Trish and I would spend a lot of time talking about camping, kayaking, and Trips we went on in the last couple years and how much we all had a great time.

A couple of weeks before Trish passed away she wanted to talk to me. Trish said when you first started dating my daughter I didn’t care for you much and didn’t think you were good for my daughter you were a wild one. You have proven me wrong. You have grown into a great person and I can really see and feel the love and passion you have for Simone and your family. Simone is lucky to have you in her life. I stopped her there and said that it was me that is lucky to have Simone to share my life with. I tell Simone all the time that she is to good for me and that I truly love Simone with all my heart. Simone is the one that has helped me become a better man along with my father.

The morning of Trish’s passing I was getting things ready for the nurse and the funeral home to get here. I was on my way to the bathroom and saw a bright light coming from Trisha’s room. So I went in room and there was a bright light and I saw  person in the light and watched them go out through the wall to the outside and disappear. I really believe that this was Trisha’s spirit leaving and be called home to heaven. I witness to this one other time at my grandparents place after my grandmothers passing. 

We had a lot of great times, and you will be  deeply missed.

It is impossible to begin to summarize my sister who was closest to me in age. She was my bunkmate, though there were times she didn't like sharing a room with her little sister, and my playmate, partner in all kinds of mischief (nearly starting a fire at the church camp down the road from our cottage; jumping off roofs, blocking the streams to watch them flood yards, playing in houses that were being built and crawling the newly installed sewars under Hagedorn Road (yet not operating, phew!), carrying dead bats in our pockets to show friends....); we shared our mutual love for nature, the woods, animals, and camping from the get go--we were truly a pair collecting fire fly's for our bedroom, polliwogs to watch them grow into frogs, and often had flowers, feathers, or rocks in our pockets or on our desktops. We'd often spend the night out in the yard or the woods above Springwater Beach in our shared tent. Something to this day we still did (well, except the dead bats and lightning bugs). I am thankful I was able to tag along on all her adventures, even if they often turned into mischievous mis-adventures hooligans and partners in crime that we were.

As adults, when we'd hang out or chat on the phone I would marvel at her natural wonder, her constant curiosity, and how deeply researched her self-taught knowledge of the natural world was, and how authentic she was able to be. I think my sister somehow learned very early on how to find and achieve true happiness. Some thought she had a hard life, and while she certainly had more than her share of pain and challenges, she was quick to point out that she had a happy life. She followed her heart and surround herself with all that brought her peace and joy. Her horses, gardens, and frequent trips to the UP, Young State Park, or other natural area for hikes and paddles. She lived what some would say was a simple life, but it was rich in what was most important: family, friends, and her beloved pets. She was one of the lucky ones who found the key to happiness and created it over and over again. Like everything in her life, my sister faced her disease with courage, grace and dignity. She was always a fighter and had great inner strength. She is already and will always be greatly missed by me, her little sister.

To my niece Simone and Bill, and their children-my great niece Amanda and nephews Logan and Tristan: My heart goes out to you all. The loss of a mother and grandmother brings such deep grief. I know she loved you all dearly and was so proud of you all. She is in each of you-- your every day acts of kindness; your love of nature, animals, camping, kayaking and gardens; your ability to play, and laugh at all things offbeat, weird or otherwise. Always hold on to the knowledge that her love for you will be with you forever. She will touch you when you see a garden, drink a cup of coffee, watch a loon, or sleep under the stars. Thank you for taking such good, loving care of Trisha over these last 9 months since her diagnosis. Especially for taking her on the cruise and that trip to Florida, the Keys, and on up the coast. That fulfilled one of her life dreams. It was a special trip that she talked about often, which brought her great joy, and wonderful memories. You guys--Please keep the ties that bind us and know I will always be here for you.

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I have a lifetime of memories, a blessing, from the time our mom brought Trish home from the hospital, being so excited to come home from school to peer into the bassinet at my new baby sister, to our last phone conversation which could  last for hours

An example of her love for even the smallest  creatures --she was a pre-schooler and was wheeling a tomato worm down the sidewalk in her doll carriage. She came into the kitchen where our mom was doing dishes and said tenderly, "It smiled at me."