Dearest friends and family-
It is with a heavy heart that I write you tonight. Our dear Rene has passed, her life on earth now concluded, she moves to be with our Lord in heaven. She passed tonight around 11PM with her family gathered around her, loving her, letting her go.
Amidst my grief, I am reminded that this is a reason to rejoice. Rejoice in Rene. Rejoice in the full and delightful life that she led. Rejoice in the fact that she is now whole, healthy, safe, content, warm an loved. Rejoice in the life force that is such a gift to us all. I know that she would want us all to participate in the grieving process, because that means that we are alive! It means that we feel sorrow for the loss of our Rene, because she meant a great deal to us. Then, when we have shed our tears and our sorrow, she would tell us to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Be at peace, friends and family of Rene. Be at peace, because she is at peace. Take time to be quiet, to reflect on your own life and how Rene has touched that life. Take time to be quiet and reflect on the life force all around you, and how lucky we are to be alive. May you too be at peace and find contentment as Rene has found it.
With love,
Kristen
The Last Night That She Lived - Emily Dickinson
The last Night that She lived
It was a Common Night
Except the Dying -- this to Us
Made Nature different
We noticed smallest things --
Things overlooked before
By this great light upon our Minds
Italicized -- as 'twere.
As We went out and in
Between Her final Room
And Rooms where Those to be alive
Tomorrow were, a Blame
That Others could exist
While She must finish quite
A Jealousy for Her arose
So nearly infinite --
We waited while She passed --
It was a narrow time --
Too jostled were Our Souls to speak
At length the notice came.
She mentioned, and forgot --
Then lightly as a Reed
Bent to the Water, struggled scarce --
Consented, and was dead --
And We -- We placed the Hair --
And drew the Head erect --
And then an awful leisure was
Belief to regulate --
Death is nothing at all
ReplyDeleteI have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918,
Canon of St Paul's Cathedral
Thank you Rene for being my friend, for teaching me how to live. I will miss you always.
Cuidate ~ellen
Rene,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your love, compassion and endless encouragement to pursue our dreams. Thank you for guiding our family, being our beacon, and for your immense strength. You are always with me and will always be our "ne". God has truly accepted one of his angels back into heaven.
love, -Jay
Kristen and family, May the peace of our loving God be with you all today and always. I know Rene is making him laugh at this moment. Hold on Lord there are many more of those smiles to come.
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and hearts go out to EVERYONE who has been touched by Rene. We will miss you here on earth.
ReplyDeleteKathy and Anne
Tears... heavy heart... relief you're not in pain... worried about Chris... memories of you flashing in my mind... wondering how excited that God is to have you back...
ReplyDelete-Julie Hunt
I miss you already
ReplyDeleteWe were so very lucky to have had you in our lives, Rene. We smile just remembering happy moments with you and your family. Your struggle is over and you met it head on with grace and dignity and courage and have given us all such a shining example to live by, both in your life and your passing.
ReplyDeleteAll our love,
Bill and Pam
Christopher, Kristen and family -
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful to you all for allowing our family to be a part of Rene's journey to meet God. You are remarkable people and the lessons you have taught us about sharing in times of crisis will stick with us forever.
Rene have a ball in heaven - it was made for people like you!
Christopher we are sending you huge hugs and we are so so sorry. We stand ready to help in the healing.
With all our love and lots of tears - Jill, Steven, Shelby & Jarred
Dear Rene,
ReplyDeleteYour life and spirit live on with those you have touched here on earth. Thank you for those brief moments we had together.
Lauren
Thank you for being a part of our lives and for bringing us into your wonderful family. We will miss you. Love, Vicki, Martin and Natalie
ReplyDeleteMy life will be forever changed for having known you.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame will miss you immensely.
patti
Though I was far away for so very long, I always remembered you from my days at the Girl Scouts.
ReplyDeleteNow my friendship with you continues from a far and thus will continue on remembering you.......
What a beautiful, loving passage and send-off everyone provided for Rene! May it comfort you in your time of sadness to know that she departed feeling so loved.
ReplyDeleteSuzy Purnell
Ms. Lepiane,
ReplyDeleteThank you for playing a big roll in our lives during our high school career. Thank you for believing in us, the Janksters,and all the girls that you've inspired at Notre Dame.
We'll miss you and you'll never be forgotten.
Love,
The Alipio girls
Rene, dear friend. How we will miss you! Working with you at ACS is something I will never forget. You, Cynthia and I were the best of work buddies. And, since all of us left ACS, our quarterly lunches at Mimi's in Dublin were something we always looked forward to. You were the best; always upbeat and telling us to hang in there. Thank you for being you. It was my privilege to to know you.
ReplyDeleteYour friend, Judy
I already miss you. May the way you LIVED - with passion and so much joy- be an example to all of us.
ReplyDeleteMichelle S.
Rene we are so blessed to have you and your family in our lives. You have been a shining example, always looking for the good in every situation and tacking life head on, even with your passing you have shown us your courage. You will be missed and everyone you touched are better to knowing you.
ReplyDeleteWe love you.
Brad, Janis, Jenna & Jessica
"No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humaneness." ~Hermann Broch
ReplyDeleteRene, thank you for touching so many lives as you did, and reminding us of the joys we can find in each day. Thank you for your warmth, your strength, your courage and endless smiles and hearty laugh that so many loved. We are the more fortunate to have known you. My heart goes out to you, and I know you are in a better place.
To Rene's family and friends, I send all of my love,
Jenny Bullock