THANK ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF YOU

AND, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IN SPITE OF THE ALS, MY LIFE HAS BEEN FULL AND GOOD.

I KNEW I WAS SICK, I JUST DIDN’T KNOW HOW BAD. WE STRUGGLED TO FIND A DIAGNOSIS. SOMEHOW, THINGS FELL INTO PLACE…THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR WENT UP FOR SALE, MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND BOUGHT IT. FINALLY, THE MAYO CLINIC MADE THE DIAGNOSIS. AND I WAS ABLE TO BE AT BOTH MY DAUGHTERS WEDDINGS, AND WELCOME TWO EXCELLENT SONS-IN-LAW INTO OUR FAMILY. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO SEE MY FIRST GRANDCHILD, LOVELY LILLY TO GROW TO BE OVER ONE YEAR OLD AS I ANTICIPATED THE BIRTH OF MY SECOND GRANDCHILD. IT ALL SEEMED PART OF A PLAN.

I HAVE LIVED MY DREAM, LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD AND THAT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU…. .MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, DAUGHTERS, SISTER, BROTHERS, FAMILY, NIECES, NEPHEWS,EXTENDED FAMILY AND MY TRUE LOYAL FRIENDS.

FREDDY WAS SO KIND AND WISE TO LET ME STAY HOME TO BRING UP SANDY AND SARAH WHILE HE WORKED HARD AND FINISHED COLLEGE.

AND, IF ANYONE WAS GOING TO WRECK THESE KIDS IT WAS GOING TO BE ME!! FREDDY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A MORE LOVING AND CARING HUSBAND THEN AS HE IS NOW. HE IS MY SOUL MATE.

EVERY MORNING WHEN HE WAKES UP, HE KISSES ME WITH LOVE AND PASSION AND TELLS ME HE LOVES ME. THAT IS EVERY DAY.

ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE TIMES WAS JUST SITTING NEXT TO FRED WATCHING A MOVIE AND HAVING A LITTLE SNACK AND HOLDING HANDS. MOST MEN WOULDN’T DO ALL THE THINGS HE DID FOR ME LATELY, BUT WHEN WE GOT MARRIED, WE REALLY MEANT IT…”FOR BETTER OR WORSE, ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART.”

I NEVER COULD HAVE LASTED AS LONG AS I DID IF IT WERE NOT FOR FRED. HE TOOK SUCH EXCELLENT CARE OF ME AND AT THE SAME TIME, FINISHED ALL THE PROJECTS THAT I WANTED DONE: THE POOL AND DECK, NEW LANDSCAPING, SIDEWALK, BATHROOM FLOOR AND WOODEN FLOORING. HE DID ALL THIS FOR THE LOVE OF HIS WIFE. AND, FRED IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

MY HEART IS FILLED WITH LOVE FOR MY TWO LOVELY AND DEVOTED DAUGHTERS, SANDY AND SARAH, AND THEIR EXCEPTIONAL HUSBANDS, BRIAN AND ERIC.

HOW PROUD I AM OF MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS. I WAS SO PROUD WHEN THEY GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND PROUD THAT THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR OWN LIVES AND STARTING THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

IN THE LITTLE BLUE HOUSE ON MARCHAND STREET, I REMEMBER ALL THREE OF US, SANDY, SARAH AND I, ROCKING IN FRED’S CHAIR, READING OR WATCHING CARTOONS. OUR BUTTS WOULDN’T FIT IN THAT CHAIR NOW!! THERE WASN’T ANY PLACE I’D RATHER BE THAN AT HOME WITH MY FAMILY.

BUT, AM I REALLY LEAVING MY DAUGHTERS? I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE I AM. IN A RECENT ISSUE OF NEWSWEEK, ROSANNE CASH, JOHNNY ASH’S DAUGHTER SAID THAT SHE WAS THINKING AFTER HER PARENTS HAD DIED…..AND SHE STARTED TO WONDER ABOUT LEAVING HER CHILDREN. SHE SAID, “COULD I EVER LEAVE MY OWN CHILDREN, EVEN IN DEATH.? THE ANSWER IS, NO; IT ‘S NOT POSSIBLE. SO IT MUST NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM EVER TO LEAVE ME. I AM CERTAIN ABOUT THAT….

….THAT THE TERMS CHANGE, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP GOES ON.”

MY SISTER AND MY BROTHERS, SANDY, BO AND SCOTT, KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM. .EARLY ON IN MY LIFE, MY SISTER, SANDY HAS BEEN LIKE A MOTHER TO ME, AS WELL AS A SISTER AND BEST FRIEND.

IN MANY WAYS, MY SISTER,HAS PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD FOR ME. SHE AND HER VERY GENEROUS AND SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND, DOUG, HAVE MOVED FROM ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, TO THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO BE WITH ME.

MY BROTHER BO, WHO IS HERE WITH MUCH LOVE IN HIS HEART, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR MY MILESTONES AND MY CHILDRENS’ MILESTONES. ONE TIME I WAS CRYING ON THE PHONE TO BO. I WAS IN GREAT PAIN IN MY LEFT EYE (IT TURNED OUT TO BE A CORNEA ABRASION) ANYWAY, HE CAME RUNNING RIGHT AWAY TO LOOK AT MY EYE AND GAVE ME GOOD MEDICAL ADVICE. ALSO HE MADE ME FEEL BETTER. I KNEW I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM. AND LATER ON, HE PAINTED MY HOUSE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND MADE IT BEAUTIFUL.

CASEY AND AUSTON, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND BE ROOTING FOR YOU. YOU ARE YOUNG MEN WITH GREAT PROMISE, INTEGRITY AND TALENT. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE MEMORIES… WATCHING THE MANY FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL GAMES, AND FOR THE FAMILY CELEBRATIONS THAT DREW US ALL CLOSER.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY BROTHER SCOTT, AS A YOUNG BOY ALWAYS WOULD WAIT UP FOR ME UNTIL I ARRIVED SAFELY HOME. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I KNOW HE IS STILL “WAITING UP FOR ME”, WAITING FOR ME TO ARRIVE SAFLEY “HOME”.

WHEN WE WERE BOTH MARRIED, WE USED TO VISIT MOM AND HAVE OUR SPIRITED CONVERSATIONS. AFTERWARD, SCOTT WOULD ALWAYS CALL UP MOM TO MAKE SURE SHE KNEW THAT WE COULD AGREE TO DISAGREE AND STILL BE AS CLOSE AS EVER.

SCOTT’S WIFE, ANN, MY DEAR FRIEND, HAS LOVED ME AND MINE TO THE EXTENT THAT SHE GIVES CARS AWAY. AND, HAILEY AND JOHN, WHAT A JOY THAT I COULD TEACH YOU HOW TO PROPERLY TAKE TEA AND COOKIES. YOU ARE SPECIAL AND VERY ORIGINAL CHILDREN WITH HEARTS THAT ARE KIND AND TALENTS THAT ARE JUST BEGINNING TO REVEAL THEMSELVES. YOUR AUNT SHERI LOVES YOU.

AND, PAT AND ED, MOM AND DAD YANDALL , HOW LOVING, KIND AND GENEROUS YOU HAVE BEEN TO FREDDY, THE GIRLS AND ME AS WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER. AND BUILT A WONDERFUL EXTENDED FAMILY.

AND, WE HAVE BEEN ALL THE CLOSER SINCE MY MOM, DAD AND GRANDMOTHER (MAMMY) HAVE ALREADY GONE ON BEFORE US.

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR YOU AND ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN: EKI AND KATHY, MYRT AND RUSSELL, MIKE AND LAURA, CHRIS AND LESLEY, PATRICK AND MARLA, CHARLIE AND TERRIE AND ALL THEIR CHILDREN. AND LAURA’S MOM AND SISTERS MADE FOR THE BEST FAMILY EXPERIENCE FOR FRED AND ME. OUR LIVES CONTINUE TO BE FULL OF LOVE, LAUGHTER, MUSIC, HOPE, AND DREAMS WITH MOMENTS OF PURE BRILLIANCE. I AM PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FAMILY AND LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU PATRICK, MARLA, MARCUS

CHARLIE, VEL, RAMON, KALIL

MILES TO VISIT WITH ME. AND THANK YOU MIKE AND LAURA, FOR GATHERING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND PROVIDING AIRFARES. THANK YOU CHRIS, THE CHEF AND WEBMASTER FOR THE YANDALL SITE, AND PATRICK, WHO IN ONE OF HIS LATEST CDs, COMPOSED A SONG ABOUT ME, AND MARLA, WHO CALLS ME EVERY WEEK.

TO MARI, VEL, SHANNON, EKI, JUSTIN PEAU, SHANNON MY VERY SPECIAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS….IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU AND SANDY, SARAH, CASEY AND AUSTON HAVE SO MANY GOOD TIMES EVERY SUMMER.

AND, TO ALL OF MY AUNTS, UNCLES: ETHYL AND JACK, JEAN AND JIM, FAYE AND JACK AND JEAN MANBECK, AND TO MY COUSINS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR MANY KINDNESSES, AND FOR BEING PART OF SPECIAL FAMILY EVENTS, ESPECIALLY SANDY’S AND SARAH’S WEDDINGS. AND, THANKS AGAIN COUSINS JANET, DAVE AND CARLEY FOR THE WEEKLY VISITS AND DELICIOUS COVERED DISHES.

AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LAURIE , DEBBY, AND CHERYL FROM HEARTLAND HOSPICE WHO HAVE BECOME FRIENDS. BY THE WAY, IT WAS LAURIE’S REALTOR HUSBAND WHO WAS TRYING TO SELL THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO ME TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN MY SISTER. BUT IT WAS SANDY AND DOUG’S REALTOR, MY FRIEND COLLEEN, WHO QUICKLY OFFERED THE WINNING CONTRACT. SMALL WORLD …..AND PART OF THE PLAN.

THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD WHO HAVE HELPED ME VERY MUCH AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK: THEM: DR. HELEN SCOBLIC, DR. RUTH LICHT AND…ALSO, DR. NEWMAN AND DR.TAMALA AT THE HENRY FORD ALS CLINIC AND NURSE STEPHANIE RYZKO, ALSO AT THE ALS CLINIC. AND, ALLIE JANKENS, DEBBY AND GARY’S DAUGHTER AND MY SURROGATE DAUGHTER, BECAME AN EXCELLENT CAREGIVER TO ME AS WELL AS AN EXCELLENT TRANSLATOR, WHEN MY VOICE BECAME ALMOST TOO QUIET TO HEAR.

FATHER DALE ORLICK OF ST. BONIFACE CHURCH HAS BEEN A SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO BOTH FRED AND ME WHEN WE NEEDED HIM MOST.

IT WAS FATHER DALE WHO REMARRIED FRED AND ME ON OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY WITH FULL SACRAMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND IT WAS FATHER DALE WHO GAVE SANDY HER FIRST COMMUNION AND JOINED IN MARRIAGE, MY DAUGHTER SARAH AND SON-IN-LAW, ERIC. AND, IT WAS FATHER DALE WHO BAPTIZED MY DAUGHTER SANDY’S AND SON-IN LAW, BRIAN’S FIRST BORN DAUGHTER, LILLIAN SHERI. MANY THANKS FATHER FOR YOUR LOVE AND CARE. AND YOUR VISITS TO SEE ME AND GIVE ME THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK. HE WAS THERE FOR US WHEN WE NEEDED HIM MOST.

AND I REALLY NEED TO MENTION, ANGEL, MY LOYAL AND FAITHFUL GOLDEN RETRIEVER. WHAT AN EXCELLENT COMPANION SHE HAS BEEN.

WE ENJOYED WATCHING THE FINCHES HAVING THEIR MEALS AT THE BIRDFEEDER. JUST OUTSIDE MY WINDOW. AND, ANGEL ENJOYED WATCHING THE SQUIRRELS SNACKING ON SUNFLOWER SEEDS. IN THE WINDOW BOX.

ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE SHE WAS WISHING SHE COULD BE SNACKING ON THE SQUIRRELS. AND WHEN I BECAME UNABLE TO PET HER, SHE WOULD PET ME AND KISS ME. SHE WAS MY GUARDIAN ANGEL GUARD DOG.

FRIENDS ARE LIKE FLOWERS. I KNOW HOW TO PICK ‘EM. AND MY MY FRIENDS ARE AMONG THE MOST COLORFUL, CARING AND BEAUTIFUL, SOULS ON EARTH….AND THEY ARE PERENNIAL, THEY COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR, MORE FAITHFUL THAN EVER . A TOAST TO YOU, MY FRIENDS. A TOAST TO YOU, ALL THE WONDERFUL CHILDREN OF ALL MY FRIENDS. AND TO ALL OF MY KIN WHO ARE MY FRIENDS, TOO. YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO ME. I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND VISITS, AND PRAYERS WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST. AND THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFUL GIFTS OF FLOWERS AND FOOD AND LITTLE PRESENTS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

I THINK OF YOU SO OFTEN, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY FRIENDS’ NAMES HERE, AS I CAME TO KNOW YOU…….

BEGINNING WITH MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND ROBIN WALTENBERG IN SAGINAW AND, LATER HER HUSBAND, RICK, AND, THE HOWEY AND SARKA FAMILIES, THEN,

DEBBY AND GARY, ALLIE, KYLE AND JOSH,

KEVIN AND GENESSA AND MILES AND CALVIN,

PAT AND GREG KOCHOM AND KYLE AND CONNER

JACKY CLEAVER

THE TRAVIS FAMILY

THE KOZUCH FAMILY

BRENDA AND JOHN LALONDE

BECKY AND PHIL MARKIECKI, KEVIN RICE AND JUDY COLLEEN MIKE AND RYAN AARON AND KEVIN

CONNIE, NANCY AND RUTH AND THE BRALEY FAMILY

KAY AND THE FLYNN FAMILY

JACKIE AND ALLEN RUEGSEGGER

KIM AND DARIN, DWIGHT, LUKE AND CASEY

THE PEOPLES FAMILY

MARGIE AND MIKE,

BRENDA AND MIKE,

JACK AND DIANE

CONNIE AND JAY AND CARA AND SON,

RICK AND CHERI

DEREK AND PAULA

BARBARA AND LARRY

JANET YOUNG, WHO IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO MY BROTHER BO,

.. AND LAURA AND MARK

AND, AGAIN, NOT TO FORGET ONE OF MY MOST LOYAL AND TRUE FRIENDS, MY CHRISTMAS DOG, ANGEL.

SO, WHEN YOU ARE THINKING OF ME, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT ABLE TO SEE ME, YOU CAN ALWAYS TALK TO ME AND I’LL BE LISTENING.

MY FAVORITE SOUND IS CHILDREN LAUGHING. IT IS THE BEST SOUND IN THE WORLD. YOU CAN FIND ME IN THEIR LAUGHTER.

YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE ME WHEN THE FIRST ROBIN COMES BACK IN SPRINGTIME. FRED, SANDY, SARAH AND I ALWAYS PLAYED THE GAME OF ‘WHO WOULD SEE THE FIRST ROBIN.’ (IT WAS USUALLY ME.)

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE ME, LOOK INTO MY DAUGHTERS’ EYES . OR LOOK AT MY FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY THE ROSES, FOR IT IS NOT ONLY THE EYES THAT MIRROR THE SOUL…. OR YOU CAN GLIMPSE ME IN A GLASS OF SPARKLING CHAMPAGNE….. TOASTING THE GOOD TIMES!

TRY TO REMEMBER ME THE WAY I WAS….. LAUGHING, TALKING, EATING WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR ME, I’VE HAD A GREAT LIFE, AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS. YOU ARE THE STUFF OF LIFE AND I LOVE YOU ALL.

SO, AM I LEAVING YOU? NO, IT’S NOT POSSIBLE. YOU WILL LIVE ON IN MY HEART AND I WILL LIVE ON IN YOUR HEARTS. “THE TERMS HAVE CHANGED, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP GOES ON”.

WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, IT WILL BE MOMENTS OF PURE JOY. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN.

WITH LOVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE... AND, THAT’S PART OF THE PLAN.

WITH LOVE, FROM, SHERI