Photo of the DB's: Donna, Diane, Denise, Dee and Debby
Tribute to Denise
It is not easy to say goodbye. The pain and sorrow we are feeling engulfs us. I’m sure we will feel it for many years to come. It is hard to find hope in the face of this inexplicable and overwhelming loss. We face a long battle involving a great deal more than simply the passage of time. Our enemy is not grief but fear. Fear that we have lost our sister, daughter, wife, mother, and dear friend. Fear that she will fade in our memories and hearts. Fear that we will lose the essence of Denise.
My sister Denise touched so many people in her short life. She was a phenomenal woman who was kind, loving, and compassionate. This last month has been incredibly hard for us all, especially Greg, Katie, and Maddie. We are so thankful to all of you who have been here and shown your love for Denise. I believe it was that love that gave her the strength to fight for a little more time to be with her loved ones. Denise did give it the good fight. Our Daddy would be proud. We are all so proud of her and grateful that our lives have been blessed by knowing her.
Denise was always full of life. My Mom said that she was, “a lighted sparkler forever”. She never knew really how beautiful she was. As I watched her lie in the hospital bed, I was struck once again by her amazing beauty. Denise always wanted to be loved and give love. Greg said in the last week or so she finally got it that we all love her so much.
We were the Darrow girls. We were 5 strong. Now we are 4. The “set is broken” my Father would say….but I can promise you he is loving every minute of being reunited with Denise.
Katie and Maddie are the best daughters and Denise couldn’t have loved them more. Thank you, Greg, and the Englehart, and Flanagan families for embracing her and caring for her.
Denise would remind us that life must go on and so must we. When you come across a stray animal, think of Denise. She loved her pets so much. We got that love from our Grandmother Evelyn. Heaven is a better place now that it has Denise. She can have unlimited pets and she will be telling some great stories….she definitely has many to tell.
We must celebrate Denise. We must tell stories about her. We need to keep her pictures close, smile about her, talk to her and hold her tight in our hearts. Even when doing so hurts so unbearably bad. Where this delivers us in the end we cannot know. With luck we will be stronger and better as individuals and a family. One thing is for sure, we will never be the same.
You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
Be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she’d want:
SMILE, OPEN YOUR EYES, LOVE AND GO ON.
Tribute to DeniseIt is not easy to say goodbye. The pain and sorrow we are feeling engulfs us. I’m sure we will feel it for many years to come. It is hard to find hope in the face of this inexplicable and overwhelming loss. We face a long battle involving a great deal more than simply the passage of time. Our enemy is not grief but fear. Fear that we have lost our sister, daughter, wife, mother, and dear friend. Fear that she will fade in our memories and hearts. Fear that we will lose the essence of Denise.
My sister Denise touched so many people in her short life. She was a phenomenal woman who was kind, loving, and compassionate. This last month has been incredibly hard for us all, especially Greg, Katie, and Maddie. We are so thankful to all of you who have been here and shown your love for Denise. I believe it was that love that gave her the strength to fight for a little more time to be with her loved ones. Denise did give it the good fight. Our Daddy would be proud. We are all so proud of her and grateful that our lives have been blessed by knowing her.
Denise was always full of life. My Mom said that she was, “a lighted sparkler forever”. She never knew really how beautiful she was. As I watched her lie in the hospital bed, I was struck once again by her amazing beauty. Denise always wanted to be loved and give love. Greg said in the last week or so she finally got it that we all love her so much.
We were the Darrow girls. We were 5 strong. Now we are 4. The “set is broken” my Father would say….but I can promise you he is loving every minute of being reunited with Denise.
Katie and Maddie are the best daughters and Denise couldn’t have loved them more. Thank you, Greg, and the Englehart, and Flanagan families for embracing her and caring for her.
Denise would remind us that life must go on and so must we. When you come across a stray animal, think of Denise. She loved her pets so much. We got that love from our Grandmother Evelyn. Heaven is a better place now that it has Denise. She can have unlimited pets and she will be telling some great stories….she definitely has many to tell.
We must celebrate Denise. We must tell stories about her. We need to keep her pictures close, smile about her, talk to her and hold her tight in our hearts. Even when doing so hurts so unbearably bad. Where this delivers us in the end we cannot know. With luck we will be stronger and better as individuals and a family. One thing is for sure, we will never be the same.
You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
Be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she’d want:
SMILE, OPEN YOUR EYES, LOVE AND GO ON.
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