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| Dana and her three children |
It was beautiful.
As beautiful as funerals can be, I suppose.
Dana Bell was a woman I met a couple of years ago, and her impact was huge on me. She performed in the stage show I produce, Expressing Motherhood and shared her story of single motherhood to three children. As if that weren't hard enough, she had also been living with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. And for those of you who know me and my personal experience with breast cancer, you’d understand why I sat in the corner of the room sobbing as I watched her in rehearsal that January.
She survived the cancer for two years after that time. She passed away on January 27, 2013.
She was 42 years old. The same age my mother was the first time she was diagnosed.
Oh boy. My heart is a little heavy today.
What I can tell you is that her service yesterday was amazing in so very many ways. It was extremely full and I thought it may just end up being a standing room only kind of deal. Always a testament to what a single person means to so many.
I am heavily comforted to know that Dana had a faith in God and knew she was going to heaven to be reunited with loved ones, including her father.
Dana was a remarkable woman with a great sense of humor, She had long legs and loved high heels...as proven by her brave performance in the show wearing wig, prosthetic breast and shoes that would make Carrie Bradshaw sigh.
As expected, I had a very emotional time at this funeral. I feel for her children, her family and friends who all watched helplessly. I know that feeling.
Helplessness.
But, then...an amazing moment.
Dana’s sister, Lena, gave a eulogy that made me devour a handful of Kleenex with my eyes. Lena said that Dana had a favorite mug that she used every day and that the mug had the words:
“Be happy. Be a family. That’s it.” on it.
I looked at the friend sitting next to me and I lost it. The power of my mothers words on the mug I gave Dana two years ago probably helped her through some really tough times. My mother’s words meant something to another woman fighting breast cancer.
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| The same mug assisting me through my BSF this morning. |
I didnt have words then for how I felt, and I honestly dont have words now.
At the end of her service a song was played for us to listen to.
Per Dana’s request.
This is the song below, it’s called The Family Tree by Venice. I had never heard it before, but all I will say is grab a tissue.
But before you do that...grab your loved ones. Tight.
Thank you so much for writing this beautiful tribute to Dana. I was blessed enough to have known her since we were both 8 months old - and she is as wonderful and lovely as everyone says. The most important thing to her were her children and she was an exceptional mother. I couldn't be there to say goodbye in person but I will always cherish my memories and she will forever be in my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that Lara. I am honored to have known her for the time I did. How blessed you are.
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