My sincere sympathy to you Jeannette, & the Sylvestre family for the loss of your dear husband & brother, Marc… My prayers are with you all. Jeannette, you are in my heart and thoughts at this time of your loss. I will always remember Marc as the great person he was and a lover of nature and life. Marc will truly be missed. I hope the memories of him make you smile each day. Jeannette I came across this poem, titled Dear Friend by Margaret Brownley. I thought you might appreciate. Love Elena Sylvestre(sister-in-law) 285171 County RD.10 Orangeville Ontario L9W2Z3 Dear Friend, Please be patient with me; I need to grieve in my own way and in my own time. Please don't take away my grief or try to fix my pain. The best thing you can do is listen to me and let me cry on your shoulder. Don't be afraid to cry with me. Your tears will tell me how much you care. Please forgive me if I seem insensitive to your problems. I feel depleted and drained, like an empty vessel, with nothing left to give. Please let me express my feelings and talk about my memories. Feel free to share your own stories of my loved one with me. I need to hear them. Please understand why I must turn a deaf ear to criticism or tired clichés. I can't handle another person telling me that time heals all wounds. Please don't try to find the "right" words to say to me. There's nothing you can say to take away the hurt. What I need are hugs, not words. Please don't push me to do things I'm not ready to do, or feel hurt if I seem withdrawn. This is a necessary part of my recovery. Please don't stop calling me. You might think you're respecting my privacy, but to me it feels like abandonment. Please don't expect me to be the same as I was before. I've been through a traumatic experience and I'm a different person. Please accept me for who I am today. Pray with me and for me. Should I falter in my own faith, let me lean on yours. In return for your loving support I promise that, after I've worked through my grief, I will be a more loving, caring, sensitive, and compassionate friend-because I have learned from the best. -Margaret Brownley