Re: French champagne, Belgium Chocolates, Strawberries and the passing of Allyson

November 27, 2008

Requiem in pacem, beautiful lady.

Thanks for letting us know, .

granny

On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 10:25 AM, CSBC <cindysue@...> wrote:

> Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend, Allyson

> Cawood, also known as Draquelle@... <Draquelle%40aol.com> here on

> Upsndowns, passed away in England. Allyson was a long time member here, she

> was not a parent of a child with DS, rather she loved teaching our children

> ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL and Upsndowns family. Many years

> ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of the national DS Conferences

> where they preformed. Some of you may have been there and remember.

>

> Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles Airport before

> heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my receptionists that she

> was a disgruntled client and demanded to see me immediately. I'm really

> surprised they never called the cops on her..lol! She loved to have fun and

> she took every opportunity to do so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th

> Birthday. Her wish was to have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and

> dinner in NY. She got her wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part.

> She had the best kids - her own children and grandchildren were her passion.

>

> She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and just

> reached out to many of us here. For the past year, she and Sandy O'Hare,

> became even closer as the embarked on their cancer journeys together. Not a

> trip either wanted to take and not a pleasant one. Allyson took off for

> Sandys as soon as she heard that Sandy was diagnosed. That is the kind of

> person Allyson was. Sandy lost her partner in this cancer journey, but she

> is happy that Allyson is no longer suffering and expects to see her waiting

> for her when she reaches the Pearly Gates with a bottle of French champagne,

> Belgium Chocolates and strawberries.

>

> Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in honor of this

> wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then, celebrate life to

> it's fullest and reach out to friends and keep them and your own family near

> and dear to your heart. God Bless you Allyson Cawood!

>

> --

>

> cindysue@... <cindysue%40comcast.net>

>

November 27, 2008

I am so sorry to hear this. I remember meeting Allyson in Pittsburgh several

years ago at the last picnic, and we had such a great time! She was

truly so much fun to be around.

Funny, I bought myself a bottle of champagne yesterday, to have during the big

Auburn game on Saturday. I will raise a glass in honor of Allyson.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (17, DS) and , (13)

South Carolina

www.gsdss.net

" Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of

battle. "

" Life is too short for drama & petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,

love truly and forgive quickly. "

French champagne, Belgium Chocolates, Strawberries and

the passing of Allyson

Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend, Allyson Cawood,

also known as Draquelle@... here on Upsndowns, passed away in England.

Allyson was a long time member here, she was not a parent of a child with DS,

rather she loved teaching our children ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL

and Upsndowns family. Many years ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of

the national DS Conferences where they preformed. Some of you may have been

there and remember.

Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles Airport before

heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my receptionists that she was a

disgruntled client and demanded to see me immediately. I'm really surprised they

never called the cops on her..lol! She loved to have fun and she took every

opportunity to do so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th Birthday. Her wish

was to have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in NY. She got her

wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part. She had the best kids - her

own children and grandchildren were her passion.

She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and just reached

out to many of us here. For the past year, she and Sandy O'Hare, became even

closer as the embarked on their cancer journeys together. Not a trip either

wanted to take and not a pleasant one. Allyson took off for Sandys as soon as

she heard that Sandy was diagnosed. That is the kind of person Allyson was.

Sandy lost her partner in this cancer journey, but she is happy that Allyson is

no longer suffering and expects to see her waiting for her when she reaches the

Pearly Gates with a bottle of French champagne, Belgium Chocolates and

strawberries.

Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in honor of this

wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then, celebrate life to it's

fullest and reach out to friends and keep them and your own family near and dear

to your heart. God Bless you Allyson Cawood!

--

cindysue@...

November 28, 2008

Oh my gosh , Ally and I have chatted for years. I knew she had been sick

but she must have hid how bad. This brings tears to my eyes as it saddens me to

no end. When I lost my mom Ally was on the phone, emailing me, sending me the

sweetest cards ....... I could share everything with her with no judgments I

will surely miss her. I pray her sons are hanging in there, I know this must be

tough on them.

I am so glad I didn't read this yesterday, I would have been bummed all day

Thank you for telling us all, for not having a child with DS on this list she

was the BIGGEST supporter of our children and always kept me positive with Sara.

We will misssssssssss Ally so much ............. Kathy mom to Sara 16 ---> who

hid Ally's hair brush last time we saw her, Ally thought that was hilarious lol

From: CSBC

Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 10:25 AM

Subject: French champagne, Belgium Chocolates, Strawberries and the

passing of Allyson

Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend, Allyson Cawood, also

known as Draquelle@... here on Upsndowns, passed away in England. Allyson

was a long time member here, she was not a parent of a child with DS, rather she

loved teaching our children ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL and

Upsndowns family. Many years ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of the

national DS Conferences where they preformed. Some of you may have been there

and remember.

Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles Airport before

heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my receptionists that she was a

disgruntled client and demanded to see me immediately. I'm really surprised they

never called the cops on her..lol! She loved to have fun and she took every

opportunity to do so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th Birthday. Her wish

was to have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in NY. She got her

wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part. She had the best kids - her

own children and grandchildren were her passion.

She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and just reached out

to many of us here. For the past year, she and Sandy O'Hare, became even closer

as the embarked on their cancer journeys together. Not a trip either wanted to

take and not a pleasant one. Allyson took off for Sandys as soon as she heard

that Sandy was diagnosed. That is the kind of person Allyson was. Sandy lost her

partner in this cancer journey, but she is happy that Allyson is no longer

suffering and expects to see her waiting for her when she reaches the Pearly

Gates with a bottle of French champagne, Belgium Chocolates and strawberries.

Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in honor of this

wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then, celebrate life to it's

fullest and reach out to friends and keep them and your own family near and dear

to your heart. God Bless you Allyson Cawood!

--

cindysue@...

January 2, 2009

Hey everyone, that should read 'french champagne, belgium chocolates

and ENGLISH strawberries'!!!

I just had a quick read through the lovely messages that were posted

on here after my mum died and I just wanted to post a reply. I love

reading through other people's memories of my mum, I can just hear

her laughing at the missing hairbrush, and imagine her toasting the

champagne with you.

Mum had been ill with cancer for about 3 or 4 years (including some

time in remission in the middle where we thought the coast was clear

but someone must have had bigger plans for my mum!). She hid to lots

of us just how bad the situation was, including her own children at

first. Mum had fought so much in her life, I dont think she ever

accepted that there was a fight out there where she wouldnt end up

the winner. Mum fought strong and hard from day one. She also didnt

want people's pity, it reminded her that she was ill and somehow not

quite normal. We knew that it was terminal but not much else.

Mum had, only a matter of months before her death, been told that she

had at least 2 good years left and in that time she planned to do so

much travelling, and to take her grandchildren on more of their much

loved holidays with Nanna. She had planned to take her eldest two

grandchildren skiing, and we had planned to surprise her with an

american roadtrip where mum could finally get her daughters, not just

her sons, over to meet her many friends in the US. One of those

planned trips was my mums all time ambition of going to see santa in

Lapland. This trip was all booked and paid for for the 23rd December

but she just didnt make it, but her grandchildren did, and I have no

doubt at all that mum was there with them every step of the way.

We are pulling through together as a family, mum left behind lots of

us, 4 sons, 2 daughters, 5 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, nieces and

nephews, brothers, her dad, her partner. There have been sad days

but there has been lots of laughter too, how could the children of

Allyson Cawood not have a sense of humour huh?

Christmas was mums time of year and we did everything as she would

have wanted it. My sister and I even took her ashes christmas

shopping and didnt care how mad people thought we were for doing it,

she loved christmas shopping, how could we leave her at home?

Mum believed in living life, not sitting back and watching it slip

through your fingers, and as a mum with 6 grown up children she

believed in spoiling herself now and again to make up for all the

years she had to do without to provide for us, so I think we should

all spoil ourselves now and again in her honour. Whether that is a

manicure, or a haircut, a picnic, a day at the beach, a box of

chocolates, a punnet of strawberries, or even a bottle of champagne.

There are words to a song I have been listening to a lot lately that

talks about throwing a handful of glitter in the air. Thats my mum,

shes the glitter in the air, no matter how hard her life was she was

always trying to bring sparkle to other people's lives. May she

continue to be remembered with a smile.

Stacey AKA Platinum Child (coz gold wasnt good enough for her first

daughter), daughter of the life-loving, fun-filled, caring,

effervescent and unforgetable Allyson Cawood xxxxx

>

> I am so sorry to hear this. I remember meeting Allyson in

Pittsburgh several years ago at the last picnic, and we had

such a great time! She was truly so much fun to be around.

>

> Funny, I bought myself a bottle of champagne yesterday, to have

during the big Auburn game on Saturday. I will raise a glass in

honor of Allyson.

>

> Sharon H.

> Mom to , (17, DS) and , (13)

> South Carolina

> www.gsdss.net

>

> " Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some

kind of battle. "

>

> " Life is too short for drama & petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh

insanely, love truly and forgive quickly. "

>

> French champagne, Belgium Chocolates,

Strawberries and the passing of Allyson

>

> Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend,

Allyson Cawood, also known as Draquelle@... here on Upsndowns, passed

away in England. Allyson was a long time member here, she was not a

parent of a child with DS, rather she loved teaching our children

ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL and Upsndowns family. Many

years ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of the national DS

Conferences where they preformed. Some of you may have been there and

remember.

>

> Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles

Airport before heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my

receptionists that she was a disgruntled client and demanded to see

me immediately. I'm really surprised they never called the cops on

her..lol! She loved to have fun and she took every opportunity to do

so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th Birthday. Her wish was to

have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in NY. She got

her wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part. She had the

best kids - her own children and grandchildren were her passion.

>

> She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and

just reached out to many of us here. For the past year, she and Sandy

O'Hare, became even closer as the embarked on their cancer journeys

together. Not a trip either wanted to take and not a pleasant one.

Allyson took off for Sandys as soon as she heard that Sandy was

diagnosed. That is the kind of person Allyson was. Sandy lost her

partner in this cancer journey, but she is happy that Allyson is no

longer suffering and expects to see her waiting for her when she

reaches the Pearly Gates with a bottle of French champagne, Belgium

Chocolates and strawberries.

>

> Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in honor

of this wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then,

celebrate life to it's fullest and reach out to friends and keep them

and your own family near and dear to your heart. God Bless you

Allyson Cawood!

>

> --

>

> cindysue@...

>

January 3, 2009

Hi Stacey - Did you find your mom's response to last year's roll call? I'm

glad your here. Your mom did love this group and we loved her.

She once gave me a box of After Eights -purchased in England and not the US.

She said it was much better than what we have here. Whenever I see a box,

I'll always think of her - I actually found myself on a hunt for them the

other day (not to purchase, just to look at and reminisce!).

Shopping with your mom at Christmastime..yeap, you are your mother's

daughter! She would have been proud of you

--

cindysue@...

French champagne, Belgium Chocolates,

> Strawberries and the passing of Allyson

>>

>> Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend,

> Allyson Cawood, also known as Draquelle@... here on Upsndowns, passed

> away in England. Allyson was a long time member here, she was not a

> parent of a child with DS, rather she loved teaching our children

> ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL and Upsndowns family. Many

> years ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of the national DS

> Conferences where they preformed. Some of you may have been there and

> remember.

>>

>> Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles

> Airport before heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my

> receptionists that she was a disgruntled client and demanded to see

> me immediately. I'm really surprised they never called the cops on

> her..lol! She loved to have fun and she took every opportunity to do

> so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th Birthday. Her wish was to

> have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in NY. She got

> her wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part. She had the

> best kids - her own children and grandchildren were her passion.

>>

>> She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and

> just reached out to many of us here. For the past year, she and Sandy

> O'Hare, became even closer as the embarked on their cancer journeys

> together. Not a trip either wanted to take and not a pleasant one.

> Allyson took off for Sandys as soon as she heard that Sandy was

> diagnosed. That is the kind of person Allyson was. Sandy lost her

> partner in this cancer journey, but she is happy that Allyson is no

> longer suffering and expects to see her waiting for her when she

> reaches the Pearly Gates with a bottle of French champagne, Belgium

> Chocolates and strawberries.

>>

>> Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in honor

> of this wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then,

> celebrate life to it's fullest and reach out to friends and keep them

> and your own family near and dear to your heart. God Bless you

> Allyson Cawood!

>>

>> --

>>

>> cindysue@...

>>

January 3, 2009

No I havnt looked that far back yet. I wrote my reply and got a bit

teary but thats just me, I cry at a commercial break!!

Thats what we forgot at christmas, after eights!! We did however

replace the peanut M & M's of hers that we ate (well they were bought

for my nephew because he stole them!) but we ate them again. She

always brought a big bag back from the US with her coz they taste

different there, and hugs and kisses, we dont get them here.

Everyone loves their mum but no one wants to be like them, but I have

lost count of the times that people have said I am like her this past

few months, both in looks and personality, and for once its nice to

hear. We used to clash a lot for that very reason, both of us

headstrong, both of us always right, the list goes on.

I am just on my way out now so I will have a good look later for mums

old posts.

Stacey xx

> >>

> >> I am so sorry to hear this. I remember meeting Allyson in

> > Pittsburgh several years ago at the last picnic, and we

had

> > such a great time! She was truly so much fun to be around.

> >>

> >> Funny, I bought myself a bottle of champagne yesterday, to have

> > during the big Auburn game on Saturday. I will raise a glass in

> > honor of Allyson.

> >>

> >> Sharon H.

> >> Mom to , (17, DS) and , (13)

> >> South Carolina

> >> www.gsdss.net

> >>

> >> " Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some

> > kind of battle. "

> >>

> >> " Life is too short for drama & petty things, so kiss slowly,

laugh

> > insanely, love truly and forgive quickly. "

> >>

> >> French champagne, Belgium Chocolates,

> > Strawberries and the passing of Allyson

> >>

> >> Hello - I received word this morning that our dear friend,

> > Allyson Cawood, also known as Draquelle@ here on Upsndowns, passed

> > away in England. Allyson was a long time member here, she was not

a

> > parent of a child with DS, rather she loved teaching our children

> > ballet and enjoyed being part of our AOL and Upsndowns family.

Many

> > years ago, she brought her dance troop over to one of the

national DS

> > Conferences where they preformed. Some of you may have been there

and

> > remember.

> >>

> >> Allyson would pop into my office when she flew into Dulles

> > Airport before heading on to PA to see friends. She would tell my

> > receptionists that she was a disgruntled client and demanded to

see

> > me immediately. I'm really surprised they never called the cops on

> > her..lol! She loved to have fun and she took every opportunity to

do

> > so. Some of us met her in NYC for her 50th Birthday. Her wish was

to

> > have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in NY. She got

> > her wish and we had fun helping her with the NYC part. She had the

> > best kids - her own children and grandchildren were her passion.

> >>

> >> She always asked about , always sent Christmas cards and

> > just reached out to many of us here. For the past year, she and

Sandy

> > O'Hare, became even closer as the embarked on their cancer

journeys

> > together. Not a trip either wanted to take and not a pleasant one.

> > Allyson took off for Sandys as soon as she heard that Sandy was

> > diagnosed. That is the kind of person Allyson was. Sandy lost her

> > partner in this cancer journey, but she is happy that Allyson is

no

> > longer suffering and expects to see her waiting for her when she

> > reaches the Pearly Gates with a bottle of French champagne,

Belgium

> > Chocolates and strawberries.

> >>

> >> Allyson would not want anyone to be full of sorrow. So, in

honor

> > of this wonderful woman, treat yourself to the best now and then,

> > celebrate life to it's fullest and reach out to friends and keep

them

> > and your own family near and dear to your heart. God Bless you

> > Allyson Cawood!

> >>

> >> --

> >>

> >> cindysue@

> >>

January 3, 2009

Hi Stacey,

That is so wonderful of you to write, and join us - I think it would be just

fine for you to stick around here for as long as you like (I am not the person

in charge to say, that would be , but she is very nice!)

Your mother was very nice too, and funny, and fun - I remember her as well, in

Pennsylvania - it sure looks like she left her children with a fine attitude to

get by with in this life - the thought of you and your sister shopping with your

mother's ashes is so funny and touching! Who could not love that???

Welcome, Stacey! I just came back home from a holiday vacation, so I'll try to

get my roll call in here in a few days!

Patty in Ohio

Olivia's mom (7, ds)

From: stacey2803 <Nelmsmith@...>

Subject: Re: French champagne, Belgium Chocolates, Strawberries and

the passing of Allyson

Date: Friday, January 2, 2009, 11:32 PM

Hey everyone, that should read 'french champagne, belgium chocolates

and ENGLISH strawberries' !!!