I met Mary Lara through my niece, Sibel, who is best friends with Mary’s daughter, Joanna. The first time I visited Sibel in New York was a weekend in December, 2000, she was living with two roommates, one of whom was Joanna. On Sunday, prior to my leaving, Mary wanted to meet Sibel’s “Aunt Aggie” and made the trek to the apartment so we could all meet and have breakfast after Mass. I immediately like the beautiful, humorous and highly intelligent Mary. It was also at this breakfast that I met Mary’s eldest daughter, Maria Elena who was visiting the city, and engaged to be married. During the breakfast, one of the stories Mary shared was of her trip to Jerusalem (I think); as she was explaining many different highlights of the trip, she took out a photograph that showed some beautiful clouds....and then she turned the photograph sideways to show the clouds at a different angle....it looked like a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary...I was so taken by the beauty of the photo I asked for a copy of it....and true to her word, within a couple of weeks, I received not only a copy of the photograph, but a touching letter, and quite a few pamphlets about her trip. I wrote back saying I would love to go on one of these trips with you, and she agreed....over the years we saw each other again in New York, at Sibel’s wedding in Salem, Massachusetts, and we exchanged Christmas cards....cementing a very nice, long distance friendship. Oh, and during the aforementioned trip, Mary was also kind enough to drive me to the train station instead of having me take a cab or the subway, which I know would have landed me somewhere in the nether parts of NYC instead of Harrisburg, Pa. And I still have the photograph, letter and pamphlets Mary sent me, and tell everyone the story that she shared with me... On my second visit to NYC, Mary, once again, visited the girls so we could all get together....I think this was for Sibel’s birthday, and Sibel’s mom, Jenny, and younger sister, Erin, also came to New York this time. When Mary got there, she apologized for being late, and being her kind, quiet, very humorous self, said she could only find one parking space, and it was so tiny, it took her 25 minutes to maneuver into the space and didn’t know how she was going to get out of it... We never did take that trip overseas, but it was always on my agenda to go, and to go with Mary, as I know it would have been an unforgettable time. When I found out Mary had passed, I cannot explain how sad I was, not only because I truly felt we had a growing friendship, that I immediately missed; also for the trip we would never make, and for the friendship that will no longer grow. Sometimes you assume someone will always be there to contact, visit, exchange....but life sometimes takes turns you would rather it didn’t. I know you are happy wherever you are Mary, and keeping others uplifted and protected and loved in ways that are unique to you...always thinking of others, and finding light and humor in everything. You and your family remain in my prayers....and although we didn’t know each other as well as you and your other friends, or see one another as often as we would have liked, I miss that I will never have the opportunity to do so again. God bless you....Love, Aggie