Marianne
I sat home today in the midst of this crazy Covid-19 pandemic and thought about what you would make of it? I know that I am glad that you didn't have to be here with all of your health problems. I feel lucky that I and all your friends and family got to be with you before you passed. We got to celebrate your life and place your ashes in the place you loved most. Over 20 adults and kids hiked a mile and a half down river to honor you. None of this would be able to happen now. I am saddened everyday when  I hear that Covid-19 patients have to die alone. No one from their family is allowed to be there. I have spoken to friends in the cancer community and they tell me how frightened and hurt they are. Their healthcare is not the priority right now and so many resources are being used for Covid-19. They have to be so afraid knowing that it could kill them.  It is a scary time for all of us even without the underlying health conditions. We have to stay at home and practice social distancing. Did you ever think you would hear that or see the entire world not hugging or congregating or being together? It can be very isolating. I am happy to tell you that the country and world that was so divided a few months ago seems to be coming together and some wonderful things are happening. 
People are connecting like never before. We are connecting on video chats and video meetings. There are concerts on line from singers homes being done to bring us closer together. They want to give us some hope and connectedness. Songs to help us take our minds off this disease. There are people who even in their isolation at home our coming out each night to sing or offer claps for the brave men and women of the medical profession for their heroism. I personally have reached out more to everyone to check in on them to make sure they are ok. It seems simple now, why weren't we doing it before? That is a topic for another time. I feel so much more connected in some ways that I had in a long time. I know that if you were here you would be wanting to find a way to help others. I have felt the same way. I in my limited capacity have donated masks and gloves to paramedics. I am helping older friends who are at risk by helping them do shopping online or running errands for them. I dropped off needed items for seniors who can't go out. I wanted to thank anyone delivering food, mail, or packages by posting a note on my front door thanking them for keeping us supplied. I put a teddy bear in my living room window to wave at those walking by hoping it will make them smile.. Patricia and I walk everyday with Rio. She has now gotten so used to it, that if we aren't ready right at lunchtime she is upset. When we get up to go she jumps around the room in excitement. Our walks daily allow us to feel like we are part of the community again. (craziest part of that is that it has only been since the beginning of March where we had to stay home). I have tried to reach out to say hi to the neighbors I know and even the ones I don't. It is so important to be there for each other at this ominous time. Today was a beautiful day sunny and mild. I started working on the front lawn watering and  getting ready for spring. When I walked to the back yard I saw the first blooms of your Grandmothers Iris's and they reminded me of you. It made me smile and be grateful that you were in my life! We miss you so very much. I still find myself turning to tell you about things I hear on the news and then realize you aren't there. That's ok because even though I can't see or hear you, you are always there in my mind and in my heart. I feel that you are right hear beside me like a guardian angel looking down and watching over us. I hope that you are having a wonderful birthday in heaven. We will be celebrating today by Trish and I making brownies for your birthday. We couldn't go out to eat like she wanted to. Just know that we are ok and doing well. We miss and love you everyday. I know that you are up there loving us back. Take care and keep a watch over us always. Be easy on God, I realize now that he really does have a plan for all of us. I first thought, how could your passing have been a good plan? I know now over these last months that you were in so much pain that we couldn't have maintained. You didn't have a good quality of life at the end. I know you didn't think you were ready but I now believe that you were. I wouldn't have wanted you to be here through all of this madness; with the fear that we couldn't get you the medical care you may have needed; or that you could have caught Covid-19. I know now that you are in a place where you can be with your Mom, Dad, Grandmother, and so many others who have passed. I know they are with you celebrating with you today. WE LOVE YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH US IN OUR HEARTS TODAY CELEBRATING WITH US. Thank you God for sending us a beautiful day and the first flowers of spring to celebrate Marianne's birthday! Love YOU!

Marianne yes was a sorority girl! I know some may find that hard to believe. She is in fact a legacy of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Her mother was a member of Adpi at UNM. Talk about coincidences I too was an Adpi at the University of Pittsburgh. When we met I did not know that she or her mom was in the same sorority I was. We all became very involved in the Alumnae group in Albuquerque. Every month we got together to play Canasta. We also had a group that purchased season tickets to Popejoy Broadway series each year. It was always a Sunday of lunch with good friends and sisters then off to the play. She loved going to the shows and spending time with her sisters. The sororities motto lives true in Albuquerque "We live for each other"  Blue is the color of friendship. The diamond is its symbol for "enduring strength and value of friendship". It's mascot is Alphie Lion. Lions represent Strength and Courage. Marianne embodied all of these attributes in her life. She was a true sister, albeit occasionally (maybe a little more than occasionally :}) a rebel. She was sincere in her love for her sisters and her commitment to living her life with integrity, friendship, loyalty, and love.

She was passionate about teaching. Her grandmother Fayna was her inspiration and gave her the desire to be a teacher. Her sister Patricia was her reason for choosing Special Education after a start in Physical Education. She felt that she knew first hand how to understand and teach and inspire those who had developmental challenges. She was determined to make sure that her sister Patricia was always going to have an advocate for fighting against biases against people with developmental disability. She carried that passion into her teaching career. As her teaching career progressed she was asked to move from side by side to teach Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science to higher level special education students. She absolutely loved this level of teaching. She believed in science and did everything to make it real for her students. She had an inquisitive mind and always wanted to make these scientific principles she was teaching applicable to every aspect of her students lives. To make the principles she was teaching to have useful applications in the real world. She wanted to teach discipline and boundaries to her students, knowing that these would be challenging for most of them. She wanted them to know that she loved them. She taught them well because so many have come back over the years and and thanked her for her passion, concern, and love for them. If it hadn't been for her they never would be successful. The best proof of the legacy you have made is to have your students come back to say Thank You!