HOME

A Tribute in Honor of My Sister:

DENISE BENEDETTO

Denise was not just a "being" or a "social security number."  She was my BIG SISTER, a loving mother, a wonderful daughter, an inspiration to us all, a kind hearted individual & a super Aunt.  We miss her with everything that we have.  It was so easy to love her, it was the hardest thing to let her go. On the day of September 11, 2001.  Who would have know that it would be the last time that I speak with my sister.  We will never forget that day for a long as we have our memory. Even when she was weak, she was much stronger than we would have ever been.  Her face would light up a room.  She smile would glisten.  I always told her that she should have been a model for Collate tooth paste.  She survived through major back surgery that should have paralyzed her for life.  But she fought her way through that, and said, "No way is this disease going to get the best of me."  And she didn't let it get to her.  She gave birth to 2 wonderful girls, Marina and Dina.  She went back to work after so many years away from the working atmosphere.  She managed everything on her own.  I always gave her credit and she never saw her own good.  To her, it was like an everyday thing.  She touched the lives of so many people. I miss her so much................Rina This was written for her memorial service on October 6, 2001

A Loving Mother, Big Sister & Wonderful Daughter

Life is a Day - - that lies between nights-the night of "not yet" and the night of "no more."  We all here today for the memorial service to honor the life of DENISE L. BENEDETTO.  I knew Denise, but for such a short time.  But I learned to like her as a good human being.  Denise was born on October 19, 1960, to Maria & Dino Giordano.  She was the joy of there life.  At the age of 2, they moved from the Bronx to West Brighton, Staten Island, where Denise became the big sister to Michael and then Rina. As time went by and it did very quickly, Denise grew up and got married to John and they had two wonderful daughters, Marina & Dina.  Denise adored her daughters, she taught them as she was taught honesty, frankness, humaneness, respect and tolerance, or simply put to be a good and decent person. She was that and more.  She herself was a devoted daughter and sister.  She loved her family and they loved her.  She had faith that embraced all of life.  Denise had such great moral qualities, of goodness and decency.  Whenever I saw Denise, she always had a smile on her face.  Always willing to lend a helping hand to others.  She was truly GOD'S gift to her family and to all who knew her. Without Denise, love and warmth and hope had vanished.  But we who are left behind will be consoled by having known her.  As our faith leads us through moments of joy it guides us through the bad times.  We who are here today will always remember Denise as a wonderful, happy, giving person.  NO, the ache of the heart will not suddenly disappear.  There will be no miraculous consolation.  But our faith teaches the aching heart how to express it's pain in love and respect. Life remains unknown.  Let's celebrate it, as Denise would have wanted us to. LET HER BE THE BEACON OF LIGHT TO GUIDE OUR WAY FROM NOW AND FOREVER.

LINKS:

Remembering The Lost

New York Times

CNN.COM