Happy Birthday Michelle

A Letter from Barbara

Dear Michelle -

Although we lost touch since high school, I will never forget the good times I shared with you. Cheerleading was like a second family to me, and I was proud and glad to stand next to you almost every day. It was no secret that we had our differences, but I think that we had more laughs than anything else (including being Beavis & Butthead in the Cheerleading Camp skit!). You were taken away too early and it's so obvious what a positive influence you had on everyone in your life. I'm glad I was able to share happy times with you and remember you for the funny, caring person you were.
Love your '95 Co-Captain (and friend),
Barbara

A Letter from Progress Energy

November 3, 2007

Dear Michelle,

It has been one year since you were so tragically taken from us and we still think of you every day. Some of us look at your picture every morning and see your beautiful smile. Some of us think of you each morning when we pour our coffee and remember the hazelnut scent of the coffee that you so frequently brewed. Some of us think of you when we look into our children’s eyes and remember how much you loved Cassidy and how much you loved being a mother. Some of us think of you when we find a good sale on bottled water because we know how you loved a bargain. Whatever the trigger, we think of you every day because you had a profound effect on our lives and we miss you.

One of your friends used this verse to describe the way you lived your life. “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.” You lived every day to its fullest, not wanting to miss anything life had to offer or to settle for less. Some people believe that you have to choose between a career or a family but not you. You were determined to have both. Some people, after having a child, lose touch with friends and even extended family members because they are so busy, but not you. You were the organizer. You never settled for, “let’s get together” but rather you pulled out your calendar and found a date to make sure it happened.

Even with your co-workers, you never let a “life event” pass by without ensuring that it was properly recognized and celebrated. While it would have been more than enough for you to run by the grocery store and pick up something off the shelf that was not good enough for you. You always went further by ordering the persons favorite cake, with their favorite frosting, and even decorated in their favorite color. There was always the added “Michelle” touch.

Whenever one of your co-workers was having a difficult time, you always seemed to know the right thing to do. And then, of course, you organized the effort to help them.

Michelle, because you always made time for others even when your life was full and hectic, you made us want to be better people, to be more caring and giving like you were. We’ve said this before but we were very blessed to have known you. We love you and miss you.

From your friends at Progress Energy

A Letter from Heather

Dear Michelle,
This picture brings a huge smile to my face! You seemed to make it your personal duty to ensure that people felt welcomed and had fun in your presence. We would go to NY for family reunions and you would make sure to take us out for good pizza, Italian ice, and a view of the Atlantic. You would visit us in Richmond and make plans for us while you were there…we were always active with you Michelle…you brought the life out in people.

Rich and I decided to move to Charlotte, NC after having lived in Richmond for 10+ years. You told us that you had friends in the area and would make plans so that we could all get together and meet people. Now, a lot of people say things like this…but time goes by, people get busy, and it never happens. Not so with you, Michelle. Two weeks after Rich and I moved, you called and again…made plans to make us feel welcome in our new town.

This day we went with you and your friends out on the lake. We were having a lot of fun and everybody was trying to wakeboard. It was really amusing because everyone was having a difficult time staying up for more than 3 seconds. Everyone had given it a go except for you and me. Someone said, “Who’s next?” I emphatically replied, “NOT ME”…you, however, said in your nonchalant way, “I’ll go”…and you went. You rode that wakeboard like you had been doing it your entire life. So effortlessly, you hit bumps in the water…no problem…several minutes went by…we started doing circles trying to throw you…no problem…more time went by. You were just chillin’ out there in the water…on a wakeboard…riding the waves. I am convinced that you merely stopped because you were getting tired…not because it got too hard for you. Michelle, you could do anything!

You went into motherhood just as naturally as you did riding the waves. You were a first time mom, but it seemed like you had been a mother forever. I found you to be so calm, peaceful, and patient when it came to mothering Cassidy. I often think of you as I mother my son now, there is so much that can be learned from the memories of your being.

You left quite an impression on so many to have lived a brief 29 years. I know I am not alone in saying that you enter my life on a daily basis. Although the pain of your loss has been immeasurable, the gift of having known you holds a value that cannot be underestimated. You will live forever through your daughter’s eyes, in the sighting of ladybugs, whenever a beautiful woman is spotted, whenever I hear the name “Michelle”, when the wind blows on a beautiful day…and… in countless hearts.

Thank you for your time with us on earth…
I love you,
Heather

A Letter from Staci

Dear Michelle,

I know that it has been a quite a few years since we last spoke. One of my fondest memories of you, of course goes all the way back to elementary school, after the last day of school we would all walk to your house for the most amazing pool party ever. I also remember one night when I slept over you taught me how to play Yesterday on the flute. It was the only song I ever knew how to play. After high school we really didn’t speak much everyone went on living there lives elsewhere, but somehow we ended up living only 10 minutes form each other. I remember running into you at home depot and both of us just floored to see one another. We said that we would get together sometime soon. I again ran into you at old navy and you were pregnant with Cassidy. I tried to get you to drive to Christine’s batchorlette party with me but you had just had Cassidy and obviously couldn't. My fondest memory of all is the positive energy and beautiful smile you brought to any situation. I think of you everyday and hope that justice will be brought to the person who took such a wonderful, loving, caring, and beautiful person from all of us!

Staci Van Valen

A Letter from Marybeth

Dear Michelle-

I am so grateful to have had 20+ years of memories to help me get through the past year. We always made fun of Jen for having such a vivid memory, but I find myself really relying on her memories now. Although I can easily recall many good times from our elementary, middle and high school years, our college years and times spent together in our 20's, it's the memories of you as a young mom that I most want to remember right now. Jen- having gone through her pregnancy with the benefit of your advice and experience-is able to pass along your words of wisdom on everything from pregnancy and delivery to having a brand new infant and adjusting to life as a working mom. At my baby shower Jen gave me a copy of the card you gave her when she was pregnant. I love re-reading this card, where you say that you have passed the same card along to many of your pregnant friends. Getting that card made me feel like you were a part of my pregnancy, passing along advice and support as I know you would have. I have a whole new respect for the amazing mom that you were. I look back on pictures of you and Cassidy together and I can see the absolute joy in both of your faces...and Jen provides the background details on where you were and what you were doing when the pictures were taken! My only regret is that there should be many, many more of these pictures and memories.
We are so happy that your Mom is part of Katherine and Ciara's lives. We will make sure that she keeps practicing her grandmotherly skills, because we all hope that she will be reunited with Cassidy sometime soon.
I love you and miss you, Marybeth

A Letter from the Iannotti's

Dear Michelle,

I can still see your beautiful person at the last Family Reunion at Linda’s home, we can see your smile, we can hear your laughter, we can see you showing Cassidy what it means to be loved unconditionally and we can see why the sun shines through in your heart. Everyone just loved YOU Michelle. You have always been vividly in the minds of the entire family every day and that will never change, the entire family will make sure that your candle will always stay brightly lit.

As we close our eyes every evening and as our head hits the pillow, all our prayers will be in your honor Michelle with love.

We all miss you tremendously…

From the entire Iannotti Family…Francine, Carmine, Michael, Denise, Benjamin, Christopher and Joyce.