On one occasion Paul and I were sitting with the girls and our Heidi and Eric, while Dave and Linda took a much needed weekend away.  We were all having fun in the pool and out, when Missy took my hand and asked me quietly to come with her.  She told me she had made up a song and a dance she wanted to show me. We went around the front of the house wherre she had laid out a blanket, and she put on a feathered headdress and wrapped a large towel around her shoulders.  She proceded to dance gracefully on the blanket  as she sung a song about the beauty of Indians and their loss of their lands.  It was quite lovely, and I was so delighted that she shared it with me.  I love you, Missy.  Auntie Patty  

I remember when you were born Missy. You needed breast milk  to help you survive. i had just finished breastfeeding Colleen. You Mom rented a pump and I tried soo hard to retain my milk supply.  But no success. I felt so so bad. I only lived two minutes from the hospital and could have helped so much.  But your Mon and Dad , through hard work, accomplished supplying you with the breast milk. You were so tiny when you were born but you were a survivor and we got to spent 37 years with you.  I have so many memories of you and Colleen spending so much time together. Either you both sleeping over

at your house or mine. I always enjoyed having you. You were always well behaved and considerate of everyones feelings. You were very precious to me and I will never forget what happiness and joy that you brought into our lives.  Your son David reminds me of you with his loving and caring ways. Love and miss you my dear niece. Auntie Maureen

I am not sure what story to tell. Your dad asked me to share a few so I guess I will just pick one.

I think David will find this one funny.

I remember one time you and I decided for some strange reason that we would talk double talk and say everything twice, word by word.  We were at your house for dinner and we were at the kitchen table.  Your dad was getting annoyed because we were talking double and as always I was talking fast. He kept asking us to knock it off and what ended up throwing him over the edge was when he wanted you to pass him something, I believe ketchup and you said something like this "No no, you you need need to to ask ask in in double double talk talk." I was laughing, you were laughing and your dad not so much.  Maybe he will get a chuckle from this story now. It is funny how many times I have been remembering and they all put a smile on my face.

You and I did so many silly things together. I will post another sometime soon.         

Eulogy

For anyone who doesn't know me, I am Ali and Missy was my big sister. I ask you to bear with me as writing this eulogy and now sharing it with all of you is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I am also very honored to be doing it. I was completely shocked and devastated when I got the news that my sister had passed away last month. This was totally unexpected and none of us were prepared for this tragic loss. Even though today is sad, as a family we have chosen to celebrate her life, share her achievements and our fond memories of Missy. I speak on behalf of my entire family when I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your warm supportive words, comforting hugs, meals, flowers, i could go on and on. People have been so kind.  Most of all, thank you so much for coming here tonight to be with us and support us as we celebrate the life and grieve the loss of our beloved sister, daughter, mother, aunty -- Missy. I know it would have meant so much to her to see you all here, in her honor. 

Missy made headlines when she came into this world just 37 years ago. She was not due to arrive until mid January that year, but due to my moms placenta abruptia, Missy was welcomed into this world three months early on October 16th 1975 weighing only 2 pounds 7 ounces. She was the talk of the hospital, and was loved from the start. It was touch and go for a while, but with the love and dedication of my parents and the attending nurses - she was destined to survive. I remember hearing stories of my dad driving to wet nurses homes around town to collect donated milk for Missy and bringing it to the hospital, every two hours! She was born so early that my mom’s milk hadn't come in yet, and it was what she needed to thrive. In fact, My Dad showed this exact dedication toward missy her entire life. of course It wasn't breast milk as she got older, but whatever it was she needed, no matter the circumstances, he always made those trips and was always there for her. She didn't leave the hospital until December 23rd that year, when they wrapped her up in a Christmas stocking for her departure. You'll see pictures of that in the photo montage. She was more than two months old, yet still hadn't reached 5 pounds. Pretty amazing. 

As a kid missy loved and was a top performer in dance, gymnastics, cheer leading and the arts. I think she always surprised people a bit, as she was painfully shy, an introvert on the exterior. Then, Along would come a school talent show, a dance recital, a cheer competition, gymnastics show - and there would be Missy. All decked out from head to toe in the perfect costume (thanks to my mom) always complete with sequins and lipstick and she would effortlessly blow people's minds away with her amazing talent.

One of the things we all admired about missy was her incredible artistic ability. She had a beautiful mind, a creative soul - and this was best seen through her artwork. As my Dad wrote for her obituary, She attended programs for the Gifted and Talented at The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and she was a student at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly. She really was so gifted. *I can remember Emma walking into her apartment and seeing the look in her eye, when she saw Missy's artwork on the walls. It truly was so impressive. She had recently taken up sewing with her good friend Mandy. We shared a few good laughs over her first project or two, but she was really getting there! David was even joining in on that fun. It may sound trivial, but it was something that brought her much joy over the past few months.*

Anybody that knew my sister well, knows that she faced many challenges in her adult life. She suffered from severe mental illnesses and battled greatly with the strain that that put on her strong desire to live a "normal" life. But those of you that knew her well also know that no matter how low her struggles had her, her heart of gold always remained strong. Missy was compassionate --almost to a fault at times. She cared so deeply for her family, her friends, animals, even strangers. She was a beautiful, loving, kind hearted, free spirit with a big innocent heart. And we all loved her for that.

As I mentioned, Missy had always had a heart of gold. Then, One beautiful day in August (2001), a little man came into this world and stole 99% of that heart. My nephew David, was her pride and joy. As a mother, I know, there are just no words to express how deeply she loved him and how proud she was of her son. Her greatest accomplishment in life. To her, he mattered more than anything else in this world. I have spent many, if not most of the days since her passing, with David and I can feel the love that he returns to her. We have had countless conversations, and we will have countless more. I tell myself: I have stories for 11 year old David, and some I can't wait to share with "21 year old David"! We'll share some tears, but we'll also have lots of laughs. * I was kind of Missy's side kick growing up, whether she always liked it or not, so I have some good stories for him. I promise that I will always be there for him, and that I will help keep his memories of his mom alive and strong. We all will.*

*Growing up, missy even had two beds in her room. One for her and one for me, because I was always climbing into her room in the middle of the night. I like to think it was her choice to have that bed for me, but as I get older I have started to wonder ;) She always made me feel loved and protected -- that's really all that matters. In fact, I think she made a lot of people feel that way.*

Another highlight in Missy's life were her beautiful nieces and nephews. Matthew, Ellie, Emma, Addie and Scotty adored Aunty Missy as much as she adored them. Emma and Ellie made a real connection with missy and their love for art and creativity. During the summers, she spent countless hours doing arts and crafts with the kids, buying supplies, teaching them new techniques and encouraging them along the way. I know those kids will cherish those memories forever and I know my sister did too, as I found what must have been every picture and craft they (and David of-course) ever made her, saved, when we cleared out her apartment a couple of weeks ago.

It's really hard to sum up a lifetime in just a few paragraphs. but What I really want to say, is that Missy was a beautiful soul. Life was not always fair to her, not easy most of the time. We all have our struggles, but hers were so difficult to overcome.  In the past year or so, those of you that were lucky enough to have spent time with her know, that she had made huge strides and really worked hard to regain control of her path. She was working hard everyday to attend groups, establish healthy habits, healthy relationships and strengthen the ones she had all along. And it was working. Missy died, finally wanting to live. The Missy we saw over the past year or so was living life as we, her family, (and she) wished she would for so many of the difficult years. This is the missy we want you all to remember. Loving daughter, devoted mother, cherished sister, adored aunty, true friend. Beautiful inside and out. She was a beautiful mind with a strong will, a music lover, a creative genius. She was one of a kind. The kind we were all so lucky to have loved. And so sad to have lost.

We wish you peace and love on the other side missy. We will love you and remember you always.

Until we meet again, we will miss you so much.

This is not a story. Its a poem.

We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to loose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you the day God called you home. You left peaceful memories, your love is still our guide, and though we cannot see you, you are always by our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.
RON TRANMER