This is one of my favorite pictrues of Daniel. I am just not sure why except that he has such a pleasant look on his face and, because he was opening his birthday present, he looks like he wants to say, "Here, look here what I am doing!" I believe that this was his 12th birthday. The look on his face lights up my life. I am just so happy that we had him with us for 9 more years after this. It is ironic (but not coincidental) that this picture shows up at the time the words to the song, "Gone to Soon," say, "Like sunlight on a cloudy afternoon" because sunlight is exactly what I feel and see when I see this picture and, if you look to the left of the picture behind Daniel, you can see that it is a cloudy afternoon. It is just so perfect and I did not edit any of this website. It just happened this way.

I miss him so much as his birthday just passed (January 4th) and he would have been 22 years old now. I am so sad that he is no longer here with us but my memories of him will never die. Time must keep going which means that we have to take some things with us as it does and leave some behind. I do believe that time does heal but I think that it is our decision as to what that healing means. For me, healing of Daniel's death is in knowing what a wonderful affect that he had on everyone and not think of him as remembering his death but remembering and celebrating his life with us.


I love and miss you, dear son!!! Pray that our merciful Lord will allow us to be greeted by you on the day that we are called home ourselves!    

As we all know that Daniel's love for skating got him this memorial bench at the Watertown, New York Skate Park. The money for the bench was raised at a fundraiser during the summer in August. We all worked hard to raise this money but many of the arrangements were made by Daniel's best friend, Rob Finn. Of course, with the help of my daughter, Ariana, and myself, we managed to raise over $900 to pay for the bench. The fundraiser was a smash and so many people showed up to show their support and donate to the fund. Daniel's pediatrician, Dr. Gianfagna of Watertown Pediatrics even showed up to express his support and to make a donation. We received donations from a few business owners in Watertown, as well. It was a great turnout and the event couldn't have been on a more delightful day as the sun was out and there was never a threat of rain. 

An interesting story about this bench.....
As most people know, Daniel's two younger brothers (Patrick and Joshua), his sister (Sara), and myself and my husband had moved down to Lithia Springs, Georgia just about a month after Daniel's passing (as this was the plan before the tragic turn of events occured). The kids started school down here in August and had, of course, made friends quickly. Sara, (my 8th grader), had just recently made a conversation with one of her good friends in school and told this girl how she (Sara) had a brother that just died. Not knowing anything about the details of my son (i.e. where he lived, how old he was, etc), this girl asked Sara, "Was his name Daniel?" Sara described it by saying that, "it was like a light went on in her head!" Well, of course, Sara said yes, his name was Daniel and the girl proceeded to tell Sara that her Dad saw his memorial bench. Well, evidently, this little girls' father was in Watertown, New York from down here in Georgia (mind you, one just doesn't make it a point to stop in Watertown, NY for no reason...lol) and, for whatever reason, saw Daniel's memorial bench in the skate park. Why this man was in the skate park in Watertown, New York, I do not know. And, for him to make it a point to tell his family about the bench tells us that this bench made an impression upon his mind and heart and that Daniel did not leave us no matter how near or far we are!!   

I am happy that this picture showed up as the first photograph of the slide show as it was Daniel's last Thanksgiving with his sisters and dad. The fact that this picture did end up as the first one in the slide show is fitting because these are the three people that Daniel lived out his life here with. Despite that the circumstances were not ideal in that four of his younger brothers and sister lived in different housholds in a different part of New York, Daniel was undeniably loved and thought of often! Thanksgiving is just around the corner now (next week) and it is going to be very different without Daniel around! We will miss him sorely! Ariana, Lauren, and Tony, God will bless you as he knows you will be missing our Daniel for the first Thanksgiving without him here with you!

This was Daniel and his cousin Nicholas (my twin sister's son) who were born just 9 days apart! I am so proud of my nephew and I only wish he and Daniel became better acquainted through the years! Nick now is a very focused and successful student studying to become a physcial therapist. I am so blessed to have him as my nephew! When Daniel had the fatal accident, Nicholas and Serena (in picture) stayed by our sides thoughout all the services! The fact that Nick had made sure that he did not miss attending any of the arrangements surrounding Daniel's death meant so much to me. His devotion will never be forgotten as his mother's won't either and all of the rest of my family's love, devotion, and support throughout the ordeal! I love them all!

This is a particularly very special picture of Ariana, Daniel, and Lauren as it was the last picture of them together before that fatal day-May 15, 2013. The picture was taken on May 11, 2013 just 4 days before Daniel's death. However, this graduation day of Ariana's brought Daniel to the point that he decided that he would pursue his college career in the fall (of 2013). He was to attend Jefferson Community College and was interested in a degree geared toward sociology (culture). I had just learned that recently from his dad. Ariana was Daneil's inspiration! He so looked up to his big sister and looked to her often for advice. She was a great sister to him...always wanting the best for Daniel espeically becasue some of his struggles and apprehensions about going to school.

This is a picture of Ariana and Daniel and three of their friends on Ariana's graduation day from Jeffererson Community College in Watertown, New York! Ariana worked hard to get her diploma and I know that Daniel was a proud brother! He looked up to Ariana and looked to her often for advice for his future! It wasn't until her graduation from the Environmental Science and Forestry school in Syracuse, New York that Daniel made that decision that he would pursue his college career!

When Ariana asked me in this particular year (2008) what I wanted for Christmas, I immediately knew what my answer was going to be without any thought. I told her, "I just want a picture of you, Daniel, and Lauren together!" Well, Ariana honored that by getting the three of them together and making their way to the photography shop. When I opened this gift that Christmas in front of them, I remember holding the picture to me and I remember feeling that I just received a bar of gold. My precious children who I love so much! This photo has sinced graced my living room and, as we speak, is placed ever so lovingly on the mantel of the fireplace where we have our memorial for Daniel. He is in our lives everyday and he undoubtedly loved his sisters so much!

This picture was taken by a friend of Daniel's a few days before his accident. He was blessed with this fish with his first cast! Very proud! Notice the words of the song when this picture appears the first time through the song! Nothing less than the work of God to let us know that Daniel is in the Father's hands! Coinciedence? You decide!!  

This was a picture taken on that last visit we all had from Ariana, Daniel, and Lauren in late January-early February, 2012. Christopher was not living at home because of some difficulties he had in life at this time. Of course, I made sure that we got a visit with him at Vanderhyden so that he could see his older brother and sisters. When we visited Chrisopher, we just sat and talked and laughed. We played a game of Scrabble. No, it wasn't the most ideal place for us to be together with Christopher as we all wanted him home with us but this was the reality at the time. I am just thankful for this visit to him as this would be Christopher's last time seeing his brother. Since this time, Chrisopher is still not home but has come a long way in terms of the direction his life is now going. I know that his older brother would be so proud of him because Christopher is realizing so much now and is now planning for his future.

I added this picture because when I saw it I just couldn't help thinking about heaven. I immediately felt that I had to add this to this memorial for Daniel. This morning (November 9th, 2013) as I was viewing all the pictures here through the slide show and, of course, as the tears were streaming down my face, this picture appeared at the very moment of the end of the song that I picked out for the memorial. I can't help but believe that this was a sure sign from God that He has Daniel in His loving arms and that Daniel is undoubtedly with His Creator in glory!! Bless you Daniel Anthony and God bless us all who greatly miss you here on earth! <3


After adding a few more pictures to the slide show, this picture now then appears  at the moment of the song that says, "Like a comet blazing through the evening sky!"
The picture shows up at the exact moment of the words "evening sky!"   Coincidence? No!! Let our hearts and minds bless God always!   

This is the hardest picture for me to tell a story about because little did I know that this would actually be the very last time that I would see my Daniel with his brothers and sisters in 2012 at our apartment in Clifton Park, New York (Foxrun Apartments). As always it was a wonderful visit from Ariana, Daniel, and Lauren. There was nothing monumental about it in that we just spent the entire weekend being together in this very cramped apartment. Of course, Daniel was his playful self by taking Joshua's nerf gun and going around shooting everybody...always with the fun-loving smile on his face while doing it. I remember him in the boys room that weekend sitting on a bed in the boys room just seeming to be relaxing and enjoying his brothers' company. This visit was in late January or early February of 2012.
The pictures taken during this visit were on the last day of their visit. Again, this was the last time that I saw Daniel and am so especially glad that this picture in particular was taken because I was in it...it wasn't just the kids for once. I loved the way that Daniel rested his arm on Patrick's head in this picture. I know that Daniel truly cherished his brothers and sisters and it especially showed during this visit. I so wish that I could just go back to this weekend...even just for a moment. However, he will always be with me until my death in my heart, mind, and soul and I will always remember our times together as I cherish them now more than ever. God bless us all for I know that Daniel is always going to be with us in spirit! I feel his presence with me everyday and I always experience such joy when I think about him! No doubt he is with all the angels and saints in heaven! He now can be with us in pure love!! 

When I heard about Daniel going through Walmart on a motorized cart and putting random stuff in the basket (not at all intending to buy), as a mother, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or scold him. I choose to laugh because I knew that he didn't mean anything by it (he wasn't trying to be a troublemaker), it was just Daniel's way of making some fun from an ordinary event. When the story was told to me, I just could imagine my son doing this act. If you look at the center picture...it is him doing just what was told to me. Look at his enthusiasm. Now, is that a guy who was trying to cause trouble for anyone. He was having a grand ol' time with his friends trying to amuse them...and himself, of course. This was one of Daniel's ways of acting out his infamous line, "Don't worry about it!" I was told, however, that when Daniel was done "shopping" and was ready to go, he left the cart in the middle of Walmart and just walked out! I can just imagine the reaction from the worker that found the thing there with no operator. Hopefully he or she had a sense of humor like our Daniel because I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Daniel would have wanted them to be amused, as well. He was a practical joker and I hope that he took his humor with him to get some laughs out of all the angels and saints and other souls in heaven. I am sure that he is a hit up there! Love you, Dan my man! Mom

After Daniel died, Tony graciously let me go through Daniel's things. So, with his sister Lauren, we took the care and time to go through all of Daniel's earthly possessions. From the whip that he made from duck tape (which he had fun just swinging it around, Lauren said. And, he broke a light globe with it and his father never noticed it...lol)  and a pole to the Rosary beads that his grandmother gave him. He had some interesting things hanging around that must have had special meaning to him that spoke louder than words to me that day as I understood more about my son by just going through his things. We (Lauren and I) had to make a decision of what we should do with his clothes. Most had to go to charity but there were some pieces of clothing that I had to have. One was the hoodie that  he wore the last time that he was at my house. But, when I saw the t-shirt that he is wearing in this picture, I just had to have it, too. The t-shirt was in much better condition in this picture than it was that day that I saw it in his closet. He had evidently done some painting in it because there were paint drippings on it. When I saw the shirt, I remembered the time that he painted the garage of his house and I remember how proud I was that he could get up that high on a ladder and paint. It reminded me that he was becoming a man. So, the t-shrit with the paint on it was a symbol to me of his life in times well spent. Daniel was nowhere near afraid of heights. He was a natural at climbing. The t-shirt that he is wearing in this picture is just hanging in my closet and everytime I see it, I remember what a capable young man he was. I just cannot wait to wear it when I paint my office because I know that if I get any paint on it, Daniel would not mind at all! I am not the best painter in the world (just ask my husband) but I think that by wearing this t-shirt of his, I will do my best job becuase of the inspiration that I get from it. Thank you, Daniel, for your wonderful capabilities! You were the best son!

I don't know what the story is in this picture but I can see that Daniel is at his happiest. He liked all of his friends and of course he loved his little sister, Lauren (on the left). He had a very special bond with both of them! I never realized how much my Lauren and Daniel resembled each other until I saw this picture. Lauren always seemed to have a look of her own compared to her brother and sisters. I always thought that she looked like her maternal grandmother. This was a fun moment for these kids so let us celebrate their time together in this picture! Love you, Daniel! Love you, Lauren! Love all my other kids (Ariana, Christopher, Patrick, Sara, and Joshua). Peace be with all of you!

This picture was taken in 2011 in our apartment at Strawberry Ridge in Waterford, New York. This photo is very, very special to me because it was the first time in 10 years that we, my kids (all seven of them) and I were together. Christopher joined us in New York in 2010 after living with his dad in Georgia for eight years. Also, this photo is always going to be very close to my heart because it was also the very last time that we were all together.


Love you all kids...XOXOXOXOXOXOXO....seven hugs and seven kisses...one each for each of you!!! :)