Guest Book
I knew Abbe as the sister of Lynne Belanger of Peterborough who predeceased her in 2007.
I send my sincere condolences to her family.
Karla Charles
An absolutely amazing woman, who anyone could hope and aspire to be like. Loving and caring and selfless in every sense of the word.
Anonymous
An Unwelcome Visitor
A Visitor came calling, the most Unwelcome kind.
He gave no prior notice for he thought she would not mind.
Despite her protestations and attempts to bar his way,
He pushed himself on past her quite determined he would stay.
He sat upon her sofa, the elephant en suite
And said, “Pay me no attention for I am quite petite.”
“I’ll cause you no great bother and won’t stay too very long.”
“You’ll hardly even notice me,” he vowed…though he was wrong.
At first, she simply talked with him, tried reason and persuasion,
Insisted there was nothing that invited this invasion.
She even shouted pointedly, “This simply isn’t just!”
“Begone, Unwelcome Visitor. You absolutely must.”
The Visitor sat silently, impassive, unreproved,
And in his stark demeanor, showed he would not be removed.
And then came fear, quite subtly so, into this hazy picture,
Until it seemed she could not move beneath his binding stricture.
And so, she gathered kin and kith and asked for their support,
Then summoned all the wisdom that the experts could exhort.
Despite all their entreaties, the base Visitor stayed seated
Exactly where he’d first ensconced. He seemed quite undefeated.
The Visitor, e’er hungry, tried to steal her love and hope.
He effortlessly worked to take away her means to cope.
But strong she was, determined, for she still had love to give,
Defied all expectations, and endured so much to live.
We know not why the Visitor takes one and not another:
The friend, the wife, the sister, and the sweetest, kindest mother.
The choice seems rather random, and yet feels far too specific;
The loneliness and pain he leaves feels piercing and horrific.
How should we measure emptiness? How do we weigh the time?
How can we fill an aching soul with memories sublime?
The shadow of the Visitor may linger with these questions
But with her lifelong deeds and words she left us some suggestions:
“Be kind,” she lived, “help others first, hug often, and please smile,”
“And for the sake of others, always go the extra mile.”
“Be sweet, be empathetic, and your anger please forsake.”
“Be easy in forgiveness, and let go the odd mistake.”
So, while Unwanted Visitor may claim his victory
And think he left a trail behind, a path of misery,
The truth is: while our hearts may hurt, her soul’s now unconfined.
We’ll trust that time will heal us, for she left such good behind.
Steve Alderman
I am so sorry to hear of Abbe's passing. Abbe was one of the first people I met when joining the Hopedale Public School system. We worked together at BBC and Memorial. She was so kind and I enjoyed her company. She always had a smile on her face. I will miss her. Please know you all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Donna Blasie