Thank you to all for your comforting calls, emails, flowers, cards, prayers, food and support. I just wanted to post the tribute read at her funeral for the those of you that could not make it. Our mother truly appreciated and loved her friends and family and we wanted to let you all know that. Thanks again for all of your kindness, words can not express our gratitude.
I am speaking on behalf of our family, we would like to first Thank you all for traveling and taking time from your busy schedules to help us celebrate our mother’s life.
I look around today and see so many familiar faces, some that I have not seen in many years. I recognize many of the neighbors from the family house on Arbor Ave. Through the years, to my mother, you were all no longer neighbors; you became her life long friends. The kind of friends that were there for each other through life’s ups and downs.
I see co-workers from JC Penney’s that worked with her on a daily basis, members of her women’s card clubs and volleyball teammates. Once again through the years, life long friendships were forged. Friendships that proved to be a wonderful network of care and support. I see neighbors from 4th Street and Wilson Avenue, friends, always kind and quick to lend a helping hand to her in a time of need.
I see the many faces of her classmates. Not only life long friends to her, but also my father and Terry. A wonderful group of individuals that managed to stay connected through all these years. Each on your own life’s journey but always managing to take the time to catch up with each other’s lives.
For her grandchildren,our cousins and friends of my siblings, many of you called, sent her cards, letters, photos or stopped by to visit with her when you were in town. I can not tell you the number of times she expressed her appreciation to me, for you taking the time to make her feel so special, still connected to your families.
To our Uncle Terry, Aunt Maureen, Jan and Dave, you all were special to her and a great comfort to her during our father’s death. She was truly appreciative and never forgot your acts of kindness through the years.
To our Uncle Tony, her favorite dance partner. She was always overjoyed at every Lapres wedding event to cut a rug with you. You always took the time to stop by and see her during your visits to Muskegon and that meant the world to her.
To our Uncle Dick and Aunt Lynne, Every summer she always looked so forward to her visits with you guys at the cottage. They were wonderful times of sun, fun and enough laughs to keep her in stories for years.
Our parent’s life journey of 43 years was special. High school sweet hearts that started their union in 1952 until our father’s death in 1995. Their years had highs and lows but they always managed together. A true sense of commitment, faith and love.
To Terry, you filled a spot in our mother’s heart that had been empty since our father’s death. You brought out a side of her that we had not seen in years and it was a joy to see you two together and so happy. She loved every adventure you two embarked on and she loved you. Thank you and your family for making her last couple of years so unforgettable.
The quote beneath our mother’s high school yearbook photo was “her laughing blue eyes” and it fit her well. She had a wonderful quirky sense of humor that stayed with her through out her lifetime. Even in the most difficult times of her life, she always found a bit of humor that put a smile and a laugh on the faces of those around her. I think today she would want all of us to take one of those lite hearted moments of her life to remember her by.
Our mother spoke of all of you through out the years and just how all of you touched her heart is so many different ways. She was so appreciative to have so many caring friends and family and she loved you all. We hope that she touched your lives in the same way.
So Nancy Jane Drou
