Memories of Stephanie

[Catherine Guttman-McCabe]

Memories of Stephanie
By Catherine Guttman-McCabe
September 17, 2008



Few people in this world shine like Stephanie Marshik

Her sparkly eyes always warmed a room along with her beautiful smile and contagious laugh.

Virtually every memory I have of Stephanie reflects the light that shined from within her and around her.

I think of the light from our flashlights as we strolled the neighborhood every Halloween;

The shimmer from our wine glasses as we toasted to good friends;

The light from the fire that warmed us as we roasted marshmallows;

The glimmer of sunlight that bounced off the trees in the park as our children frolicked about collecting treats in little shiny eggs on Easter morning.

But in every one of these memories, what shines like an enduring flame is not the fire, the glass, the flashlight, or the sun, but the light within Stephanie that brightened our lives.

That light will continue to shine, and even brighter now that she is free of the sickness that weakened her body, but could never weaken her spirit.

Stephanie will always be with us, and especially with Sam and Mark, her parents and sisters. Having had her in our lives has brightened all of our futures.

[Dan and Laurie Ward]

Dear Catherine... so true, what you have said. Especially in this holiday season, the brightness of Stephanie which you so beautifully point out, speaks volumes as to how we should, and would, like to be.