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38TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE, DALLAS TX

VOL 2, 3RD QUARTER JULY-SEPTEMBER

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept 13 Happy Grandpar-ents Day

Oct 1st Painting with a Twist TCF Night Out 7 pm, 13500 Tamiami Trail Ste 7, Naples, FL see info left

Oct 15th Assembly/Mailing for 2015 Candle Lighting, 6pm, Colony Lakes Blvd, Ft. Myers

Oct 26th Steering Committee Mtg 6:30 pm @ Sovran 5692 Strand Ct Ste 1, Naples, FL

Dec 13 Worldwide Candle Lighting St. John the Evange-list Church, Naples, FL

Dec 17 Delivering Toys from our Giving Tree to School

Feb 28th, 2016 Chapter Walk To Remember, Na-ples , FL

Be sure to check our web-site for more information about upcoming events!

The theme—HOPE SHINES BRIGHT DEEP IN THE HEART was very true.

July 9-12, 2015 A group of us attended this amazing event in Dallas, Texas. We had different perspectives, that of Moms, Siblings and Parent-in-Love and I believe we all found things that spoke to us. Though there were travel issues the support, compassion, information, insight and love made it all worth it.

Linda (Michael and Benjamin’s mom) and Donna (Jennifer’s mom) attended the “Chapter Leadership Training” that was held all day Thursday and learned so many valua-ble things. Anne and her husband, Mauricio (David’s parents), Linda and Annie (Michael and Benjamin’s sister) all worked in various capacities as volunteers. Donna took pic-tures during the “Walk to Remember”. A highlight was Anne Facilitating a Sharing Ses-sion entitled “Grief after 5 Years.” The Keynote speakers all shared heartfelt messages of their sorrow and of hope. The Candle Lighting Service Saturday night was very moving; to see 1,300+ people in this huge ballroom holding candles in memory of those gone to soon...well there are “no words” to adequately describe the emotion.

Sunday morning we proudly carried our chapter’s beautiful banner (donated by Mikey’s parents, Carol and Art) with all the names of our children, grandkids and siblings. Thank you to Chrissy and Anne for their diligent work in getting sponsors raising over $1,500 for our Chapter!

Next year’s Conference will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona July 8-10. I am even more excited to report that the 2017 Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida.

I am hopeful the Florida location will make it possible for many of us to attend in 2017. There is a comfort in being surrounded by so many others– we truly “Do Not Walk Alone”

© 2015 The Compassionate Friends South-west Florida Chapter All rights reserved

MONTHLY MEETINGS

2nd Monday of each month

YMCA Naples

5450 YMCA Rd, Naples, FL 34109

7:00-8:30 PM

Sunrises of our Chapter’s children are read at this meeting.

4th Saturday of each month

Unity Church of Bonita Springs

28285 Imperial Pkwy,

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

9:00-10:30 AM

Sunsets of our Chapter’s children are read at this meeting.

We also have 2

“Go Out to Eat Groups”

Girls Night Out is the 1st Tuesday of each month usually at The Pewter Mug 12300 Tamiami Trail, Naples

starting at 6:00 pm

Guys Night is the 2nd Thursday of the month at Ruby Tuesdays, 8777

Tamiami Trail N, Naples @ 6:15 pm

The Compassionate Friends Southwest Florida Chapter

Supporting Family After a Child, Sibling or Grandchild Dies

Chrissy Hutchison & Linda Wallace Chapter Co– Leaders

Left Annie, Donna, Anne, Mauricio & Linda carrying our banner

Right The names worn on the walk

Below Candle Lighting

NEW EVENT PAINTING WITH A TWIST

No skill required, they will show us how to paint the picture and we can bring our own beer, wine & snacks!

This has been set up as a private party for The Compassionate Friends Night Out. This is open for the girls & guys. Make it a fun night, date night of just night out!

Reservations must be made prior to the Party. To make online reservations go to www.paintingwithatwist.com and you will need the pass code: FRIENDS

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OUR CHILDREN LOVED & REMEMBERED

JULY

1st- Miles Doxie son of Keith & Gail Doxie

1st- Andy Edds son of Vance & Jeannie Hart

2nd- Mark David Broman Goldstein son of Richard & Donna Goldstein

2nd- Julie Scanlan daughter of John & Faythe Scanlan

5th- Nicholas Andrew Kelce son of Scott & Suzy Nania Kelce

7th- Oliver Axer son of Margarethe Neuman

9th– Amanda Jane Bolten daughter of Brenda Baker

9th– Jason Robert Capriola son of Martha Kipybida

9th– Isaiah Laguerre son of Andre & Shinotte Samedy Laguerre

9th– Marcy daughter of Ozzie & Marcia Santos

9th– Shayne Murray son of Patti Threlkeld

12th– Gary Tepe son of Dennis & Jan Tepe

12th– Phillip Scott Starling son of Patrick & Lynn Connor

13th– Carrie Belyea daughter of Bill & Martha Marland

14th– Prentiss Yvonne Price daughter of Al & Sandy Price

16th– James Michael Flanagan son of Beverly Flanagan

17th– Tanya Lake daughter of Elizabeth Lake

19th– Jimmy Vanhoy son Kathy Coleman

20th– Rain Lee Schliska daughter Loni Pines

21st– Michael Joseph Bowen son of Angela Bowen Steward

23rd– Rachel Louise Brown daughter of Michael & Susan Brown

24th- Kathleen Mary O’Callaghan daughter of Margaret O’Callaghan

24th– Melissa Vevalo daughter of Kathy Parker

25th– Michael (Skip) Mauri son of Grace Mauri

26th– Mark Stephen Cooledge son of John & Shirley Cooledge

28th– Megan Thompson daughter of Robyn Baldwin

30th– Chad Lund son of Karen Lund

30th– Luis Eladio Saez son of Pete & Lynn Saez

31st– Arlowe Grace Alikaj daughter of Armand & Rachel Sutton-Alikaj

AUGUST

1st- Jeffrey Charles Basso son of Joseph & Catherine Madigan

4th- Nathan Gregory Musumano son of Gregory Musumano & Chevawn Musumano

5th- Michael McSorley son of Marcie Spencer

7th- Steve son of Janice

8th- Christopher D’Agata son of Tom & Benita Lauri

11th- Andrew G. Milne brother of Tracy Milne

13th- Paul Harkins son of Jack & Cheryl Harkins

15th- William Justin Lyle son of Lori Fina Jennings & Don Jennings

18th- Philip son of Lisa Harle

21st- Deena Leanne Moore daughter of Doreen & Bruce Fogerty

21st- Daniel R. Michalik son of Tony & Patti Michalik

AUGUST Cont’d

22nd- Christopher Wayne Mann son of Marsha Mann

22nd- Christopher Dale Jones son of Mary Young

25th- David Paul Plamondon son of Tim & Janet Plamondon

31st- Chad Collier son of Cindy Jones

SEPTEMBER

6th- Charlie Lykins son of Charlie & Mary Lykins

6th- Mitchel Michael Hutter son of Susan Hutter

8th– Jason Lee Lawrence son of Randy & Sandra Lawrence

9th- Casey Pease son of Connie Pease Addison & David Addison

10th- Jane Frances Fodale daughter of Patricia Yasbeck Pike

11th- Anthony Parrott son of Renae & Bill Martin

12th- Lynne Faragher daughter of Sheila Faragher

15th- Melissa R. Thoma daughter of Frank & Dorothy Thoma

17th- David Pease son of Connie Pease Addison & David Addison

17th- Daileen Alfonso daughter of Maharai DaCosta

17th- Matheus Flor son of Bill & Marcia Flor

17th- Noah Abraham Warsaw son of Ellen & Steve Warsaw

17th- Christian J Santos son of Linda Merced

20th- Tyler Kelce son of Suzy Nania Kelce & Scott Kelce

22nd- David Xavier Michael Nonamaker, Jr son of Anne Arbelaez

22nd- Stephanie Lynn Barnett daughter of Bill & Chris Barnett

22nd- Benjamin Carl Wallace son of Ben & Linda Wallace

24th- Grace Lee Sperandeo daughter of Arlene Sperandeo

27th- David Valentine Schultz III son of Pam Schultz

28th- John C. Eckhold, III son of John & Peggy Eckhold

30th- Danielle Chapman daughter of Daniel Chapman

SUNRISES

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OUR CHILDREN REMEMBERED

JULY

1st– Stephen Robert Rummler son of Bill & Judy Rummler

2nd– Xavier James Andersen son of James Andersen & Janet Congero Grandson of Joe & June Congero

3rd– Andrea Felton daughter of Bill & Vivian Belchler

5th– Clint Beatty son of Karen Lutgen Beatty

9th– Melissa Carolyn Heinly daughter of Sharon Matson

11th– Disney L. Pfeiffer daughter of John & Donna Pfeiffer

12th– Kevin Edward Branning son of Mary Ann Branning Johnson

12th– Mark Richard Daniher son of Frank & Kit Daniher

12th– Prentiss Yvonne Price daughter of Al & Cindy Price

16th– Rachel Ann Helton daughter of Jackie Brown

19th– Nicholas P. Abounader son of George Abounader & Joan Freyre

20th– Nathan Gregory Musumano son of Gregory Musumano son of Chevawn Musumano

22nd– Victoria Marzano daughter of Victor & Eleanor Marzano

22nd– Richard Waltermire son of Harry & Jane Waltermire

24th– Scott A. Nelson son of Wayne & Annie Nelson

26th–Christian Vincent Castaldo son of Gennaro & Lorraine

Castaldo

28th– Ryan Jeffrey Sedberg son of Kim Carollo

29th– Luis Eladio Saez son of Pete & Lynn Saez

30th– Rebekah Kosten daughter of Dan & Holly Kosten

30th– Scott Schultz son of Carl & Dana Schultz

31st– Arlowe Grace Alikaj daughter of Armand & Rachel Sutton- Alikaj

AUGUST

2nd– James Michael Flanagan son of Beverly Flanagan

3rd– Barry Alan Belyea son of Sue W. Bernier

5th– Carolyn Diann Gralewski daughter of Richard & Phyllis Gralewski

7th– Timothy Patrick Regan son of Jerry & Patricia Regan

9th- Michael Gerenstein son of Barry & Marilyn Gerenstein

10th– Julie Scanlan daughter of John & Faythe Scanlan

10th- Tara Heidi Simenauer Pond daughter of Jackie Simenauer

12th- Griffin Daniel Shaw son of Susan & Dennis Shaw

15th- Michele Dawn Kafka daughter of Harriet & Bruce Cole

17th- Chad Collier son of Cindy Jones

17th- Dewayne Peter Williams son of Eunice Williams

18th- Linda Petrillo daughter of Connie & John Petrillo

19th- Robert Schultz son of Joanne Holt

20th- Samantha Nicole Kepsel daughter of John & Cheryl Kepsel

20th-Ryan MacNeil Ulrich son of Anne Ulrich Donahue & Jack Donahue

23rd- Barbara Ellen Conti daughter of Mary Ellen Conti

AUGUST Cont’d

26th- Danny Costa son of Nile Castro Costa

27th- Charlie Lykins son of Mary & Charlie Lykins

28th- William Justin Lyle son of Lori Fina Jennings & Don Jennings

28th- Melissa R. Thoma daughter of Frank & Dorothy Thoma

30th- Lisa Pallerino daughter of Stephanie & Donald Pallerino

SEPTEMBER

1st- David Arturo Mercado son of Michele Sanguinetti Delgrippo

2nd- Michael “Skip” Mauri son of Grace Mauri

3rd- DawnMarie Gerenstein daughter of Marilyn & Barry Gerenstein

9th- Tressa Danielle Gaines daughter of John Douglas & Barb Gaines

10th- Casey Pease son of Connie Pease Addison & David Addison

11th- Ashlee Miller granddaughter of Mark & Joyce Buch

12th- Megan Thompson daughter of Robyn Baldwin

13th- Paul Harkins son of Cheryl & Jack Harkins

16th- David Seth Cohen son of George & Trina Cohen

20th- Gregg Gian Gensler son of Patti & Bob Gensler

21st- Eddie son of Marie Nelson

22nd- Lee Roberts son of Leah Stirrat

22nd- Keith Sexton son of Tim & Ginny Sexton

23rd- Jason Robert Capriola son of Martha Kipybida

25th- Stephanie Lynn Barnett daughter of Bill & Chris Barnett

28th- Kristie Nicole Donlon daughter of Jean Wilson

30th- Justin Stephen Baker son of Nancy Mendell

30th- Christopher Dale Jones son of Mary Young

SUNSETS

If we have made any errors in your child's information we sincerely apologize or if you would prefer to not have

your name listed here please contact us at our email swflcf@live.com or visit our Website http://tcfswfl.org under “Resource” fill out updated member form so we

can honor all of our children

Gone from my

sight,

Never from my

Heart

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The Compassionate Friends Southwest FL Chapter P.O. Box 112524 Naples, FL 34108

Chapter Phone: 239-690-7801 Chapter E-mail: swflcf@live.com

Join us on MeetUp www.meetup.compassionatefriends/

HTTP : // TCFSWFL . ORG

P LEASE VISIT OUR W EBSITE

Our Mission The mission of The Compassionate Friends: When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain

and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and

support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and

helps others better assist the grieving family.

NATIONAL OFFICE

The Compassionate Friends

PO Box 3696 Oak Brook, IL 60522-3696

(877) 969-0010 www.compassionatefriends.org

nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org

REGIONAL COORDINATORS Cindy Baum Miami, FL baum23@bellsouth.net

Shelly Ellis Miami, FL yosmitesam46@aol.com

SIBLING REPRESENTATIVE Tracy Milne—Andrew’s Sister

National Board of Directors, Sibling Representative 239-676-9140 tracyrmilne@yahoo.com

To the Newly Bereaved: Sadly during these past months we have had many “new” families join our Chapter. We are so heartbroken for all of you. We tru-ly wish that no other family every needed us. That being said we are thankful that you have found us. We truly will be here for you so you “Do Not Walk Alone” There are many resources available through our Chapter and the National Office

GRANDPARENTS DAY-September 13th

Grandparents Remembrance: We are the grieving grandparents, the shep-herds of our children and grandchildren’s lives.

Our grief is two‐fold and at times we feel power-less to help. We seek to comfort our children in the depths of their grief and yet we need the time and space to face our own broken hearts. We have been robbed of the special tender touch a grandparent shares with a grandchild, and we have lost a symbol of our immortality. As we walk by our child’s side, we both give and draw strength. We reach into their hearts to comfort them, and when they reach out to us in their distress, we begin the journey to heal to-gether. We continue to be their guardians. We allow traditions to change to accommodate their loss. We support the new ones, which symbol-ize the small steps on their journey. It is in their healing that our hearts find comfort.

Susan Mackey TCF Rutland, VT

Open Letter to Our Siblings Dear Sibling,

How can I possibly tell you how much I miss you? But of course you proba-bly know - since you knew me better than anyone. No matter how much time passes, I still wish you were here to share our lives and the future I expected us to have together.

Even though we fought and at times neglected each other, I just assumed that you would always be there. That we’d grow old together and remem-ber stories of growing up and laugh at each other as we looked and acted more like our parents. That we’d share our joys and setbacks, and adore each other’s children.

Your death has rocked me harder than I could imagined I’d survive. Ulti-mately, there are no answers to my questions. There is no replacing you and there is no solace for my grief.

There is only the simple choice I make every day to live on in the honor of your memory and the love we shared. To strive to carry on the best of who you were. To cherish the brief time we have with others. To celebrate the opportunity to be alive. To have compassion for the pain of others as well as my own. To have the courage to love fully as I have loved you and to remember that you would want me to go on and find joy again.

You gave me so many gifts while you were alive and I continue to discover the gifts in this loss. I am so thankful you were born my sibling. I would not have traded our time together for anything. You are always with me be-cause you are a part of me. Mary Lamourex TCF Marin County, CA

Note from the Editor: Apologies for how late into the Quarter this has been sent out. As we always say we are all volunteers doing the best we can on any given day. Look for the 4th Quarter Newsletter to be out in early November where there will be more details on our National Candle Lighting Ceremony, volunteer opportunities and much more. Thank you for your patience, if you have any suggestions please send an email.

Linda Wallace ljwallace16@yahoo.com