Excerpts from the service:
“I just want to thank all of you for being here. I know my mother was a private person and didn’t let just anyone come close to her heart, but once they were let in, she would never let them go. I know she loved her family and cherished her friendships. So I just want to pass my thanks to all of you for being here for her.
I know my life will never be the same without my supermom, but I know that she passed me her strength and she taught me how to cope with something as heavy as this. It’s ironic, but I still find myself wanting to call my mom cause I know she’d be so proud of me, not realizing the real reason why I’m forced to be this strong. She not only taught me this strength, but also to love, to love unconditionally as she did us.
I wish I could find this report I wrote about her. Kids usually write reports about their mothers in elementary school, but this one I wrote in college. That’s how amazing she was, for me as a young adult to recognize really and deeply what an astonishing person she was. To not only raise 2 kids with more love than some other people got from two parents, but also to establish herself as an accomplished business woman.
I remember anytime my brother and I had any troubles or told my mom about something that wasn’t working out, she’d immediately get on the phone and fix it. She’d literally almost snap her fingers and she’d fix it. I remember thinking that she almost had superhuman powers. And it was very hard when I became old enough to deal with these same issues, but couldn’t do it like she did it. She was a powerful, yet compassionate woman and I felt it everyday how much she loved me, and still do feel it.
There’s so many things I’m going to miss, her purple paper and purple pens, her power lunches of Vienna sausages in a can, her butter fixation, her look she got when she knew she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to be, the waffles and pancakes she’d make us for dinner when we were little, her massages and the way she’d stroke my head to let me know everything would be okay. When I imagine her now in my head I see her still, stroking my head and holding me to let me know it’s all going to be okay. I love you mom”
Marisa Vitale
“Pamela was my beautiful friend, inside and out. Throughout all the changes in our lives, we knew our friendship was the one thing that remained constant. We relied on each other through our hardships and happiness. We could always trust each other with our secrets and daring adventures.
There are countless wonderful things to say about Pam. She had class. She left an impression on everyone she met. She was a complex person, so there was something about her for everyone to like. She had a unique sense of knowing when she was needed as a friend and knew what needed to be said.
Pam's children and her husband meant everything to her.
She was so worried about Marisa when she was traveling to Spain and other European countries with the terrorist threat high. She said, "I don't know where she gets it from. She's just not thinking about what could happen to her." I said to her that I seem to remember someone who as a very young woman became a Pan Am Stewardess in order to travel the world. And the same young woman drove across the country from Minneapolis to Redondo Beach with a baby and a toddler. I'm sure your mother was worried about you. She was quiet and then said, "Well, I guess the apple didn't fall very far from the tree." We both laughed because the traits she was so concerned about in Marisa were exactly the same adventurous traits that she was so proud of in her own personality.
She was so excited for her son, Mario when he started playing in his band. She said you have to listen to his music. He is soooooo good. She was right his band was great. Of course, being musical herself, she knew exactly from whom he got his talent.
She shared with me something that touched her deeply. She was slathering butter on a bagel and Daniel touched her hand. He told her that he didn't care if she ate it and it didn't make any difference to him if she gained weight. But, he wanted to make sure that she didn't ruin her health because he needed to have her around for the rest of his life. She said, "that was better than any gift, I felt so cherished."
When Pam turned 30 it didn't bother her; when she turned 50 it didn't bother her. But, oh my goodness, turning 40 was horrible for her. I'm older than Pam but she complained that 40 was so old - and she wouldn't quit speaking about how terribly old 40 was. I finally said what are you worried about, you don't look 40. She said you're right, OK!
I will miss Pamela's presence here so much. But happy memories will keep her alive in my heart forever. Memories of great music and fantastic concerts. Memories of long conversations late into the night. Memories of having fun. Memories of Pamela's beautiful smile and elegant style.
This talented, intelligent woman touched all of our lives and left us the better for it. We were blessed to be able to share the time we did with her. Pam, you will always be remembered.
I'd like to share with you a passage from "The Prophet" (by Kahlil Gibran on Death) that Pamela read at my son, Michael's funeral. It was special to her.
"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim you limbs, then shall you truly dance. "
Pamela.. .you are singing and dancing and your spirit is free. Goodbye my wonderful friend and I will always love you.
-Jan Lawrence
Picture boards (click to enlarge)
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