Laura Altieri

The most beautiful lady in my world has left us. To the family members and the friends whose lives she touched, know that there was no deception in her relationship with you. She opened her heart. Wide open. Her love and caring extended to many, many people. You helped her live an exceptional life. We are sincerely grateful.

Her legacy will be her family. She taught them much, encouraged them greatly, and scolded them seldom. Always available, day or night, she responded as much as humanly possible when assistance or support was needed. She possessed a gift that can not be taught. You have it or you don't. Whether you required a sense of humor, a shoulder to lean on, or just a listener, she had a way to make you feel better and shared with you the hope and the will to keep going. Many of you know of the three years of compassionate care Laura gave her brother Larry, 15 years younger, as he suffered though diabetes, amputation, dialysis and his passing. She earned the love and respect of others over and over. In return, you have been of immense comfort to her.

On those last mornings in the hospital, sitting at her bedside in the dull gray light of dawn, listening to her measured breathing as she slept, hoping for a miracle, even then her warmth enveloped me. An occasional glance when her eyes opened for a moment and sometimes a murmured response to a gentle question or an "I love you." A wish. A change. Any indication that a possible reversal of the disease was beginning. Make her smile. Make her talk. Make her laugh. Make her mine again.

I can not compete with the joy she is to receive in His presence. That gives me solace. No joy for me, not yet. Perhaps I won't have to wait too long to appreciate what she is to receive, that her joy will be so great, that the pain of her absence is just an earthly feeling, while her happiness is Heavenly.

To her friends and to you members of her family, cherish the adventures you enjoyed with her. Savor those moments. Let her be your inspiration. Learn from it. Be like her. Spread hope and love and joy. Honor your family. Treasure your friends. Don't let an opportunity to help pass you by. That legacy, Laura's legacy, will also become yours.

Good bye my darling, beautiful Laura. My heart is breaking because I love you and miss you so much. Please send angels to comfort me. Make them console me until we meet again. Watch over this family you nurtured so very well. We shall share and relish our wonderful times we had with our special "Grams".

I have tried to tell you of our pain from losing Laura. This poem found in "The Cancer Patient's Workbook" does it better;

If we could have a lifetime wish
A dream that would come true,
We'd pray to God with all our hearts
For yesterday and you.
A thousand words can't bring you back
We know because we tried...
Neither will a thousand tears
We know because we cried...
You left behind our broken hearts
And happy memories too...
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted you.

There is a time in Purgatory waiting for many of us. Not for Laura. No way. No how. The bullet train will be a slow locomotive compared to the speed that Laura goes up to Heaven. And, God, if you let her idle a while in Purgatory, I'm sorry to have to tell You, but, please, forgive me, this will be the second time this month that You missed the boat with this exceptional, extraordinarily beautiful soul!

Thank you for being here today to honor Laura. Thank you for the many acts of kindness while traveling with us on this difficult journey. We could not make it without you.