

"The grief at losing a child is as profound as was the day of his birth."

Leslie/KS

I feel so much for you who have lost parents, and, especially, spouses and children. We lost my grandparents this year...Grandma, at age 95, in May, and Grandpa, at age 92, just last month. They were an amazing and loving couple, and heroic individuals.

Grandma was widowed at age 25, left alone with 5 children, aged newborn to 6. My dad was the one who was 6, and he started working at 10 so they could get off welfare. Grandpa, a multi-medaled WWII vet came home from the So Pacific in 1945 and wanted to marry Grandma. She was Catholic and he wasn't, so she was afraid the priest wouldn't approve. He said any man willing to take on a woman and her 5 children (and they were a handful, according to Dad's great stories) was someone worth keeping, and he'd be glad to marry them. That was 61 years ago. They held hands through countless challenges and joys.

Grandma was an excellent baker and the picture of hospitality. She had a computer and she and my daughter shared recipes by email well into her 90s. We have many of her recipes and old cookbooks to keep her specialties coming for years to come.

Grandpa had several jobs in his life, including running his own commercial fishing boat in his 80s. He held such a love for Australia, where he did a lot of training before being in the first division into battle in the So Pacific, that he always wanted to go back. Grandma's back pain wouldn't handle the flight, so he went on his own at age 88! The injury that led to the end of his life happened because he insisted on doing yardwork around the grounds of the family home they lived in during their last months. He wasn't happy if he wasn't working and useful.

Didn't mean to write so much. We were tremendously blessed to have them in our lives and miss them very much.

Mike,
Your girls have grown up into such beautiful young women. I know you are watching over them and are now proud to be a Grandpa several times over.

PK,
Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. Just this morning, I was smiling as I drank my morning coffee, imagining how much you would have loved fleece. *grin* I printed out the email you sent me the day before your accident. Your timing was uncanny... It brought me so much comfort in the days following your funeral, and it now hangs in a beautiful frame in my office. I'll post it here for others to see.

---------------------------------------

Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, and strength as they learn submission to your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You.

Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend's life. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name.

In love, Your Friend

Scott, Christmas has never been the same without you! We still laugh at the pink angel!!
Scott born Sept 1969
died Aug. 1977

These are all so beautiful.
Love the pictures, Susan & Marilyn.

All Is Well
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household world that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.

Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918

For my friend, Angie. 1-19-49 to 2-14-07
Rest in Peace, Sweet Sweet Angie

My Mom died when my son was 9 weeks old. Merry Christmas Mom. you would be so in love with your first grandchild, and so proud! 1931-1986 55 years

My Father in Law was a hoot. We miss you. My Mother in law. My goofy Aunt Brick and Uncle Jim last year. My son's 19 year old friend, and his 21 year old friend.

My friend Gayle fought the cancer fight with such pride. she was in her 40's. My friends Pat and MaryAnn.

Rita, a beautiful prayer.
Thank you,
Ron

For my son Matt - died Nov 1, 1993; 2Lt. Bill W. USMC - June 7, 1972; and my lovely wife Tam died April 30, 2007.

Thanks Bestlawn - great idea!

Doc

My grandma died when I was 17, she was my best friend. She fought cancer for about 12 years. Every Christmas all I can think about is how wonderful Christmas at her house was. Since she passed away, not one of my Christmas's has even come close to the way they were with her still here, and that was 14 years ago. I also miss my grandpa, who went downhill after my grandma died. I always thought that he died of a broken heart, 3 years ago. Most of my best memories are of spending time with them. And also my friend Jermiy, who I had been friends with for almost 20 years. He died 2 years ago in a 4-wheeler accident. I miss them all so much.

Remembering my Dad. He passed in 1994 at the age of 73. He loved Christmas and made it so special and fun for all of us. I miss him always but particularly at this time of year. "Merry Christmas Dad"

There have been so many, two grandmothers, several cousins, 2 BIL's, 4 uncles, 1 aunt, 1 brother, 1 sister who died this year, my father and my husband who died within 2 months of each other. I miss them all, but especially my mother's mother and my dad.

Then there were my two friends who died in Viet Nam, and the two who killed themselves after they came back.

I think of every one of them at Christmas, and all year long.

In loving memory of my sister Sue, born 1954, died 2007.

My sister, Julia Mary.
1940~2007

dh's aunt mary whom we buried yesterday and his uncle george (mary's brother) just 34 days earlier...they were 82 and 87.

we just returned home...and it has never looked so good, with the peace and quiet...

sadly, my fil is the only one left of 6 children...

My dad Salvatore January 1,1917-January 1,1992
My mom Rosaria July 19,1926-January 10, 1993 (died of a broken heart)
My brother Frank October 4, 1951-May 8, 2000 (died of a pre-mature strugle of Alziemers)
My husband Al October 8, 1960-November 27, 2002 (died of an enlarged heart)
My nephew Tyler Feb 5, 1986-July 1 2006 (killed by a drunk driver)
My friend Steve December 28, 1957-September 19, 2007 (died of a massive heart attack while at work)
They are all loving remembered and sadly missed.