| The following
are from some of our readers who responded when we asked:What do you and
your family do on those special days to remember your child? If you
would like to share your family's story, we'll be glad to print it in upcoming
newsletters.
~CHRIS FINKLEIN~
"We make an extra
special dinner - our consists of lobster tails with the trimmings and an
unusual dessert Di dearly loved - and we toast her with occasional glasses
of wine...When dinner is over we recall special stories and Di times.
Because Di's anniversary is at the beginning of the year I try to find
angel calendars and wrap them up for everyone to take away with them...This
year (2003) I published a book about Di."
"Dishing With
The Divine Diva Di"
The Spirit
and Fabulicious Delights of Dianne Finklein
September
20, 1974 - January 9, 2001
This is how
Chris & Terry Finklein keep the memory of Dianne alive. They
use 26 cooking recipes, favored by Dianne, and "food for the soul" letters
that tell Dianne's life story. The one that touched my heart the
most was the one that Di "wrote" her Mom about dealing with her death,
the Holidays and her death anniversary.
One of her
statements at the end of this letter said: "Don't gice up! Don't
let anyone convince you I'm not right here next to you, loving you with
my infinite celestial heart, because I am."
After each
recipe is a letter "written" by Di to all the relatives and friends that
she loved and had guided her through life. Each expresses the warm
affection and esteem she had. Truly many of the chapters are...recipes
for the soul.
Published by:
Reivers Press,3553 Eugene Place, San Diego, CA 92116. E-mail: fieldingmcgehee@yahoo.com.
Each cost $10 and the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated
to the Oregon State University Foundation for the Dianne Finklein Memorial
Schlorship.
~CHRIS ANTONY~
I try to do something
for Claire's day that involves not only the immediate family but extended
family as well. On her last birthday I collected short stories written
by family members about a funny, happy memory they had of Claire.
It was great. This year on her anniversary we asked family and friends
to send us a small item that reminded them of Claire. We got everything
from small bears (because we called her "Claire Bear") to a teacher pin
because she always wanted to be a teacher. I then put the items in
a shadow box."
~SHARON
MASSEY~
"Phil died March
27, 2000. He would have turned 26 on August 2 of that year.
That first birthday without Phil, I had a Mass said for him and an In Memoriam
published. Then his sister, Catherine, and her boyfriend, another
Phil (now her husband) and I wrote messages to Phil on little pieces of
paper. I bought colorful big balloons. We stuffed the messages
in the balloons, and then took then to Bi-Lo where they filled the balloons
with helium. We let some of the balloons go from home...We went to
Tyber Creek for dinner. We made sure there was an extra chair for
Phil. After dinner, we released some balloons in the parking lot...Church
is the place I go to anytime to feel close to Phil, not just on special
days or anniversaries. I close my eyes and imagine him giving me
one of his head-to-the-side, nodding, half smiling looks. Sometimes
I can almost feel his hand in mine.
~IN MEMORY
OF SERVICES~
It's your Love
Ones Birthday or Death Anniversary and you're wondering "what can I do
to remember and/or honor them?" Allow me to introduce you to IN MEMORY
OF SERVICES. We specialize in helping you come up with unique and
special ways to honor and remember your loved ones.
Our specialty
is the personalization of each service. We can assist with Candlelight
Services, and Balloon Releases with each balloon personalized with a balloon
tag with a photo of your loved one and whatever message you want.
Balloons are released to bless and touch people in other places you may
never know. Each tag has a call-in information or an e-mail address
the finder can respond to if they wish. Balloons should never be
released without a tag attached so when it comes down, the person finding
it knows why it was released.
We also offer
Lapel Pictures to be worn on your loved ones Birthday and/or the date of
their death by family members and friends to honor them on that day.
We also help you materialize your ideas for a celebration honoring your
loved ones. For more information call Judy Williams at (704) 334-5056.
Judy H. Williams,
Owner
In Memory
OF Services
704-334-5056/704-333-6428
fax
|
