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VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 APRIL & MAY 2017 Chapter Leader: Denise St. Pierre 504 -265 -0581 Email address: [email protected] www.tcfneworleans.com MONTH LY MEETINGS It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my Dear husband May 8, 2017 nd Duffy St. Pierre passed away on March 21, 2017. It was 2 Monday of every month sudden and very unexpected. He passed away on the 4 th East Jefferson Hospital 4200 Houma Blvd. anniversary of his son Chris’ death. Duffy loved TCF and Metairie, LA 70006 thought of everyone as “family.” His departing has left a huge Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM On the 1 st floor, adjacent to the void in my life, my families and TCF. I have heard from Hudson St. Garage, Esplanade III room several members how much he helped them. He spoke to many dads who needed to hear from another “dad” that men UPCOMING MEETINGS: hurt too. Duffy was a very unselfish man. He told me all the Jun 12 July 10 August 14 time, “Thank you for our blessed life.” I would look at him in September 11 amazement that he buried both of his sons and still was able REGIONAL COORDINATOR to see the blessings in his life. He truly was a wonderful man, Denise St. Pierre 504-454-5078 a loving and caring husband to me. Duffy will be dearly [email protected] missed by many. NATIONAL OFFICE *************************************************** The Compassionate Friends PO Box 3696 There are things that we don’t want to happen but Oak Brook, IL 60522-3696 have to accept, [email protected] www.compassionatefriends.org things we don’t want to know but have to learn, 877-969-0010 and people we can’t live without but have to let go. ~ author unknown *“***************************************************************************************************** BIRTHDAY TABLE: We remembered birthdays in MARCH for: Daniel Bolner and Brady Eldridge. APRIL we remembered David Allen Ashton; Tynia Donsereaux; Chelsea Hunton; Lindsey Nichols. We do encourage both you and your family to come when it is your child’s birthday month, to share your child with all of us. You will receive a special birthday gift in memory of your child. Bring that treasured picture of your child that always makes you smile so we may smile with you. The cake for APRIL birthday is in memory of Chelsea Hunton and Lindsay Nichols. “NEW” NEWS TH THE 40 TCF NATIONAL CONFERENCE The Compassionate Friends is pleased to announce that Orlando, Florida , will be the site of the 40th TCF National Conference on July 28-30, 2017 . “Rays of Sunshine, Oceans of Hope ” is the theme of next year’s event, which promises more of this year’s great National Conference experience. The 2017 Conference will be held at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. We’ll keep you updated with details here, on the national website as well as on our TCF/USA Facebook Page and elsewhere as they become available. Plan to come and be a part of this heartwarming experience. Conference Registration Register today for the 40th National Conference. Pre-registration will be available until July 7, 2017. Please note: while on-site conference registration will be available, the Friday lunch and Saturday dinner is only available with pre-registration. Hotel Reservations You can go to the National website to make your reservations online or call 888.353.2013 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. If you have never been to a conference it is an over-whelming experience to be around hundreds of like-minded parents that completely understand what you are going through. You will never feel so much love, understanding and compassion. *************************************************************************************************** OUR DAY…A VERY SPECIAL DAY Our day …a very special day. A day that is set aside especially to honor all mothers. Mother …a beautiful word. What other word could you use to best describe giving birth, nursing, loving and caring for a tiny, helpless human being, a gift of life to treasure? But weren’t we taught that once you gave a gift to someone, you should never take it back? What went wrong? Mine was taken away from me. Does that mean that I wasn’t worthy to be a mother that I was failing, that I didn’t appreciate the gift? The gift was too precious to be given for keeps. It was only loaned to me for a short while. Even in my sorrow, I feel special, for I know the true meaning of the word mother . I have reached the ultimate, from the joy of birth to the sorrow of death. I belong to a special group who truly knows the meaning of the word mother . Would I have not accepted the gift if I had known the terrible loss I would feel by having it taken away from me? NO, I would still hold out my hands and accept such a precious gift; for to love and to cherish, even for a short while, is worth every tear. This year on Mother’s Day, I’ll shed my tears but let them be as a soft summer’s rain – a rain that nourishes the earth, tears that heal and cleanse my heart. Vera Babb, TCF, St. Louis MO **************************************************************************************** A Love Song The mention of my child’s name May bring tears to my eyes. But it never fails to bring Music to my ears. If you really are my friend, Please don’t keep me From hearing the beautiful music. It soothes my broken heart And fills my soul with love. Nancy Williams, TCF Central Jersey Chapter Contact: To all those newly bereaved, who are receiving this newsletter Phone: (504) 265-0581 for the first time and to all our Compassionate Friends, we wish Email: [email protected] you were not eligible to belong to this group, but we want you to www.tcfneworleans.com know that you and your family have many friends. We, who 4541 Loveland St. received love and compassion from others in our time of deep Metairie, LA 70006 sorrow, now wish to offer the same support and understanding to you. Please know we understand, we care, and we want to Chapter Leader……….....Denise St. Pierre help. You are not alone in your grief. Newsletter Editor……....Denise St. Pierre Meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month at East Treasurer…………......…….Debi Giordano Jefferson Hospital, 4200 Houma Blvd., 1 st floor adjacent to Facilitator……………………Debi Giordano the Hudson St. garage at 7:00 P.M . We are a self-sustaining Webmaster…………………William Hunton organization with no funds except what we receive through donations from members and newsletter recipients. Please join Steering Committee: with us at a meeting. Patsy Ashton, Alice Buuck, Jan & Ted Dutilh, Debi Giordano, Cari Serpas, Denise & Duffy St. Pierre Grief support after the death of a child Denise St. Pierre, Regional Coordinator (504) 265-0581 The Compassionate Friends is a national non-profit, self-help TCF National (877) 969-0010 support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and www.compassionatefriends.org hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees. The Meeting Agenda The secret of TCF's success is simple: As seasoned grievers 7:00 p.m. - The meeting will begin with a short reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been directed introduction followed by lighting of candle and then inward begins to flow outward and both are helped to heal. reading of the Credo. Remembering our children’s birthdays of the month. Then followed by smaller The vision of The Compassionate Friends is that everyone who groups of sharing. needs us will find us and everyone who finds us will be helped. 9:00 p.m. - Meeting will close by recognizing our children’s names. Feel free to visit with each other and check out a book from our library. Newsletter Submissions : TCF Greater New Orleans welcomes all submissions to our newsletter. Send articles, poetry, love messages and scanned photos to: TCF GNO, 4541 Loveland St., Metairie, LA 70006. Or e-mail text and photos to: [email protected] As our chapter is only funded by your donations, we ask for a donation of $15 or more for a dedication for our newsletter. This is tax-deductible. We reserve the right to edit for space and/or content. Deadline for submissions is on the Child Remembered page of the newsletter each month. TCF Chapters may copy articles from this publication provided credit is given to the author and the original source. Errors and Omissions: Please notify me if any of your information is incorrect. Thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIRTHDAY CAKE: Our child’s birthday is still such an important day to us bereaved parents. In TCF this is where we can celebrate our child’s birthday and remember the love we still have for them no matter how long it has been since they died. Our chapter is now offering you the chance to sponsor the birthday cake for the month of your child’s birthday. You may do so by calling Denise St. Pierre (504) 265-0581 to order the cake through East Jefferson Hospital. The cost for the cake is $40. This way we can all celebrate your child’s birthday. My Mom is a Survivor Butterfly Wings My mom is a survivor, or so I've heard it said. But I can hear her crying when all others are in bed. Like a butterfly emerges I watch her lay awake at night. And go to hold her hand. And unfolds its graceful wings, She doesn't know I'm with her to help her understand.