Your smile will give me support, and your sense of wonder
will buoy me till my ending days.
This is where we'll rest together, on the Port Orford Heads, overlooking the Pacific.
At your funeral last Saturday, people spoke about your work with other scientists at L3. I learned about the work you did with satellite communications, work I did not understand when you tried to explain it to me. Strange. Strange that you knew more than I, that you had so many friends I had never met, that your life was full and wondrous.
You loved and were loved. Everyone will miss your smile, your warmth, your loyalty, your playfulness.
You found the love of your life in Janet. She'll miss you deeply.
The garden Janet designed and organized to memorialize your life, brought hundreds of people together to clean, amend, paint, dig, built, plant, and leave a lasting legacy to the life you lived so fully, so richly. Your Dad and I, your siblings, your friends and your lovely Janet will miss you till the end of our days.
You lived a rich and purposeful life, the way your father and I hoped you did.
You made us all very, very happy to have known you.
May you rest in peace.
My youngest son. Brian Christian Williams died on July 17 from a blow to the head as he was leaving a party. He never woke up after that. He was 31 years old, engaged to be married, with a dog, a cat, a house and a loving family who will miss him tremendously.
ReplyDeleteRosaria, this is a lovely tribute to Brian. I have thought of you so often in the last days. I hope you, your husband, his siblings, and Janet will have peace. I'm sure the service and garden was beautiful. Again, I am so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteJo, at "Smiling Heart", nearly lost her son a few days ago to someone with road-rage. What is wrong with this world? Her son is expected to recover. I wish Brian had.
I am so sorry for your loss, and the loss of his beautiful life. I am sorry that you had to endure the passing of a child. I am sorry that there will never be enough answers to soothe your soul or put things right. But please know that so much love and peace is going out to you right now, from more people that your will ever know, and from more places across the world than you can ever imagine. I hope that you can feel it surrounding you and that it can help fill some small part of the void.
ReplyDeleteRosaria,
ReplyDeleteTrue to form, your words are filled to the brim with heart, love and depth. I can't even find the words to write you back about Brian's untimely passing. You, Ken and family have been in my thoughts and prayers full out.
I love you very much, my dear cousin.
JoAnn
Blessings to you and your family, Rosaria. I am truly sad and sorry for your losses here, not only of the son you had, but the son that was going to be and what might have been. Be well. Much love to you in your grief.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute. I'm so sorry for your loss. We are not supposed to outlive our offspring. I can't even imagine the pain you must be feeling. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteRosaria, thank you for sharing your thoughts about your loss and the life of your loving son
ReplyDeleteHe will be there..
rosaria, i sit with the cursor blinking, never enough to say. love to you and yours.
ReplyDeletexo
erin
Peace to you and Brian's loved ones Rosaria.
ReplyDeletethat is so beautiful. I am deeply sorry for your loss xx
ReplyDeleteRosaria, You have a wonderful way with words. You make everyone feel better. My heart goes out to you,Ken and your family. That was a beautiful tribute to Brian. Thanks for sharing him with us.
ReplyDeleteMac and John
Beautiful beyond words. Thank you for sharing your thoughts & your amazing son, Brian with the whole world...
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm slow getting here, Rosaria, as life has hit me, too, in various ways and I haven't been blogging or facebooking. I just checked into Facebook and saw your picture with the garden and followed the link to here. Though I haven't lost anyone recently, I know how it feels, and my heart goes out to you and your family. Yes, he will always be with all of you in so many ways. What a lovely way to come together, through a memorial garden!
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
Ohhhhh. Oh, Rosaria, sitting here in tears. I am so sorry. Hearing the way Brian's life was taken is devastating. I am aching for you and yours. I am sorry. So very sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your condolences and your prayers. We are most appreciative.
ReplyDeleteBrian sounded like a beautiful man, Rosaria. There are never the right words to say as everything sounds so inane in the face of such cavernous loss. I guess the most compassionate thing to say, is that I hear your gratitude in having the opportunity to raise and love such a fine man, and I echo that sentiment as a mother. I feel for Janet too, so many hopes and dreams for them have changed into something different for her.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you always with love, Natalie.
Love
I love everything Natalie said although I've never been a mother. I especially appreciate her saying "I hear your gratitude in having the opportunity to raise and love such a fine man...".
ReplyDeleteMy hope for you, your husband, and family is that in the days ahead the loss will not be as sharp, as breath-taking; but will become days you can manage with the joy of remembrance of this wonderful man.
You have no idea how much these words help! Thank you all.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine such a thing, at any time, nor this time of such promise in his life. It is beautiful to see that he will be remembered, that his life so full and the impact he made on so many people, making their lives richer and fuller for having lived.
ReplyDelete