October, 2012

Newsletter of the Katy, TX, Chapter

Chapter Leaders Melinda and Glen Ginter (281) 492-1262

Newsletter Editor Annette Mennen Baldwin (281) 578-9118
Treasurer Lisa Leanard

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 daugh-
ter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.

***OCTOBER MEETING***

When: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 6:30 PM – Doors Open

7:00 PM—Meeting Begins
Where: Kingsland Baptist Church 20555 Kingsland Blvd,
Katy, TX 77450
John Burns Building, East side of church

Program: Special Guest, Joyce Margarce: “Honoring our Children on Special Days”
Directions:
From East of Fry Road (coming from Houston): Go west on I-10 to Fry Road. Turn left (south) on Fry Road. Turn right (west) on Kings-
land Blvd and travel 0.5 miles to Kingsland Baptist Church.
From West of Mason Road (coming from San Antonio): Go east on I-10 to Westgreen Blvd. Turn right (south) on Westgreen Blvd and
travel 0.6 miles to Kingsland Blvd. Turn left (east) on Kingsland Blvd and travel 0.5 miles to Kingsland Baptist Church.

(Across from Nottingham Country Elementary School)

Our Children Remembered

Birthdays
October 1980 32 Years Gabriel Alejandro Granado, son of Sal & Delia Granado
October 1978 34 Years Bryan Andrew Lewis, son of Carolyn & Ronnie Porter
October 1965 47 Years Van Joseph Wisdom, son of Charles & Lilly Faye Wisdom
October 1972 40 Years Mark Corder Whitehill, son of Don & Terry Whitehill
October 1993 19 Years Taylor Contreras, daughter of Sherry Contreras
October 1980 32 Years Edward (Eddy) Wesley Johnson, Jr., son of Trish Johnson
October 1982 30 Years Jonathan May, son of Doug & Laura May
October 2010 2 Years James Camden Sikes, grandson of Valarie Sikes
October 1987 25 Years Chad (Charles) Preston Jones, son of Michael & Sheree Jones
October 1969 43 Years Amy Lynn Ellis Oliver, daughter of Diane Ellis
October 1981 31 Years Heather Dee’Anne Abke Burbee, daughter of Sue & Harvey Abke
October 1980 32 Years Ashwin Y. Bhandari, son of Sue & Yash Bhandari
Anniversaries
October 2009 3 Years Matthew J. Schmitt, son of Brenda & Steven Schmitt
October 2009 3 Years William Andrew Sattler, son of Jinny Trout
October 2011 2 Years Christopher Andrew Ramirez, son of Patricia Chavez
October 2003 9 Years Jason Kyle Reph, son of Kristin Kennedy
October 2000 12 Years James M. Braun, son of Jeff & Barbara Braun
October 2007 5 Years Matthew Joseph Salcevski, son of Rhonda & Frank Salveski
October 2011 1 Year Karen Reding, daughter of Laura & Henry Reding
October 2005 7 Years Steven Nickel, son of James & Bonnie Nickel
October 2009 3 Years John Michael Lee, son of Sandi & Bob Gray
October 2006 6 Years George Nathaniel (JoJo) Edwards, son of George & Tonye Edwards
October 2008 4 Years Mark “Bo” Bean, Jr., son of Tedri Pyle
October 2010 2 Years Seth Nathan Villarruel, son of Rigo Villarruel
October 2007 5 Years Russell Knapp, son of Cathy Knapp
October 2005 7 Years Tyler Herbst, son of Steve & Kathy Herbst

During your child’s birth month, you are invited to bring a special photograph or keepsake of your
loved one to share with the group. If you are unable to attend the meeting during your loved one’s
birth month, please feel free to choose another month to share with us.
Page 2 October 2012

Welcome
We extend a warm welcome to all who attended their first meeting in September:

Dan & Kimberly Derefinko whose daughter, Stephanie Derefinko, died in August 2012
Michele Jasso whose son Alexander G. Segura III, died in August 2012
Johnny Aguilar, Sr., whose son Johnny O. Aguilar, Jr,, died in July 2008
David & Sheryl Wiese whose daughters Mackenzie & Lauren Wiese died in August 2012
Carol & Bruce Bradford whose son, Benjamin Craig Bradford, died in July 2012
Wendy & Carlos Noriega whose son, Ryan Makanani Noriega, died in June 2012

We need not walk alone. We are The Compassionate Friends. We reach out to each other with love, with understanding, and
with hope. The children we mourn have died at all ages and from many different causes, but our love for them unites us. Your
pain becomes my pain, just as your hope becomes my hope. We come together from all walks of life, from many different cir-
cumstances. We are a unique family because we represent many races, creeds, and relationships. We are young, and we are
old. Some of us are far along in our grief, but others still feel a grief so fresh and so intensely painful that they feel helpless and
see no hope. Some of us have found our faith to be a source of strength, while some of us are struggling to find answers. Some
of us are angry, filled with guilt or in deep depression, while others radiate an inner peace. But whatever pain we bring to this
gathering of The Compassionate Friends, it is pain we will share, just as we share with each other our love for the children who
have died. We are all seeking and struggling to build a future for ourselves, but we are committed to building a future together.
We reach out to each other in love to share the pain as well as the joy, share the anger as well as the peace, share the faith as
well as the doubts, and help each other to grieve as well as to grow. We Need Not Walk Alone. We Are The Compassionate
Friends. ~TCF Credo

Mother’s Retreat—Early Registration Recommended Snacks

Project Joy & Hope of Texas is accepting registrations for their Febru- Our snacks in September were
ary, 2013, weekend retreat “Tapestry” for bereaved mothers. This semi- brought by Carolyn Porter, Sandra Al-
nar is one of the finest in the nation. Many of our members have at- len, Jeri Esmi, Sharon Sackreiter and
tended this retreat and have reported very positive outcomes. If you Markie Swails. October snacks will be
would like to attend this seminar, enroll now. Contact joyandhope@aol. brought by Patricia Chavez, Tedri
com to receive a Mothers’ Retreat Packet. Scholarships are available for Pyle, Neela Sen and Cindy Dunlap. If
those who are unable to afford them. Brochures will be available at our you would like to bring
October meeting. snacks for one of our meet-
ings, contact Barbara Braun
@ jbraun1307@aol.com
In Memory of our Beloved Children
Memorials Given by: In Loving Memory of: Join Our Chapter E-Mail List
Join our chapter e-mail list to re-
ceive timely notices, writings, articles,
Glen and Melinda Ginter John Robert Ginter
Robin Conner Christopher & Dawn Wilson
Barbara Braun James M. Braun special information and more. During
Joyce Dakin Kelly Brianne Leasher the holiday season, we try to send
Jamie Lynn Leasher special thoughts and articles to our
Laura & Henry Reding Karen Reding group several times per week.
Rhonda & Frank Salveski Matthew Anthony Salcevski To join, send an email to
Leslie Barry Davidson Patrick Ross Davidson, Jr. tcfkaty.messages@gmail.
Brenda & Steven Schmitt Matthew Schmitt com

Thank you for your donation to The Compassionate Friends, Katy, TX Chapter Inner Loop Chapter Meeting
Our chapter is operated entirely by volunteers dedicated to furthering the work of TCF. The Inner Loop TCF Chapter
Your voluntary, tax deductible donations honor your loved one in a meaningful way by
enabling us to print and mail this Newsletter and meet other expenses involved in reaching holds meetings the 3rd Tuesday of
out to other grieving families. Donations along with the name of the person being honored each month at 7:00 pm at The Meeks
may be sent to: House, 4990 Caroline, Houston, TX.
Lisa Leanard Doors open at 6:30 pm. The Octo-
ber meeting will be held on Tuesday,
13814 Wheatbridge Drive

October 16, 2012.. Topic: "Ask It

Houston, TX 77041

Basket.” Meeting starts at 7:00.

Loving Listeners…..Phone-A-Friend
Newly bereaved meet at 6:30 pm and
join the main group at 7:00 pm.
TCF Katy has established a phone-a-friend list for parents who want to For more information contact
talk with someone who shares a similar loss. If you would like to volun- Cathy Knapp at (713) 877-8626.
teer to be a phone-a-friend, please contact Annette Baldwin.
Loss of an Adult Child…..Annette (281) 578-9118
Only Child…...Annette (281) 578-9118 National TCF Contact
Murdered Child….. Robin (281) 851-5425 Information
Death of Teenage Child…….Joyce Dakin (281) 858-4551
Death from long term illness…...Karen (281) 398-0472 TCF National Office
Support for Fathers……..Albert (832) 885-4741 P.O. Box 3696
Special Needs Child……. Volunteer needed Oak Brook, IL 60522
Suicide ...………..Rhonda (832) 282-7773
Cathy (832)-746-1980
Kim (281) 344-0038 Toll Free: (877) 969-0010
 Page 3
October 2012

Joyce Margarce To Speak About Birthday Table

Honoring Our Children On Special Days
If your child’s
birthday is in Oc-
We are indeed pleased that Joyce Margarce, the
tober, please
founder of our Katy chapter of The Compassionate
bring a picture or
Friends, will be our featured speaker at the October
memento to our
meeting. Joyce will be talking about the myriad of
October meeting
ways that we can honor our children on birthdays, an-
to share with the
niversaries, holidays and other special days.
group. In May
Joyce became a bereaved parent when her daugh-
and December we ask that you bring
ter, Jessica Erin Loverich, died in 1996. Joyce has
your child’s picture for the birthday ta-
served as a chapter founder as well as a regional coordinator and on the
ble in the month following the actual
national board of The Compassionate Friends. She has been a presenter
event. We hold our balloon release in
at several national conferences on a multiplicity of topics.
May and our Annual Candle Lighting
While many of us want to honor our children, we somehow lack the
Ceremony in December.
ability or the momentum to work through a way to do this in a way that
gives us a sense of peace. Joyce will be presenting a creative approach to
honoring our children which will serve both as a template and a stimulator
of our personal creativeness as we learn to incorporate new elements into Special Small Group Meetings
our grief journey. For Parents Whose Child
We urge our members, both newly bereaved and seasoned, to join us Was Lost to Suicide
for this special presentation. We will all gain much from Joyce’s wisdom,
The Katy Chapter of TCF has a
creativity and experiences.
unique program for parents whose chil-
dren died from suicide. All parents at-
Another Death Anniversary tend the opening of our meeting each
It has been three years since my son died. On the anniversary of his month and then ad-
death, I went through the morning saying very little. In the afternoon I left journ to their own pri-
work and went for a drive. I drove past the park we used to love for those vate meeting for the
special talks and special events. I drove past the high school he attended. I remainder of the meet-
drove around the neighborhood thinking of him peddling his heavy-duty bike ing. Death from sui-
as he delivered his papers seven days a week. I remembered the good times cide usually requires
and some of the “teaching moments”. I drove past the first house that he additional and unique group dynamics.
bought and remembered how proud he was of his purchase and all the work This program is offered only to par-
he did making that house a home for his child and wife. ents who have lost children to suicide.
As I drove, I felt the deep burning in my eyes of tears so long re-
pressed. Has it really been three years since he left us? I remembered the
day he died, the days that followed his death and months of withdrawal af-
Articles & Poems
ter his memorial service. I remembered all the firsts….the first Christmas, For Our Newsletter
the first Easter, the first Mother’s Day, the first birthday, the first Thanksgiv-
If you would like to submit a
ing and the first anniversary of his death. I remembered the agony, the
poem, a writing or a brief article (no
heartache, the gut churning shock of losing my child to death. How did I
survive this? I wondered why I am still here.
more than 800-825 words) about your
How can any mother whose only child has died begin to get a grip child or your grief journey for publica-
on sanity? Have I gotten a grip on sanity? How can I help my child’s son as tion in our Katy Compassionate
he moves forward into adulthood? How do I take the endless days of longing Friends newsletter, e-mail your work
for my child’s voice, his hug, his special “I love you, mom?” How can I stand to Annette Mennen Baldwin at amen-
hearing other parents talk about taking flowers to their children’s grave or nenbaldwin@hotmail.com. We encour-
putting candles next to their child’s urn, when I don’t even know what my age our members to share with us.
former daughter-in-law did with my son’s cremated remains?
The answer is not simple, yet it is not complex, either. The answer Webmaster Needed ASAP
is in honoring my child in a way that exemplifies his life – gently, persistently Our chapter is in need of a volunteer
and without reservation. The twisting road to this discovery has been made
to update our website. If you know
much smoother with the help of my Compassionate Friends group. I listen.
someone who is reliable and willing to
They talk. They listen. I talk. The dialogue has grown to be part of who I am
do this, let us know!
now. The conversations help me to chart my way on this stormy sea that is
now my life. Without these gentle, understanding parents, I probably would
have lost my mind. But they are there for me, month after month. They are National TCF Contact
there daily if I need them. They help me, and I help them. Each of us does Information
our best in the hope of giving and gaining peace and solace.
I finished the anniversary day by purchasing a small wind chime. I TCF National Office
took it to the little bench and marker that are surrounded by a small garden P.O. Box 3696
which our Compassionate Friends group maintains in memory of our beauti- Oak Brook, IL 60522
ful children. When I hung it on the branch of a bush, I listened as the
chimes sang their beautiful song……a song for my child. Briefly I thought
that someone might take it. But then I thought, I don’t care. This is for to- Toll Free: (877) 969-0010
day. This is my way of reaching out to my son today…..on the third anniver- www.compassionatefriends.org
sary of his death. If it’s gone next week, I will be sorry, but it won’t matter. I
have honored my son on this sad day. The gentle song of these chimes will
float upwards and reach him today. That is what matters. It is in this little
garden that I visit my son today. This is where a little bit of peace touches Printed in Loving
my soul. Once again, I thank my Compassionate Friends for providing an Memory Of
T Todd M. Mennen
answer.
Annette Mennen Baldwin
In memory of my son, Todd Mennen 1967-2002
TCF, Katy, TX
December 20, 2005
Page 4
To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me, let me go,
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.
I gave to you my love, You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have shown,
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So grieve for me awhile if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for awhile that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart
I won’t be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near.
All my love around you soft and clear
And then when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile, and say…..
Welcome home.
Author Unknown
Submitted by Henry & Laura Reding
In Memory of Karen Reding
TCF, Katy, TX
JOHN
John Michael Lee was 33 when he left
But his work on earth continues to be felt
With the joy of heartbeats never-ending
Now the greatness of his legacy lives on.
He gave nourishment to the people of the streets
Restoring hope to all those meets
Doing God’s work, sharing the light
In a never ending fight.
A successful banker, consultant and friend
Speaking the languages of men.
A brilliant mind and a tender heart
He taught those who met him to have a thought
He had a mind and heart like Jesus.
In 33 Years he accomplished more
Than most do in a lifetime
God took him home in 2009
He said, “Come on home my child,
Your work is done.”
He fought the good fight,
He kept the faith,
His trials here were many but he was steady
At the helm and always ready…
He gave nourishment to the people of the street
Restoring hope to all those he meets
Doing God’s work...sharing the light
He was there both day and night
In a never ending fight.
Written by Bob Gray
In honor John Michael Lee
Submitted by Michael & Sandi Lee Gray
TCF, Katy, TX
October 2012
Compassionate
Friends
Webinars
As bereaved parents, we know that
there are times when there are no words to
describe the depths of our pain and devasta-
tion.
Check the Compassionate Friends
website at www.compassionatefriends.org,
click on news and events, then search for
Webinars. Upcoming webinar events will
be listed; some dates will be listed. When
you see a webinar you in which you would
like to actively participate, just click and
register.
To view the archives of webinars pre-
sented by The Compassionate Friends, go
to http://www.compassionatefriends.org/
News_Events/Special-Events/Webinars.
TEACH ME HOW TO CRY
Inspired by Psalm 116
By Vascola Stony
Teach me how to own the pain
I try so hard to hide.
Teach me to surrender all.
Teach me how to cry.
Teach me how to find the answers
when I keep asking why.
Teach me how to trust your will.
And put my whys aside.
Teach me how to use your truth to
fight the devil’s lies.
And if I lose my strength to fight.
Teach me how to cry.
Teach me to release the fear that
has me trapped inside.
To replace my fear with faith.
So I no longer have to hide.
Teach me how to leave the world,
to forever in you abide.
Teach me how to rest in peace.
Before I have to die.
Teach me to put the past behind;
to spread my wings and fly.
And if the wind should trouble my flight.
Teach me how to cry.
Teach me to cry out to you when
life has gone awry.
I may endure a long night’s weeping.
But joy comes in the morning and
Morning’s drawing nigh.
Submitted by Susan Archer
In memory of Matthew Moore
TCF, Katy, TX
We thank Glen Ginter for providing the
beautiful butterfly and hummingbird photo-
graphs which are on page 1 and page 2 of
this newsletter. The colors are vibrant and
the butterflies are both beautiful.
October 2012 Page 5

Happy Birthday Taylor! In The Fall

September 13, 2012, was my 40th birthday.

In the fall
It was so hard to go through a milestone birth-
When amber leaves are shed,
day without my daughter by my side to cele-
Softly—silently
brate with me. I spent the day with my son and
Like tears that wait to flow,
friends, but missed my daughter so much. Oc-
I watch and grieve.
tober 20, 2012, will be Taylor’s 19th birthday.
My heart beats sadly in the fall;
This is the third birthday without her. Taylor
'Tis then I miss you most of all.
was killed by a reckless driver on December 13,
Lily de Lauder

2009 at the age of 16, and my heart has been

TCF Van Nuys, CA

broken ever since. My daughter was an amaz-

ing girl and loved going on mission trips. She Falling for you….
had such a passion for helping others, young
….while leaves fall, the river drifts by and
and old alike. She went on a few mission trips throughout junior high
friends sit, speaking of loved ones lost to
and high school and had a desire to see the world and help others. She
suicide. Like the river, conversation drifts.
loved to tell others about Jesus and just help anyone in need, whether
Some smile at memories shared. Others
on a mission trip or just in our local community. On September 23,
2012, I went on my first mission trip in honor of my sweet daughter. A
cry tears of regret, anger, guilt, despair;
friend and I traveled with a small group through Living Water Interna- tears for what could have been, but is no
tional to El Salvador to drill a well in a village and teach the people in more. Through the years, this group of
the village about basic hygiene and sanitation and how these can lead to friends has learned that words fall short of
improved health. To learn more about Living Water International, describing sorrow. And so we sit silently,
please visit their website at www.water.cc. I carried my daughter in my watching the….
heart as I helped others and tried to do it with the same passion and ….falling leaves….falling tears….falling for
caring that Taylor always exhibited. Happy 19th birthday Taylor! I love you….
and miss you always and forever!
Written in loving memory of my daughter ….until the time comes to fall in line and
Taylor Noel Contreras 10/20/93 – 12/13/09 drift toward a table adorned with recently
Website: www.taylorcontreras.com fired clay shapes. At an earlier gathering, I
Sherry Contreras, TCF, Katy, TX molded soft gray clay then impressed it
with words and symbols of your life. Al-
REQUIEM FOR MY SON though I don’t speak of it, I know that
yours is not the only life interrupted. My
Robin Kumar Sen was born on a cold but sunny day in Sarnia, Ontario, on
life is also damaged, diminished, in danger
May 13, 1981 and it was the happiest day of our lives. A mere four and a half
pounds, that little tyke captured our minds and our hearts forever with that
of falling apart in oh so many ways. This
first hesitating smile. We have been a captive audience for the remainder of small group shares space with those we
our lives, even though death has separated us for the last six years. It is miss and love, both living and dead; in
true that Robin has gone from this worldly plane but he will be a continuous this, my child’s birth and death season.
fixture in our lives until we die. With his tight curls, sweet expression, good How I long to see you float free with
temperament and sunny disposition, he was a dream child. the….
From the day that Robin entered kindergarten, all the teachers thought
he was a Dresden doll and the little girls practically adored him. We always ....falling leaves….falling tears….falling for
had to take a sort of lottery for birthday parties because there were so many you….
attendees to choose from that it was very difficult “to make the cut” as it ….and I long to connect again with you but
were. We moved away to Katy, Texas, when he was about to enter 7th
my plea falls on deaf ears. I’m left with the
grade. Robin enjoyed Maplebrook Elementary School from Kindergarten to
task of creating your wind chime. A year
the close of Fifth Grade under the watchful eye of the redoubtable Ms. Karen
Larsen. Even the martinet, the music teacher, Mrs. Swanson, thought the ago, on your birthday, leaves fell as I
world of Robin. Robin’s life is indeed a true reflection of those two unique stamped the soft clay heart with musical
expressions about mercurial people: “Those whom the gods love die young” notes, falling stars, hovering doves and the
and “Only the good die young.” words “treasured memories.” Now the clay
How does one feel when one is confronted by a child that is the very epit- has cured and along the holes in the edge
ome of brains and physical beauty in perfect harmony? Looking at photo- of the stamped heart, I tie other clay
graphs of him as a young adult, it appeared that nothing was wrong with him shapes with lengths of string – my heart-
at all. Born with the ugly disfiguring disease of Duchenne Muscular Dystro- strings. I add an anchor, a porcelain leaf
phy, Robin possessed such a normalcy about him that it is hard to think of
inscribed with the words “falling in love.”
him having such a condition. Few saw him as an invalid. Robin bore his
burden with indomitable patience and invincible courage that is so rare in The pieces fall in place like….
one so fragile. Of course he had our support and the love of his faithful ….falling leaves….falling tears….falling for
Scottish terrier, Pippen; I remember so vividly how the dog used to stretch you….
out to his full size behind the wheelchair, so that no one could ever harm his
beloved Robin. ….and then I playfully brush my fingers
After Robin died, I took Pippen to Christus St. Catherine’s Hospital since through your wind chime; fingers that long
the dog hadn’t seen Rob for 24 days, I wanted Pippen to understand that “he to run through your hair. The chime whis-
was not alive anymore.” I asked for special permission from the hospital ad- pers your name but its music can never fill
ministrators since Robin had been confined to the ICU during the last 34 days my heart like the sound of your voice.
of his life. I took Pippen, wrapped in a blanket up the Service Elevator and Fall – a time for friends to
then led him into Robin’s room. Pippen was visibly moved into an acute un-
make wind chimes and
derstanding of what had transpired, and he reacted as if stung by the intense
cold of that body. When the funeral home people came for Robin’s body, memories. A time for….
Pippen sprang under the bed and tried to attack them when they entered falling leaves….falling
the room. It was as if he was always going to protect Robin because he tears….falling eternally for
loved him so very much. Pippen lived for only a year after Robin’s death. I you.
realized that he just did not want to live in a world where there was no Robin Carol Clum
Kumar Sen. So, it is really true that dogs are “Fidelis Ad Finem.” TCF Medford Oregon

Neela Sen For what is once given cannot be taken,

In memory of my son, Robin Kumar Sen except from the eye and the touch of the
TCF, Katy, TX hand. ~Polly Toland
Page 6 October 2012

For My Beautiful Twin Sister The Open to Hope Show

Dr's. Gloria and Heidi Horsley now have
Karen, it will be 1 year on October 14th since your passing and a new radio show called The Open to Hope
sometimes I still can’t believe you’re gone. I keep thinking this is all a Show which replaces their popular show,
terrible dream and I want someone to wake me. But then I do awake Healing the Grieving Heart. Featuring ex-
and my pillow is damp from the tears I have shed wanting that one perts who discuss the many aspects of
opportunity to tell you how much I love you. I have visions of your grief, with a main focus on the death of a
smile & I can still hear your laughter. If there is one thing that you child and its effects on the family, the new
have taught us all this past year, it is that no one is guaranteed a cer- show can be heard Thursdays at 11 a.m.
tain number of days here on earth. You have taught us the impor- CDT by going to www.opentohope.com. All
tance of making loved ones around us a priority, just as you did with archives of shows can be heard at www.
your family, friends & patients. While there remains an unimaginable opentohope.com and www.thegriefblog.
void without your presence, there still remains the fond & loving com. Archived shows of Healing the Griev-
memories of who you were and still are known for. ing Heart will continue to be archived on
You were the free spirit that always had the infinite ability to res- www.voiceamerica.com.
cue, nurture & to lift the spirits of those around you, whether it was a The Compassionate Friends recom-
human being or a four-legged friend. You had a heart larger than life, mends The Open to Hope Show as a grief/
a smile that could light up the darkest of rooms & a laughter that kept loss resource for families going through the
the world awake. Your amazing ability to forgive others and your hu- natural grieving process after the death of
mility was an example we could all learn from. I just wished you had a child. The ongoing series is dedicated to
loved and seen yourself the way others did. Dr. Gloria Horsley's and Dr. Heidi Horsley's
We shared an unconditional love for the water. One of my happi- son and brother, Scott Preston Horsley. It
est memories was when we were 11. I fondly remember our vacation keys on issues of importance to families
to the Florida Keys. We would spend endless hours in the water, play- that have experienced the death of a child.
ing around, snorkeling & even swimming with the dolphins. From Hosts of The Open to Hope
those days forward, I think that you were convinced that one day you Show are: Dr. Gloria Horsley,
would be able to bring a dolphin home, for you had a passion for all bereaved parent with 23 years
things beautiful & wild, including Marilyn Monroe. in family therapy; and Dr. Heidi
You will forever remain in our hearts. Your memory will be cher- Horsley, bereaved sibling and an
ished, loved, & remembered, but NEVER forgotten. I know you’re adjunct professor teaching
looking down upon us all & you’re smiling because you graduate courses at Columbia University's
made your impact here in such a short amount of time. School of Social Work, including Interven-
Some days will go down in infinity but for me, on Octo- tion for Grief, Loss, and Bereavement.
ber 14th, God needed a new Angel & he chose you.
Well my Kiki, your legacy lives on through your Plan Now To Attend Alan Pedersen
handsome boys, Jordan and Dylan, and you are now our “candle in the Concert in January 2013
wind.” Plan now to attend the Alan Pedersen
Until we meet again my beautiful twin! concert which will be hosted by the Katy
Written by Jennifer Reding
chapter of The Compassionate
Anniversary Date: 10/14/2011
Friends in January, 2013.
Alan’s beautiful, healing music
Halloween has been so helpful to so
many bereaved parents. The
concert will be held on our
It is here, this day of merriment and children’s pleasure.
Gremlins and goblins
and ghosties at the door of your house. usual meeting night…..the second Tues-
And the other children come to the door of your mind. day, January 8, 2013. Reminders will be
Faces out of the past, sent to our members. We are expecting
members from other chapters as well as
small ghosts with sweet, painted faces.
Alan has a tremendous following of be-
They do not shout.

reaved parents.
Those children who no longer march laughing
on cold Halloween night,
they stand at the door of your mind—
and you will let them in, so that you can give them
the small gifts of Halloween— Grief is like a long valley, a winding val-
a smile and a tear. ley where any bend may reveal a totally
new landscape. ~From A Grief Observed
Sascha Wagner

by C. S. Lewis
© The Compassionate Friends
WINTERSUN

Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting: October 9, 2012

October 2012

Barker, TX 77413
P.O. Box 45
Katy Chapter
The Compassionate Friends