Re:Kerry

[Guest guest]

Kerry, How very sweet of you. Joyce and I talked about you and how much she loved your visits.She told me how gorgeous your children are. I'll fess up I was very jealous of your visits. The Queen has left her heart here on this board.... the part "WE GET IT" I miss her ever so much. I totally agree about their love for each other. It is so very rare to see these days. I do know God was the center of their lives. He Blessed them both.Again, Thank you Kerry. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida,  IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."  I haven't posted because what can I possibly say... yet I feel I need to share at least a few things. My husband luckily took the call when Lucian called to tell me Joyce had passed. When I did speak with him personally I can't tell you how tough yet wonderful the conversation was. He really needed me and all of us to know that Joyce went the way he and she had prayed she would, in peace, without pain and with family around. He said it was like a whisper and she was gone. After telling him what a treat it was to witness a couple who so clearly loved each other, but really liked each other. Lucian said that when Joyce could barely speak she still took the time and made the effort to take his hand and say, "you are so good to me". Do you need any simpler example of what a good woman Joyce was at loving, appreciating and expressing it and doing so when it meant the most. Did I mention these two were just wonderful together, a pair that was perfect for each other. In the following days I kept checking to see if I could do anything to help. Nothing was needed, but even so I wanted to visit w/ Lucian. I called to tell Lucian I was coming over and he said he had received a card from Blue Bell, PA and I immediately said oh, from  Zion. He laughed and said yes. He said he was really having a tough morning and the girls had both headed out for the day when he opened 's card and it made him laugh. He had no idea we referred to Joyce as the Queen. If ever you think that those cards or contact with people don't make a difference know they do. Lucian said he had been trying to think about what to say at the service and here a woman he had never met had painted a picture eloquently. At that moment I realized there was something I could do. In mourning the loss of my mother one of the most powerful and rewarding experiences was to talk to others who knew her. From childhood friends to new friends, neighbors, doctors and support group members (my mother was a breast cancer survivor). I decided to bring Lucian a small sampling of the board members comments about Joyce. I tried to give a sampling of newer members, long time members, different ways of expressing our feelings. I printed ones from across the country and across the world to show the impact this one woman that he loved had. I knew some had sent cards and he had spoken to Peggy, Leanne and I. I brought him individual posts from Caro, Ken, Joy, , , and Geeta. I took them to him and read them aloud. I can't tell you how much Geeta's post and poem touched me. I had the most difficult time reading it to him, but obviously it touched him. Lucian said he wanted to speak today if he could find the strength. He was wonderful and I was so proud of him. He told the entire gathering about 's card and how it made him laugh, he told about the group and what it meant to Joyce. He told about the Foundation and how Leanne was there. He used comments from us including that I told him I could print him thousands of pages and never sum the feelings of the group, he spoke of Peggy's longing to be there, and quoted all the posts I gave him and closed w/ Geeta's poem. Joyce's pastor officiated the service and it was beautiful. As I sobed for my loss I tried to focus on the beauty of the stained glass in front of me, the fantastic portrait of Joyce and the beautiful flowers the voices of Joyces church members poured in from the back. They sang there acapella and were stunning! Oh, and Vicky's daisy's that she requested Leanne pick from my garden were hand delivered on her behalf. We spent the next couple hours visiting w/ Joyce's friends and family in her home and shared the good cooking of her church family. Today has been an emotional day. I left Lucian w/ a couple dates planned for walks in the park, breakfasts, lunches and coffee's. I will continue to enjoy my relationship w/ the Dalton family. Please know that they appreciate all of you and would be happy that you have now shared in the day.Good night,Kerry