Virginia R. Sheehan, August 21, 1921 -- August 24, 2007
My sister called me on August 20th to tell me that our mom, after many years of struggling valiantly with Parkinson's disease, was dying. Within a day family members arrived from all over the country. My brother flew in from northern California and my husband and I from New York State. Grandchildren flew or drove there to join us. Mom couldn't talk but seemed to regain consciousness and smile each time a new loved one arrived. When everyone was together, she drifted into unconsciousness and on Friday morning passed away peacefully.
This is my mom in 2006 dressed and ready to attend the 85th birthday party held in her honor. She was always beautiful at every age.August 24th was a sad day for our family but we knew Mom had struggled so long and so hard with her painful disease that her death was a blessing. That evening we headed off in three cars to go out to a nearby restaurant for dinner and celebrate my mom's life. My sister and brother lagged behind us a bit in leaving and they never made it to the restaurant. Their car collided with a passenger train traveling at 80 mph while they were crossing the tracks and they were both killed instantly.
Carol Ann Donovan, November 16, 1943 - August 24, 2007
Stanley Michael Raffer, January 9, 1953 - August 24, 2007
Here is one of the last pictures of the three of us together. I am on the left, my big sister is in the middle and my little brother is on the right at my mom's 85th birthday party last summer.
I miss my family. I pray their spirits are finding peace and love and comfort and that they can feel the love we will all hold in our hearts for them always. I want to picture them now with all the other family members that have left here before them, particularly my dad and grandparents. I miss them all. I love you, Mom. I love you, Carol. I love you, Mike.
