April 19, 2006 -- It is with a very heavy heart that I write to you now to tell you that my dear mother left us this morning at 7:45 am. We were with her until her last breath, and she did not feel any pain. I believe she was comfortable and peaceful, surrounded by her family and all our love.

My mom was one of a kind. She was such a kind, compassionate, loving person, and a very devoted mother and wife. And she was a real fighter. Thirteen years ago, she was diagnosed with a very advanced stage of breast cancer, but she faced it was such courage and determination, and beat it to the ground.

Unfortunately, when she was diagnosed with amyloidosis this late fall, it was too advanced and too aggressive for even my mom to beat. She gave it all she had, until her last breath she was fighting. She was so strong, and I know her strength and her spirit and her love lives on in us. I hope all of you who knew her can remember what a wonderful person and mother she was. She was truly special and we will miss her so much. It is so unfortunate that she did not get to enjoy her years as a grandmother and her retirement with my dad - but I like to remember the saying that goes "it is not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years." And she lived her life to the fullest. Though she endured much pain and suffering in the last year because of this awful disease, she did not let go of her spirit of life, and we enjoyed and will remember many many happy times we shared with her.

I pray and believe she is with God now - for she was a believer with a pure soul and a heart of gold, and that is what gives us comfort in the midst of our grief.

Rest in peace mom. We love you so much.