A Tribute to Lynn

Cancer SUX.

Ed (Donny's oldest cousin -Sorry Ed) on the Fortener side and Lynn were married the week before we were...June 1976.

That is the first thing Lynn and I had in common.  We married cousins.   We started our family earlier than Ed and Lynn - they enjoyed their newly married life a little longer than we did - Melissa was born in 1978, Adrienne, their oldest a few years after Nick.  We saw them every year at the Fortener Christmas, at Fairmont when Adrienne was a freshman and Nick was a Senior, but didn't really hang out together until about four or five years ago.

Started out meeting them for dinner, mostly at local breweries. Lucky Star Brewery in Miamisburg was one of our favorites.  Taco Tuesday.  Then UD games.  Ed shared tickets with his brother, and they invited us quite a few times.  

Another thing we have in common, politics.  Lynn was unapoligetically Democrat.  We had a lot of great conversations in the last five years.  

We had a lot of fun with them, and talked about going on a vacation together.  Fall of 2021.  Donny made all of the reservations.  We were going to New England.  Boston, Cape Cod.  We were driving our new van.  Ten days.

About a month before we were supposed to leave, Ed called.  "We can't go.  Lynn just found out she has breast cancer."    After a few doctor appointments, she found out it was Triple Negative.  An aggressive form of breast cancer.  She started treatments right about the time we were supposed to leave for our vacation.

She reminded me so much of Melissa and her journey with breast cancer.  She NEVER stopped living life.  Ed and Lynn have 3 kids, one lives locally, one in Cincinnati and one in Columbus.  They have four grandkids.  Once a week they would go to Cincy to help out, and once a week to Columbus to help.

Lynn was a thrift store shopper.  The BEST thrift store shopper.  I remember her saying "why would I buy a $40 pair of boots for my grandkid when I get a barely worn pair for $2?"  Good point.  That was something we DIDN'T have in common.  I'm not a good shopper.  Or a patient shopper.  I go, get what I need and leave.  I think Lynn loved the browsing and finding great deals.  OH!  I think it was one of her girls that called it the "dirty store".  Lynn didn't care.

We laughed a lot.

During the last couple of years, I don't think there was ever much of a break from her chemo/radiation treatments.    She just kept on going, even when the cancer progressed.  We still went to dinner, we still went to basketball games, and even to the Schuster for a show.  

And I can't NOT admire Ed for the care that he gave Lynn.  You know, when you say your wedding vows, "in sickness and in health"...he took that seriously.  What we witnessed the last couple of months was pure, TRUE LOVE.  He never complained and never thought of himself.  

Lynn passed away Easter Sunday morning.  We are missing her so much, and wondering how you live without the love of your life.  

 

This popped up in my memories on Facebook the other day - from Lynn.  She was really good about 

sending me these messages...reminding me that she remembered Melissa too.  And now they are together .

This one in my memories on the day she passed away.  How appropriate.

Thank you, Lynn.  

We celebrated our 40th anniversaries together at Coco's Bistro.

Lynn and her sisters on her birthday this year.  So glad they planned this celebration this year!

Christmas Day.  Lynn wanted to go to a movie.  Hard to get seats at big theatres on Christmas Day, 

so we went to see Poor Things at Neon Movies.   They really like Emma Stone.  Didn't have a 

chance to look up what the movie was about.  OMG.  Won lots of awards, but I wouldn't recommend it.

We laughed about it all day.  Great Christmas memory!

Ed & Lynn came to the last Fort 5K

Lynn with Rooster and Mary and Ed.

Me and Lynn

At The Schuster to see To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Yellow Cab Co. pub.  Beatles Tribute band -best ever!!!

The guy in the middle was the lead guitarist.  When they said his 

name (Patrick Himes) I KNEW I knew him.  I worked with 

his mom at Moraine Meadows!  Small world.

Rooftop Beatles tribute band.  They do this every August.  

We'll be back.  Best ever!

Celebrating our 47th anniversary (last year) at the 

Pine Club.

Dinner at Carmel's.  We loved our margaritas.

We'll still do all the things with Ed that we did with Ed & Lynn...but it sure won't be the same.

We love you and miss you Lynn.