May 18, 2006
Goodbye Dear Terri
This evening I got a call from my first mother-in-law, Alberta, who gave us the very sad news that Rich's Aunt Terri passed away after a long battle with cancer this afternoon. She'd been fighting cancer in one form or another since 1987.
Terri was an angel on earth. She was one of the most kind and loving people it's been my privilege to know. In spite of the pain she was in and in spite of the misery of the side effects she suffered, I never heard her complain--ever. She was always smiling and always positive.
There was just one period of time when I remember she felt otherwise. After Rich died--and it will be 5 years next week--she'd wonder why she continued to live when he was so young and still had so much to live for. Those first few months, we cried together often. Sometimes she would say to me, here I am trying to comfort you and you end up comforting me.
I admired her for her spirit and loved her for her sweetness and loving acts toward everyone. I will miss her so much but I know that she and Rich and her parents and their other loved ones are together in heaven and will be there for us when we get there.
This is the last picture I have of Terri, taken at Billy's high school graduation party last year.