|
My name is Mary Ann Houlihan. I knew
Alissa and her family through our work together at church. My fondest
memories of Alissa were of the times on Saturday nights when she would
come into the Resource Center to share a moment in time with me. Alissa
loved kids, probably because she was so loved by her family. She had
alot of love to share. Often, she would come into the Resource Center
for some supply item and have a child with her, a child that refused to
be left behind. Wherever Alissa went, this little girl wanted to go
along. Alissa always held her little hand close and, whenever her
little charge had something to say, Alissa stopped to give that child
her undivided attention. She absolutely loved being with children!
Some evenings it was definitely a challenge, and other times I'd stroll
past her classroom and see a preschooler playfully crawling all over her
as Alissa sat on the floor in the midst of the kids. She tried to
explain to me one night how important it was to her to be a good example
for "her kids". I remember thinking that when I was her age, I just
wanted to "hang out". But for Alissa, the example had been set as
a family trait, a commitment to be passionate about helping people, so
serve others before yourself.
Seeing Alissa and her sister, Breann, on
Saturday nights and Sunday mornings were my special moments. For me, it
was a treat. There was just something about them that made both girls
stand out in a crowd. One evening in particular, I recall Alissa coming
in and sharing a few moments, "just to talk". She began to tell me a
funny story about her parents. Her eyes always lit up when she talked
about her family, especially the funny moments that all families have at
one time or another. When she was done, I said she had a very special
close-knit family, parents who doted on her and her sister to make sure
they grew up loved and appreciated. Alissa said that she was the most
blessed girl in the world to have her parents and Breann. She talked
about all the fun things they did together, and that they tolerated her
music practice before she knew how to really play. I miss the playful
banter between sisters who were obviously very close. That they took
time out of their crazy schedule to faithfully come in and just say hi
and give me a hug made me happy. That they genuinely cared about me and
stopped in to make sure I was doing all right blessed me more than I can
say.
The children that Alissa worked with
were special to her. She wanted each of them to know how much God loved
them, how special and unique they each were. I watched her try to
explain to a 4 year old girl that there was not another person on earth
that was just like her, which is not an easy thing for a small child to
comprehend. But Alissa did it, and she smiled when that little
girl's eyes grew round with wonder and her mouth formed a wide "O" of
awe. Alissa knew that the little girl understood. She took that little
girl by the hand to head back to her classroom, giving me a big smile as
they turned to leave. It was such an important moment to her that her
eyes grew misty and mine did, too.
Alissa took life by storm and packed as
much living into it that not many moments were wasted. I have never
seen such energy, nor such wisdom in someone so young. Alissa knew that
life was a gift, and I was blessed that she and her family shared that
gift with me.
Alissa was a
wonderful niece. She was funny, smart, and compassionate. She had such
an infectious laugh! I will never stop missing her.
Alissa’s
Uncle Chuck
|
My name is
Helen Gillette, and I have had the privilege to know Alissa ever
since I've shared in performing the "Thorn Production" with her and
her mother, Angela. I didn't see or talk with Alissa very
much, the energy she was blessed with would take her everywhere in
the church! Running with her friends, getting serious about which
scene they all need to concentrate on, or just being the young
ladies they were. I now recognize how many beautiful opportunities
I missed to just sit and talk with her.
However, I was
introduced to her by her by her mother once! I remember one
evening at practice Angela made her stop for a millisecond and say
hi to me. Angela was always so proud of her girls, and she wanted
to introduce them to me. She stood along side of her mother and
sort of peeked around and said, "Hi." Then after the shortest
introduction in history, she was off racing after her friends. I
never got to talk with her again. That was my loss.
The poem
written by Holly Berg drew me to tears. What a breathtaking way to
describe Alissa. Holly is correct, what we have left is the memory
of the “last note”, however, God will see to it that we all
will hear that last note over and over again, until we can all
become a member in,
"Alissa's
Opus."
Helen Gillette
|
|
|
My
name is Carrie Klarich, and I was a friend of Alissa’s in the Thorn.
Alissa has inspired me in many things, including most of my scholarship
application essays. Each essay I wrote for different scholarship
applications had the same essence. For a “My Turn” scholarship I was
asked to write about people in my life that have left an impact on me.
The following words are how I responded to this.
Life is full of people that pass through your life, but there will only
be a few that truly leave an impact. Not many people are as lucky as I
have been to have someone be such an inspiration in their life as I have
had. This is because for me, it was a twelve-year-old girl named Alissa.
We
met at a volunteer Easter production called “The Thorn” at New Life
Church. Alissa was three years younger than me but about three years
more mature than I was at that time. She was my consolation for my
stresses in life, such as friend problems, and my mother’s new marriage.
Alissa would listen and be sympathetic without being judgmental. We were
always together, sharing our secrets, ambitions, and making our
friendship soar. I looked forward to the time that “The Thorn”
rehearsals began, because I could see Alissa again. She went to a school
in a different town than me, and was still in middle school when I was
in high school. This made it extremely difficult for us to be together
when we were not at rehearsal. We were sharing together what we loved
most in life: God. Then one day during a rehearsal, I heard an
announcement that Alissa was hospitalized with unexplained seizures. My
family and I went to go visit her on Easter Sunday, and when we arrived
it was heartbreaking to see my young friend in a drug-induced coma.
However, it was enlightening and encouraging to see so many people there
visiting and praying for her. Many events happened that were encouraging
as well. For example, at one point all of her internal organs failed,
and then miraculously recovered. Even so, later on Alissa had a
forty-eight hour seizure that caused irreversible brain damage. Her
family had no choice but to take her off her oxygen machine and pray for
the best. Alissa was only strong enough to live for one more day. Alissa
died May 9, 2005.
Alissa’s death has impacted me in so many ways. Whenever I pray, I think
of her. Whenever I am faced with a moral decision, I think of her. I
cannot sing a certain song in choir now that is about death, because the
words are moving and every time we sing it, the tears come, without
fail. For a while after her death, I was in the frame of mind that
everything is good in life will not last. Alissa was so young when she
died and it upsets me to think that she has missed so much of life. She
will never experience true love, marriage, and the joy of having
children. Knowing how much pain and grief I was feeling, my choir
director, recently told me that Alissa’s death is a cross-road. I truly
believe that his words are something that will stay with me for the rest
of my life. This is because his words are true. Of course I can cry for
her every now and then, but I learned that I must view this as a
positive thing. I believe that Alissa has ascended to a better place
where there is no suffering. She doesn’t need to experience true love,
marriage, or the joy of having children, because where she is, it is so
much better. I must look forward to seeing her again one day, instead of
concentrate on how much I miss her. Alissa’s death is a cross-road in
that I have been tremendously changed by it. Her death has led me to
evaluate my life, and see what is missing. Sadly, it took this tragedy
for me to realize what is missing. However, I can confidently say that
after Alissa died, I have become a better person. Alissa is my
inspiration, and will always be, each and every day.
Alissa’s mother mentioned that she is afraid that Alissa’s friends are
beginning to forget her. If only she knew how much Alissa’s death still
impacts me, even over a year later. If only she knew that whenever I am
required to write or create a project on something personal, I
immediately think of Alissa. If only she knew that now, whenever I come
across a difficult obstacle in my life, I think of Alissa, and somehow I
gather enough courage to overcome.
|