Paul's Eulogy

A Brother's Pride

I am so incredibly proud of my sister, Suzanne.

The tremendous strength and courage she displayed during the last 7 months of her life have been an inspiration to all those around her. Despite the pain she was enduring, despite the dreadful consequences of what might happen, she remained determined, optimistic, and brave, always putting the feelings of others above her own, and doing it with a smile.

As she spoke with my brother Marc & I for the last time, on the last Thursday of her life, she told us how much it meant to her to have us in her life, and how deeply we were loved by her. She said that she wished she had more time to spend with us, and how unfair it was, not that she was passing away, but that she wouldn’t have more time with us, to be with us. She told us how much she loved Jackie and Kelly, our dear wives, her sisters-in-law by name, but her true sisters at heart. They meant the world to her since she never had a sister of her own.

I’ve been trying to think of the things she would want all of her friends and family gathered today to hear and think about, and knowing my sister and what it was that was at the center of her being is . . . to love. Love one another unconditionally. Never miss an opportunity to say the words, “I love you.” Accept people for who they are, loving their strengths, tolerating their weaknesses, and enjoying the things that make them unique. Don’t take each other for granted, because you never know what life will bring. Use the small amount of time that we each have to accept one another, to care for one another, and to remain united in love for one another.

On the last Saturday of her life, the last day of her life, as her breathing grew weaker, as her strength abandoned her, I told her, close to her ear, one last time, that I loved her, and with all her might, with sounds that were no more than weak breaths, she said “I love you. I love you, my brother.”

What fragile beauty has departed.