This month's installment of the RFN is a 9 page affair with 7 pages devoted to Br . Matthew's report on working and living in Mexico City in the early 60's. The other 2 pages contain family news; mostly about the Ross Regans. I guess it was a slow month following the recent holiday. Check it out at the link above.
Meanwhile, as promised, here is a note from Catherine Postier regarding the passing of her mother, Sarah. Again, our sympathy and prayers go out to you, Catherine and Bill at this time and we look forward to seeing you next month.
Here is a link to Sarah Postier's obituary.
First, Bill and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who have offered their love and support to us after the loss of our Mother. Obviously nothing can bring her back, but it makes things a bit easier knowing how loved and appreciated she was. For those who made it to the reunion in the Manor, she was so happy to see all of you and really had a great time that day, as did we all.
Meanwhile, as promised, here is a note from Catherine Postier regarding the passing of her mother, Sarah. Again, our sympathy and prayers go out to you, Catherine and Bill at this time and we look forward to seeing you next month.
Here is a link to Sarah Postier's obituary.
First, Bill and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who have offered their love and support to us after the loss of our Mother. Obviously nothing can bring her back, but it makes things a bit easier knowing how loved and appreciated she was. For those who made it to the reunion in the Manor, she was so happy to see all of you and really had a great time that day, as did we all.
The question I keep getting is "what
happened?" Well, some of you know
that Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last May and had a mastectomy in
June. She had undergone 12 weekly
chemotherapy treatments and was on a lower dosage every 3 weeks. She had just begun radiation in November, and
then on the 21st she fell and broke both bones in her ankle. She was in the hospital for a month, and then
had been transferred to a rehab center to continue physical therapy. In addition, she was receiving her ongoing
cancer treatments at the Cancer Center next door to the rehab. Fast forward to the week of February
2nd. On Monday the 2nd, she received her
last radiation treatment, and on Tuesday her ankle was declared 100%
healed. Friday the 6th, I picked her up
and brought her home for the 1st time since November. That night she was thrilled just to sleep in
her own bed and see her cat, Jasmine.
Saturday went along fine all day.
We had finished eating dinner around 7 and I went into the other room to
print off our "Christmas" letter for her to read before I made copies
to mail. When I came back into the
living room 10 or so minutes later, she was gone. I called 911 and tried CPR, but to no
avail. We're not exactly sure what
happened, but think it was either a heart attack or blood clot. At that point we didn't see the point of an
autopsy. She was cremated and we had a small
wake at the local funeral home. As with
Dad, there was a snowstorm that night so I was worried about those that came
getting home safely.
Going forward, I am in the process of moving into her
house. Bill already has a home and we
decided we don't want to sell. Since I
was close by and was renting, it just made sense for me to take it over. It necessitated a job change, but so far,
that bit is going very well. Needless to
say, I'm
We will be having two memorials for Mom; one here in
Vermont, and the other in Warwick, NY where she will be interred. The gathering at the Vermont House will be
Saturday, May 9th in the afternoon. The
grave-side ceremony and reception afterward will be on Saturday, May 30th in
Warwick, NY. I am still working out
details, but the interment will be at 11am at Warwick Cemetery. I am trying to book the Raymond Hose Fire
Company function room for the reception.
Those who came down for Dad's memorial may remember it. If you plan to attend either, please RSVP to
me. You can call me at 802-962-5286,
email dkhelmo@gmail.com, or mail to PO Box 221, North Stratford, NH 03590.
One thing we would love for people to do is to share their
remembrances of Mom. As you know, she
could be very quiet and didn't talk about herself much. We would love to have some stories to tell at
the memorials. Again, you can send them
along to me or, if you plan to attend one of the get-togethers, we'll open up
the floor and you can tell everyone.
I truly think that Mom didn't realize how important she was
to those around her. I have been told in
every way imaginable how wonderful she was and that she touched many
lives. I am so immensely grateful that I
got to spend as much time with her as I did.
She was more than a mother, she was a friend to both Bill and I. She was a sounding board and a rock and,
although we were never a family to say "I love you" a lot, we never
doubted it for a second. Her light and
calm demeanor was always there, no matter what.
She was no mouse though. She was
the "quiet one" that would come out with a zinger when you least
expected it. She loved to have a good
time and she and Dad had more than their fair share of wild times over the
years. She was smart and funny and a joy to be around.
Again, our thanks to you all for your messages of sympathy
and support. We look forward to seeing
you at one of the memorials and at other family functions in the future. Our love to you and yours, now and always.
