Stephanie Wills - Online Memorial Website

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.


“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which 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 that we 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 an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well.
"

THE BROKEN CHAIN

We little knew that morning,

That God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly,

And in death it is still the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you did not go alone;

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

You left us full of memories

And thoughts of you are still our guide;

Although we can no longer see you,

You are always at our side.

Even though our chain is broken

And nothing seems the same,

Someday God will call on us

And the chain will link again.

My dear, sweet Stephanie,

How I miss you.  Thursday was your 34th birthday and I just wanted to hear your voice and to wish you a happy birthday.  Instead, I attended Mass at our beautiful Cathedral, in your honor.  I thanked God for sending you to me and our family on that joyous day in October of 1974.  I will always be grateful for the gift of "you", and though I will never really understand God's plan for our lives, or yours, I can still hear your voice, see your smile and can still hold you close to my heart, because of another "gift" and that is the gift of "memories".  For each day that is given to us, another page is written and then turned, so that in the end we have authored a collection of smiles, tears, remembrances.  And this is where  we  go for comfort and solace and where I find I return day in and day out to relive our times together, even though they were all too brief. 

Anyway, Steph, I sent your brithday greetings to your gravesite along with some tiny roses, which were so you.  I hope you liked them.  Diana and Kathy visited you, also.  I know they are heartbroken.  We talk quite often and still cannot quite believe the reality of what is happened.   As for me, there is this overwhelming void  in my heart that only you could fill honey.  So, Steph, I will simply say, Happy Birthday and I love and miss you very much.

Love.

Forever and always,

MOM

 

 

The touch of you is everywhere. It is in everything.

Your love shines from Camerons eyes, flows from Calebs giggles and is shown in the strength of Dereks shoulders.

 

The touch you lies in Aunties heart and is embeded deeply in the soul of Brian.

 

Growing up. I saw love with Aunty and Uncle. Watching them live and love, laugh and smile at each other gave me hope. Hope for that.

They were the first healthy happy home I was witnessed too.

 

Your and Brians love was the second. Tall gorgeous Brian and his Beautiful Wife. with flowing hair and open arms. For hugs, for support for relief from lifes hardships.

 

When two people love each other the way that you DO. It gives much to everyone around you. Smiles. Hope. A contagious feeling of love.

 

May 20th never beats by without a thought of you. A smile of you. A memory. Of your hand in mine and unimaginable relief that it brought me.

 

Your eyes helped me focus. Helped me bring life into this world that you have left..albiet not willingly.

 

Each night as we sitdown to dinner, your name is on my lips in prayer. I do not pray for you, oh no. You do not need it. You are happy and shining and dancing I am sure.

 

I pray for my aunt, so that she will sleep with peace that night.

I pray for Jen so that she will have strength the next.

I pray for my cousin Brian so that he will recognize what great love you two shared. And I pray he takes the love that is embedded in his very being and wrap it about himself....and extend it to his sons.

 

Much respect * unimaginable love,

Laurie

 

My Dear Stephanie,

 

How blessed and priveleged I am to be your Mom.  God was very generous to me when He sent you to our family.  Although I do not fully understand His plans for our lives, or yours, He must have missed you so much, He could no longer wait for you to go "Home". 

 

Honey, your brothers, sisters, Dad, I, and, of course, your Brian, the boys and the Wills family, are lost without you.  We are still in disbelief and grieving, but try very hard to go on, knowing that is what you would want.  You have left many devastated hearts, but, also, a wonderful legacy - your three boys.   You would be so proud of the way they are comforting each other and Brian.  A testament to you, sweetheart, of your love and guidance.  They will be fantastic men someday, thanks to you. 

 

Steph, I wanted to let you know that your dear sister, Kathy, who misses you so very much, has created this website in your honor.  A place where we can go to reflect on the indelible imprint you have made on our lives and etched in our hearts.   And as we think of you, honey, we  grasp a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other and of life.  This is truly a gift that you have given to us.

 

Sweetheart, I just wanted to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you, again, so thanks for "listening".  Your love, your laughter and your beauty will always have a stranglehold on my heart.

 

Love Forever and Always,

MOM