I have some very sad news to pass along.
From:Maybull2
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 10:05 am

Here is a letter I just got from Lori Varelas husband:

This is Lori's husband Tony.  I have some very sad news to relay.
Lori passed away 10 days ago.  She had pneumonia and it affected
her heart.  It was completely unexpected.

My son Ben, daughter Christina and I are devastated.  We loved Lori and
will struggle to live without her.  She was a kind and gentle person.

As a memorial I intend to continue the X-mas list each year.   Please
let others know if you can, thank you.

Her e-mail address will be discontinued soon.  Mine is xxxxxxx@qwest.net.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
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From:QuanYin9
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 10:32 am

I am sitting here again crying as I post.  I can't imagine this group
without Lori who was one of the most compassionate people I've come to
know.  I'm going to miss her so much.  I have an altar in my house that
is a memorial to all of my AIDS patients who have died and now will
have Lori there with Di.
Char, I'm good with death but these newsgroup deaths hit me in a very
stange way.  They come wrapped in an impotancy that I don't feel when
I am holding someone's hand when they die. The death of my father, who
I loved so much, didn't make me so sad because I knew he had no doubt
about how much I loved him.  I hope Lori knew how much we loved and
appreciated her and how much I'll miss her.
To her family:  You are in my prayers. Lori was truely an angel.
Thanks for sharing her with us.
Melinda
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From:TJONES500
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:10 am

Like Melinda I'm sitting here at work crying my eyes out.  Lori was my
first secret sender.  I had such fun trying to pick things out for her.
I always enjoyed hearing her talk about family and the things they did
together since she couldn't do the "normal" things a lot of families do.

My son is just getting to the age that I'm going to start some of the
things she said they used to do i. e. the map she had on the wall.  For
some reason this sticks in my head and when I read about it I thought
what fun.  Sorry I'm rambling here, guess I'd best stop.

I also just got my Christmas card from her last week.

To her family if you are reading this my God be with you during this time.

Tery
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From:Harvey R. Stone
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:21 am

Thank you Char,  She will be missed.
Harv
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From:Tina Underwood
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:34 am

I am not a very religious person, nor do I believe God takes us for a
reason, but I do believe in Heaven. And I know Lori is there with Di,
and Slot too (AOL RA Host, died of a bleeding ulcer a couple years ago)
and all the other Warrior Angels.They are running without limps, and
laughing without pain. I can just picture them looking at their
unswollen, perfectly aligned joints and it makes me smile thru my tears.

Lori, you touched many lives with your caring and compassion and you
will always be remembered.

We have another Warrior Angel watching over us.

~Krissy
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From:RHLadyCD
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:49 am

I am so very, very sorry to read of our own Lori leaving her family,
friends and the gang here. I never met Lori but she was one of the
mainstays of our group, always here for us just as she was for her
family. My tears are for you and your family Tony. Please accept the
most sincerest of condolences from myself and my family. God Bless
dear Lori, I know you will be sorely missed dear lady.
With love Connie and Robert Davis.
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From:dttaggart
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:36 am

This is very sad news indeed. It doesn't seem possible, but I know
it must be.  Goodbye, dear friend.  Thank you, Tony, for letting us
know and for carrying on her tradition.  I will never send out
another Christmas card without thinking of our friend, Lori V.
DeeTee
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From:Rosemarie Shiver
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 11:48 am

The Angels needed her right away. Kinda sucks the breath out of the
earthbound; since Lori was done too soon. But there were Angels in
a rush.

God be with Tony and the kids.

Hugs with tears from Rosie
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From:Mary Zuschlag
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 12:59 pm

Oh how devastating!  I just made out her Christmas card last night
and I wondered why we had not heard from her recently.  Exceedingly
sad news!
My thoughts and prayers are with Lori's family.

Incidentally for those of you on Enbrel and Remicade be careful about
infections.  My supervisor's daughter had a protracted flu, respiratory
problems with symptoms of heartburn.  The virus attacked her heart and
she had to a receive a heart transplant.
-- MZ
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From:Walter A. Hanks
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 1:02 pm

Tony:

My deepest condolences to you and your family.  Lori was a good
and loved friend of everyone here.  She will be greatly missed.
We appreciate that you intend to keep the Christmas card list
going.  It will be a fitting tribute to her.

Maybe you would consider printing out and keeping the posts we
make and send you in response to this tragic news.  I am sure
that the kids will love reading them some day, as you might as
well.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

Walt Hanks
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From:DCHAM - view profile
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 1:07 pm

this hurts to hear. i can't imagine never seeing any more of lori's
supportive posts to this group. i'm so sad for her family.

diane
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From:angela
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 1:27 pm

Dear Char,

Thanks for the forward.  I so appreciate that Tony would share this
with ASA.

Lori and I met online...ASA, of course... but we met in person at the
first "Arthritis Warrior" brunch at Salty's on Alki Beach in February,
1999.  We both limped away from that lunch with a new excitement about
Enbrel and what it could do for us.  After that, everytime we'd meet,
we'd hug and compare energy levels and giggle about what a miracle
medication science had wrought.  I grew to appreciate Lori's strength
and grace and ability to see through our day-to-day difficulties to
what was important in life.  I admired the techniques she had developed
to interact with her children and I cherished her willingness to reach
out to others who hurt.  Hers was often a voice of sweet reason in the
crowd.

When I moved to the east coast, I let many connections fade.  I regret
that now.

RoboBabe will be sorely missed.

Warm regards,
Angela
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From:Maybull2
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 2:18 pm

I think Lori's death is going to hit us all hard. Both because of
the holiday season, and because she was so young.

Just got another note from her husband, asking what ASA meant.  He
obviously had no idea how much a part of our lives she was.

But his wanting to keep up the Christmas card list as a memorial to
her is very touching.  It was something she worked hard on.  I am
sure she is smiling knowing it will go on.
Char
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From:Cush
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 2:30 pm

 
Don't I remember.   This news is sadness personified.   My
sincerest condolences go out to Lori's "real" family.   We
knew her probably better than you might think.   She was
very, very special.

Cush
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From:Alison
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 2:48 pm

This is a great shock. I don't know what to say except Lori
will be sorely missed.
Ally
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From:Linda Tribout
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 2:57 pm

I was shocked and saddened to read this post.  Being new to the
group I didn't know Lori well, but I do know she was a kind and
caring person.
Please accept my condolences, Tony, Ben and Christina.  As others
have said, I'm sure she is in heaven, and I will always think of
her at Christmas time because of her thoughtfulness in compiling
the Christmas list.  We will miss her.

Linda Tribout
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From:Steve Ratliff
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 4:01 pm

This is so sad.

Tony, you and your family have our deepest condolences. Lori was
a wonderful person, and a great friend to many people here. She
will be missed.
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From:Ifish2b
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 4:22 pm

Thank you for letting us know about Lori.  She will be missed
greatly by all of us at ASA.

Sarah L
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From:Aim
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 4:20 pm

What she said.
Can't type through tears.

Aim
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From:JRHITEACH
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 4:23 pm

Tony, Ben, and Christina~
I am so very sorry to read about your loss.  Lori was a very special
member of the ASA family...I will miss her supportive posts...I know
that she is painfree in Heaven and is rejoicing that the Christmas
List tradition will continue.
Marsha
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From:JDShine
Date:Mon, Dec 11 2000 4:25 pm

How can someone with Sjogrens have tears dropping on his shirt half
way through a 23 line post. She was a nice lady and I'll miss her.
Please add my condolences to her family.

JDShine

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