Charmaine

Back in 1998, I participated in a spiritual retreat called Christ Renews His Parish. It was a good experience for me and I got to know some neat women. One was Charmaine. Charmaine was diagnosed with lung cancer around the time my brother Tom was battling his brain tumor. Charmaine was an encourager and always brought hope, faith and joy wherever she went. She beat all the odds and lived a full life the whole almost six years since her diagnosis. I did a cut and copy from her family's post on Caring Bridge this week. I am sharing it so you can appreciate the wonderfully faith filled woman she was.

"It is with very heavy hearts that we update Charmaine’s Caring Bridge page. Monday night at 9:23, Charmaine passed away after a nearly 6 year battle with lung cancer. This came as a bit of a surprise to our family as she appeared to be improving throughout Sunday night. However, because of the wisdom and faith Charmaine taught us, we know she's already in heaven looking down on all of us and is now wrapped in the grace and love of God.

Charmaine truly cared for each and every one of you reading this message. Even if she never met you in person, she considered you her friend. Up until her last breath we prayed for our mother, and while we were doing that we believe she was praying for you.

Please take comfort in knowing that she is now in Heaven and she's looking out for you. Please remember her in your prayers as well. Many years ago, Charmaine came up with the idea that if she could get 1 million people to say the Memorare for lung cancer we could find a cure (it worked for Mother Teresa who was looking for a place to house her ministry). It would mean the world to Charmaine and our family if you could take a moment to say the prayer today and perhaps even share it with others as well.

THE MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Almost a month ago, a series of seizures landed Charmaine in the ICU at Rush Hospital. After she woke up from being sedated and intubated for nearly a week, she had several visions where she saw the Blessed Mother. She told us that Mary appeared to her as the Star of Sea and took her to purgatory where she saw all the poor souls suffering. We believe our mother was taken straight to Heaven, but Charmaine specifically asked that we pray for the poor souls in purgatory and asked others to do the same. She said that there is no greater honor than for our small prayers to be made great by God and to help souls along their journey to heaven. She very much wanted for all of you to know this story and to post it to Caring Bridge.

On Sunday, the day before she died, she told our parish priest, Father De Salvo, “Do it right, do it for God,” and kept repeating many times “Tell them to beg for mercy.” Father De Salvo told us he thought this was in response to the suffering she saw in purgatory, and that she understood we need to beg for God’s mercy.

Charmaine trusted in the will of God more faithfully than anyone we know. She never feared death. Monday morning shortly after Ken arrived at the hospital Charmaine told him, “I’m ready to go.”

And lastly, thank you to all of you who cared so much for our mother. You were an integral part of her life and her joy. Up until the very last day she spent much of her time praying for other people, despite the fact she herself was in need of so many prayers. The world lost the most amazing mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. But if you have faith and look for her we have faith she will continue to bless your life. Please remember the things she taught you about how to live your life. She had two sayings which we find incredibly helpful and wise, "All the happiness in the whole world is right between your own two ears," and "There are no bad days." If Charmaine could keep that attitude up while battling cancer we certainly can do the same in our lives to honor her.

One of Charmaine’s last wishes was the hope that all of you will live your life glorifying God, begging and praying for His mercy, and seeing the miracles around you everyday. Please look for the miracles around you and post them here in the guestbook."