~LOVE~

 Death to a three year old...

"but, I loved her"..."I know honey, granny loved her too"...

"Granny, if Darlene has wings...pink wings... can I have John Deere green?"

Thank you dear blog readers for your kind comments, emails, notes and prayers...I have found such comfort in them...

Darlene's memorial service will be held Sunday on the island she loved so very much...I hope to return to visit with you all very soon...I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to this summer...Warmest regards, Julie...

~LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH~

In the early morning hours...while holding her father's hand... my niece... Darlene Lorraine Jones Sousa...quietly donned her pink angel wings and peacefully slipped away...

Darlene, wife to John...daughter to Kris and Jovan... granddaughter to Lloyd and Bev...niece to Julie and Bill...cousin to Kristopher and Tristan and beloved by her second cousin Travis Lloyd...Darlene was as beautiful on the inside as out...she was a dedicated teacher of young children... an adventurous  "foodie" who knew her way around the kitchen...Darlene was artistic and crafty and a self taught knitter...she loved to shop, especially for shoes and purses...she enjoyed wearing her Jamberry nails and  Alexi and Ani bracelets... Darlene was a "girly" girl who's favorite color was pink...she was  kind and compassionate..always more concerned about others than herself...it was with such dignity and grace Darlene fought her year long battle with cancer... today that battle has come to an end...there are no words to express how much we will miss this lovely young women...we, her family, find peace in the knowledge that she is no longer in pain and her suffering is over...

"Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death"  ~Anonymous~