In Loving Memory ... One Year

ANITA DOUIN July 16, 1929 - November 14, 2011

Anita or Ma'am, to most everyone ... but "Ma" Douin to ME, since I was around 10 years old. How I loved you, Ma ... through eternity! You were my friend, my confidante, protector of my young Soul, my 'Ma' when things in my young Life didn't always feel good and right. You were one person, one adult, I felt at home with ... one who listened to me, and not only listened, but HEARD me, no matter what. 

I always felt 'safe' with you, Ma ... and as time flew by and I got older, though I was not always close in proximity to you, I always, ALWAYS felt close to YOU, no matter how many miles or how many days, months, or years were between us. You were,  as your daughter was and still is to me, close, loving, forgiving, beautiful, my best friend, my confidante, my heroine ... and so much more!

How I miss knowing you are up in Maine ... How I miss that I can't just drop you a line whenever I get the urge! How I miss knowing I can make a little time to drop by to see you when I'm in town ... I can't believe it's been a year already, Ma! Why does it seem like just yesterday that I was a young pre-teen, carrying breakfast that I'd cooked especially for your daughter through the 'gully' path and knocking on your door ...

"Morning Ma! Is Kathie up yet?" And you laughing about the fact that us youngsters were so spontaneous, so close to each other, and so silly at times "Whassitto you? Whagidoo?" "You all right Scott boy speak to me sonny!" "Merrill take it out .... HUAH!" Oh my! We were very silly indeed! But how we laughed ... how we laughed at the silliest things: "Forty-one!" "Gleep!" And you always accepted me for me .... that silly, crazy, irreverent best friend of your daughter's who happened to live right behind you ... just a path's length away through the 'gully' ... 

We all know that with Life eventually comes death, and we accept death, even when it is difficult to accept because we have no choice but to accept it. Life is wonderful, filled with joys and love beyond our wildest dreams, but it is also wrought with sadness and tears. As we mature, we learn to take each bump, each hill and mountain as it comes. We learn to accept, bless with love and peace, and move forward as time passes ... 

God blesses us richly with little joys, and God blesses us richly with little difficulties ... combined, these little psychodramas are what build our character, make us each individuals, unique, and special. We need to continue moving forward, as our wise older adults informed us each time there was a death in our family, "Life goes on!" and that it does! Time waits for none of us.

But something Time can NOT take from us is our memories. They are engraved upon our hearts and Souls, and in our minds, for Eternity. You, and all the memories that came along with You, Ma, will remain etched on my Heart and Soul for the rest of my Life! 

May You rest in Peace until we are someday united once again ...

I love you. 

Your "Other" daughter ~ Kathi 

In Loving Memory ...

Donald A. Bonenfant

August 9,1931 - July 17, 2006

(Revised on 8/9/2012)

Six years is upon us already! I cannot believe how quickly time passes! I am taking this time to honor the memory of a wonderful man, the man whom I called "Dad" for nearly 24 years. He was one of the most incredible males in my entire life ~ a jovial soul who never uttered a bad word about anyone or anything, a man who befriended even those no one else would befriend, a man who laughed and joked until he slipped away quietly, in the wee hours of the morning on July 17th, 2006, leaving the physical pain behind forever.

"Baby Don", as my six siblings and I lovingly called him, was a man of true honor and impeccable integrity. And he always laughed that he would rather die "an old clown than an old grouch" and that's exactly how he transitioned: He joked with the admitting physicians during his last hours, even though he could not catch his breath. Don died from complications of congestive heart failure (CHF), and he'd become very short of breath in the last years of his illness.

Don Bonenfant was a happy, loving, friendly Soul ... the kind of man who never said horrible words about anyone, and who had a profound well of compassion, which emanated outwards towards anyone he came into contact with. He was down-to-earth, loving, non-judgemental, family oriented. Even with his nine step-children (he had one biological son and 9 step-children!), 

Baby Don would always say, "There's no such thing as steps in my family! You are ALL my children!" The best part of that comment was that we all knew he wasn't just giving lip service, he truly meant it from his core. "Baby Don" was a truly magnificent soul, whose light shown brightly in this world because he genuinely cared for others. 

Don was a loving, forgiving Soul who loved his wife, my Mom, as much as he loved himself ~ sometimes even more. He treated everyone he met with the same respect and level of friendship that he treated his long time friends. He loved and accepted his children's partners as much as he loved and accepted his own children.

Baby Don befriended the "outcasts" of society as easily as he befriended anyone else. He did not separate or catagorize other human beings ~ EVERYONE WAS EQUAL in Don's eyes. It certainly is rare to find someone like Don, someone who accepts another human just because they ARE human, without any other judgement or unreasonable expectations.

So today and always, Baby Don will be very sadly missed, and his memory and the love he spread around will NEVER be forgotten. Today and always ... rest peacefully in the arms of your Creator ... A soul as loving as yours is definitely in a much more peaceful, tranquil place. 

I'm sure you are smiling over all of us, now.

I miss you, Dad (Baby Don)! Much Love Always ....