To Rich’s Family

Dear Rich’s Family (can’t use your last name because of kooky Internet predators these days, huh?),

I didn’t know Rich and probably only met him a couple of times when I was younger. But he is my dad’s cousin and was very important to my dad.

I want to tell you all how sorry I am that Rich has died of the horrible cancer. I can’t believe he was the same age as my own dad (they were born within days of each other in 1950; cousins). I don’t know what I would do without my own father, and I can’t imagine what you are all going through right now.

Vicki and Dave … to lose your brother at that age must be devastating. Please know that I am thinking of you. I truly believe Rich is in an awesome place right now … a place of total happiness and peace, no matter how he lived his life or whether or not he accepted Jesus into his life.

Gene and Kay … what must it be like to lose a child to something so lingering and unforgiving? I wish I had had the means to fly my own family, myself, and my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents to Florida for the memorial service. Someone is missing from our family now, and it hurts.

Take care of yourselves. We love you and wish you peace,

Kerrie and Family