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Reply by Cath1

20 Nov 2012, 12:53 AM

Thank you SharonMarie for sharing this most touching tribute to CarolynMarie by her son!

I can see the resemblance between CarolynMarie and her children. She leaves a wonderful legacy for them and I am sure they will honour her memory all through their lives. She looks so happy in the photographs with her husband, her smile radiant, so natural and warm.

As I watched the lovely montage of her life, the still photographs and moving music, I could see that CarolynMarie lived a very rich and loving life with her husband, her son and her daughter, and with her extended family and friends.

It makes me feel so sad that CarolynMarie's life was taken at such a young age by such a heartless disease! She indeed fought hard to live. She had so much love in her life and she wanted so badly to live for all those she loved. Disease had the power to end her life, but it can never end her love.

CarolynMarie left this world with the endless love of her nearest and dearest safe in her heart. She leaves behind her eternal love to live on in the hearts of all those she treasured.

Bless her beautiful and tranquil soul forever.

With endless affection -hugs- xo-
Cath1

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Reply by Tian

20 Nov 2012, 2:57 AM

I'm not a fan of Celine Dion and I like Rent even less so the first part of the video only brought goosebumps. Tears followed. I was previously grossly remiss in not mentioning support for Carolyn's parents. I hope that is now rectified. It would greatly please me if I could be considered to be a late addition to Team Carolyn. I don't know of a more winning group.

Tian

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Reply by SharonMarie

20 Nov 2012, 1:35 PM

Everytime I come on here the words written by you all bring such a smileto my face.

'Disease had the power to end her life, but it can never end her love" that is so true!

Today and tomorrow we will gather to celebrate a wonderful life. I know there will be many tears but there will also be many laughs. Lately, all I can do is think of her, I smile, then I laugh, then I cry. So many memories of her, yet I cry for the memories she will not be able to create with her children and husband. When I talk to her family and say how sorry I am, I will also mention all of you. From the beginning, I often wondered how she did it, how she always had a smile on her face, a word of encouragement for everyone. I am sure the fact that she was on here sharing her feelings, her fears, her questions, helped her deal with this horrible disease.

Team Carolyn, I love that Tian, she had a huge team, her family, her old friends, her new friends, her survive friends, her neighbor friends and her virtual friends. I think her team is the best team ever!
SharonMarie

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Reply by Cath1

20 Nov 2012, 1:55 PM

What a beautiful post, SharonMarie! Thank you!

We will be with you all in spirit over these next couple of difficult days, and our support will continue. As you all gather to remember CarolynMarie, we will be remembering her with you.

I nominate Tian to be the Virtual Hospice "Team Carolyn" lead cheerleader!:) She would most definitely approve!

Sending you and CarolynMarie's family, her husband and children, her parents and her extended circle of family and friends and admirers wishes for strength and peace.

I'm sure there will be many tears and smiles too with your every memory of CarolynMarie. Be together. As Jimmie would advise: Hold one another. You are together in love and loss. I know CarolynMarie will be given the best send off imaginable!

With affection -hugs- -xo-
Cath1

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Reply by Tian

20 Nov 2012, 3:50 PM

So Cath1 just when I think you may be perfect you go ahead and nominate me as lead cheerleader. Carolyn would only approve because she had a great sense of humor. I'm sure there will be no shortage of cheers as her memory is honored.

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Reply by Cath1

20 Nov 2012, 5:59 PM

Dear Tian - aka Virtual Hospice "Team Carolyn" Head Cheerleader:)

I'm so glad that you release me from the burden of striving for perfection as it is a futile and thankless pursuit! I realized that truth thankfully long ago!:)

You are the prime candidate to be Head Cheerleader of "Team Carolyn" on Virtual Hospice. I would say you are the perfect candidate but then I would contradict myself and I truly abhor perfection!:) I know you are very modest (it seems that so many of our male members share this admirable quality) but as you cheer others on I will take this opportunity to say how very much CarolynMarie was touched by you, Tian!

Your incisive humour, your sharp insights, and your ability to soothe CarolynMarie with the shield of your sensitivity and support helped her to keep shining with hope through it all. It never ceases to amaze me that as a group we have formed such close connections as our lives intersect on the virtual highway of life. I know CarolynMarie just loved you, Tian! So do I!

As you remember our virtual companion, CarolynMarie, you are not alone with your tears.

With affection -hugs- -xo
Cath1

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Reply by Tian

20 Nov 2012, 8:01 PM

The feeling is mutual Cath1. I hope to meet you one day as I'm sure we'd both have loved to meet CarolynMarie. Strange as to how someone we never came face to face with could have such a big impact on us. SharonMarie, Carolyn accomplished even more than you thought.

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Reply by Cath1

20 Nov 2012, 10:08 PM

Dear Tian and SharonMarie:

Yes, those in our Virtual Hospice community did not meet face-to-face with CarolynMarie. Like we meet everyone here, we met her heart-to-heart!:)

With affection -hugs- -xo-
Cath1

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Reply by SharonMarie

25 Nov 2012, 2:13 PM

Hello Team Carolyn,

Just wanted you all to know how Carolyn's Celebration of Life went. It was beautiful, her family and friends had the venue all decked out in pink and white balloons and candles everywhere. There were pictures everywhere and a video playing all night. Her son is in a theater group and they all came and sang, Let it Be, Seasons of Love and Walking on Sunshine (Carolyn and Wayne's song). There were so many people there, packed in like sardines. After passing out flutes of champagne and orange juice (her favorite drink) toast and speeches were made. I met so many friends of hers, it was lovely to put the faces to the names.

I was a mess! I could not stop crying, it was so hard to say goodbye to her mother and father (they were leaving to go back to the east coast) Such amazing people, I know where she gets it from. I think about her all the time, sometimes I cry, other times I can't stop smiling.
So next time you have a drink, order a champagne and orange juice (even if it is just orange juice) and think of her. I know you all know how much you meant to her, but you have no idea how much you all have meant to me.

Thank you Team Carolyn, (which of course has to include Colleen) and thank you to Carolyn too, such a beautiful angel, watching over all of us!

SharonMarie

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Reply by moderator | modératrice

26 Nov 2012, 2:35 PM

SharonMarie, Thank you for thinking to update us about Carolyn's Celebration of Life. We will certainly add the clinking of our glasses.

As her circle of friends and supporters slowly return to "normal" life, I hope you, her family and others who are closest to Carolyn know that we are here for you. Grief is a process. Memories bring joy and sadness. When times are tough or you want to share a special moment, our ears are wide open. And don't forget, sharing your stories helps others too.

I think you might appreciate this quote (you know how Carolyn loved quotes).

"My mama told me that sometimes people have to cry out their tears to make room for a heart full of smiles."

Colleen

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