Poem from Reily

Posted this on Facebook, but I didn't want to lose it so I thought I would share it here.  Reily, my soon to be 12 year-old granddaughter wrote it about her brother, Andy.  It made the whole family cry.  It is especially poignant due to the fact it is one day before the fourth anniversary of the death by suicide of her cousin, Tyler.  Both grandsons are missed and hold a special place in our hearts. 

He sometimes is sad
He sometimes is mad
But always smiles
Sometimes he laughs
Sometimes he cries
And the world never dies
When you get to know him
He is the best...
At least when he wants
When he is sad he frowns
When he is mad he scolds
When he is happy he smiles
And when he smiles it goes on for miles

When he smiles it is warm
When he is sad everyone is there
When he is cheered he is fair
He has a kind heart
And a warm soul
That is better than silver and gold

You will love him from day one
Well I did and I had fun
His time on Earth now is through
But no one could forget you

I still love you
I won't deny
Always since the sparkle in your eye
Even though you aren't here
You are as special as you were when you left

Thank you, Reily, for being who you are.  Love you.

Heavy Heart

I don't understand God at all.  The heartache is unbearable.  Our children and grandchildren are supposed to live way beyond their parents and grandparents.  Andy was getting better.  His MRI to see if he was ready for spinal surgery was scheduled for Thursday.  He went to Heaven during his sleep early Wednesday morning.  Rest in Peace, Andy.  Gammie and Pampa love you and will love you forever...see you soon...have fun playing with Mike and Tyler, Poppa, Nana, and Grandma Lewis. 

Obituary for Andrew Maliner

Born May 3, 2005 in Cleveland, Ohio, he is the son of Matthew “Matt” Joseph Maliner and Kristen (Lewis) Maliner.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Kaely, Reily and Audrey Maliner; his paternal grandparents, Dave and Jeanne Maliner; his maternal grandfather, Don Lewis; his uncles and aunts, Mike and Kristen Lewis, Jenny Mariano, and her children, Nick and Leo; Stephen and Amy Neral and children, Jessie and Sammi.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Dorothy Lewis; his uncle, Michael Maliner and cousin, Tyler Neral.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall , at 116 South Loudoun St.,
Winchester, VA, with the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Reifsnyder officiating.
Interment will be private.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Brown Funeral Home’s South Berkeley Chapel in Inwood.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Matt or Kristen Maliner, 137 LaCosta Blvd., Martinsburg, WV 25405.

Tyler Neral - 3 years gone, but not forgotten.

I wish I was a genie in a bottle and could grant my family three wishes...One would be that Kaely didn't have hydrocephalus...she is such a lovely child...The second would be that Andy didn't have spina bifida and hydrocephalus...he is so smart and loving...and the third is that Tyler wouldn't have died by suicide...his death three years ago today has affected all of our immediate family, plus his friends, who are now adopted family and very important to all of us. Tyler was full of life and love. He cared so much about the state of the universe and wanted to protect us all from hurt. As he did in life, he does so in death - protects us all, walks beside us...I feel him here as I write this. I can't explain it. The crows in the sky appear when I am really sad. I am sure I will see them today...I love you still and forever, Tyler, as will all the people whose lives you have touched, even some you didn't know. Again, I wish I was that genie in a bottle and not just Jeanne, your grandmother.

 

I left my other grandchildren out seemingly, but they know, I hope, just how much I love and adore them.  I miss the ones far away, but that doesn't mean they are loved any less.

 

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