I Hope You Dance 2009 / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and Godmother )Read >>
I Hope You Dance 2009 / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and Godmother )
Well Shayna we did it. Another successful night in your honor. We had some amazing moments. We let the white balloons fly for you as always but this year your mom suggested we also send a message to all those that we lost. So this year we let pink balloons go in their honor. Pretty amazing to see this cluster of white and pink balloons. I hope you got them.
Well we danced to I Hope You Dance and of course it is an emotional moment for me. This year though as we are dancing up on the stage little Maggie with her beautiful dark hair and dark eyes was dancing ballet. Me Uncle Muchie your mom and dad stood there with tears in our eyes. I told you dad this was a message from heaven. We watched Maggie move with your help I think. Made us remember how special you were when you were little dancing up on stage. Truly a moment I won't forget. As if this wasn't enough Cortney Erin and Anthony did the dance they did at the show to I Hope You Dance. Pretty special moment. I guess you never let us have a dull moment. You didn't when you were here and you still bring us moments that take our breath away.
Well there were alot of generous people at your party. Special friends and family who continue to support us all. We are truly blessed. I found a penny that morning on the way to set up and I thank you for that. I really thank you for alot of things. Please watch over all of us. Tell Jimmy we missed him too and I know he was sent alot of balloons too. I hope you were both watching the night.
Well I'm already thinking of next year. God bless you Shayna. God so blessed us with you. We love you and miss you everyday.
Well, Shayna, you should be so proud of Cortney and all your friends. They honored you in the only way we all know how-they danced. They didn't just dance for you, I think in their own way that night they all felt like they were dancing with you. Cort did an amazing job-I know you would be proud (but I also know you would have been her biggest critic at the same time). Erin did such a beautiful job too-again you would have been proud. I was watching Anthony and remembered how he said he dances because of you-well you taught him well. It will be so much fun to follow his success and trust me, he will be successful. All your other friends, Noelle, Anne did an amazing job too. All for you.
It was surely a night to remember. It has been 5 years and with each year the tears don't last as long but they still come. They came that night for me cause I may not have seen you on that stage but I felt your presence there. I'm sure there was tapping going on in heaven.
Shayna, we miss you so much. You are in my prayers all the time. Watch over all of us. The parties for you will never stop. You may have left this world at 18 but the impact you left behind is shown so often by so many people. We should all be blessed by leaving such a footprint in the sand.
I love you honey. I miss you but I know you are at my side watching over me and my family. YOu would have loved to play with the three little boys and they would have loved you. Trust me they know you "shayna" is. I'm sure you feel their little kisses when they see your picture.
Well, this was a very proud weekend for you. What a mentor and a friend you were to so many people. You packed more in 18 years than some live in a lifetime. I love you very much and miss you everyday.
We remember / Mom
Shayna and her friends,
Although I write this to you I want to include all your friends. Look at how you impacted Anthony's life and he dedicates his final dance to you. Amazing. This year Spotlight Studio has dedicated not only your song, but has included a new number which Cortney will dance in...it is of course, I hope you dance! Also, Spotlight is dedicating the entire recital to you! Claire, donated favor money from her wedding to your scholarship. You have amazing friends. Erin has done so much for you as well. I can't even begin to tell you how much and how many times your friends continue to remember and honor you.
I am so touched by the way your friends remember you. Even though your not here in body,you are here in spirit. We love to remember you. You're awesome and so are your friends.
Love
Mom Close
Dance/ Anthony Paparelli (Best Friend/Roommate )
Hey Girl ~
I miss you. I've been thinking about you an awful lot lately. I am graduating on Saturday from Point Park and its still so weird without you here. You'd be proud of me though - I got my B.F.A. and have honors haha. For my last piece that I am choreographing I am doing a piece about you. I took some of the pictures from the beach that we took and created a dance about it. The piece is based one what each girl and myself would say to you if we had one more chance. It is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever done. I am going to do my best to get a copy of it to your mom and Zack and hopefully they can post it on the website. I picked out 4 girls specifically who resembled each of you in physical traits as well as personal ones. I am just finishing a paper right now which is the story of how everything all happened and the purpose behind it all. This has made me think of you so much that I can't even imagine. You are truly apart of my heart and my soul and I miss you so much everyday. I cry every time I see the piece and Noelle is even driving down to see it. it is truly going to be beautiful. i know you will be there and be dancing with them and sitting with us. I love you and miss you and hey you know I'll talk to you soon - we do everyday!
Love
Anth Close
I'm thinking of you so much more today. We went to see CATS tonight and so many of the young dancers reminded me of you. Zack and Henry sent me an email that said...If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. You are loved and missed every minute of every day.
On Valentine's Day... / Clare Loveland (Friend :) )Read >>
On Valentine's Day... / Clare Loveland (Friend :) )
On Valentine's Day I'm thinking of you Shayna. Remembering our last V-day we spent together cooking spaghetti and dancing and laughing. I wish you were still here. I think about you a hundred times a day, every day. I miss your laugh more than anything. I wish you had been here, especially this past year. I needed you there for my wedding! I know you were watching over me, and I know you hear my prayers. It's not getting any easier Shay...
xoxo
CP* Close
Well, Shayna, another holiday without you. Even though I know in my heart you are in such a better place and where we all hope to be someday, I miss you alot.
I make sure Bobby and Nico hear your name and see your picture. Bobby goes right to your picture and does "nice" when he sees your picture. They would have loved you so much. They will always hear about you and will know that they have a special guardian angel watching over them.
Shayna, have the most blessed celebration in heaven. Know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season. I miss you so much and wish you were here but I pray that I will see you again someday.
Happy Birthday / Marissa Szumigale (BFF)
Shayna, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday! I know I am a day late....but I wanted to wish you a happy fourth as well! I love you and miss you and think about you daily. xoxoxo, Marissa Close
Happy Birthday / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and buddy )Read >>
Happy Birthday / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and buddy )
Happy Birthday Shayna. What an amazing place you are in to celebrate your life. Just thought this was a good day to thank you for the lessons you taught me. You taught me that life was precious and to enjoy my time here. I think I taught you to live your life with no regrets but you showed me how to practice what I preach. God blessed us with you Shayna and we will always be thankful. 18 years is a short time when you measure someone's life by it but you packed alot in that time. And we loved you more and more everyday. That is something that never fades.
Yesterday I told Bobby about his cousin Shayna's birthday today-so me and Bobby danced for Shayna last night. Rocco, Nico and Bobby would have given you a run for your money but trust me they will hear about their cousin, Shayna. If fact, they are coming to your party.
Well, Baby, we miss you everyday. Time takes the tears away alittle but the hurt remains. Knowing you are in a better place helps. Someday, I hope you meet me at heaven's door saying "Hey Aunt Mary Kay, guess what?" Miss those words.
God bless us all Shayna. Watch over us. I love you everyday.
Race for the Cure!! / Clare Loveland (Friend)Read >>
Race for the Cure!! / Clare Loveland (Friend)
Hey everybody- I'm running the Race for the Cure this year and I'm looking for pledges!!! If you would like to make a donation or support me you can visit this site:
Christmas/ Aunt Mary Kay (aunt/buddy)
Well Shay, another holiday with you watching over us instead of being with us. Yesterday I received my Christmas gift. Connie sent me an email with both babies' sonagrams on it. What a miracle. I still can't believe it. Boy I wish you were here to help us bring these two, actually three-Angel's too, into this world. But I know you have been watching them grow. I made you a cookie with your name on it last night. I really miss you. Someone here at work yesterday told me they will never forget seeing me and you walking through town when you were living with Gram. She said we were both smiling and talking and you were dressed in your dancing holey layers. She said we looked so much alike. Boy I am so glad I had that time with you. This will be a hard time again. All the holidays are. But I know in my heart you are celebrating in heaven and what an amazing celebration it must be. Well, Shayna watch over all of us. Gram and Pap miss you so much. Pap still talks about you living at their place and the fact he loved to see you dance. What gifts you gave us at the end. Time with me, time with gram and pap. Something always to treasure. I love you baby. I hope you are always walking with the angels. Merry Christmas to you. Love you, Aunti M.
PS We got a nice donation from Noelle's family for your scholarship as part of a grab bag that Judy was doing. Very nice thought. See no one has forgotten you and trust me that will never happen. Close
sad news / Aunt MaryKay (aunt)
Shayna, a very good friend of ours lost his 36 year old daughter to a long terrible battle with cancer. She left two beautiful kids and a grieving husband. I promised her dad that you will be there for her in heaven. Let her know that we will take care of her dad. Let her know that she was the one person he truly loved in this life.God bless you both up there. Celebrate and enjoy your eternal reward until we can all see you again. Just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I thank God everyday for the 18 years of fun and laughter that you gave us. I just told Uncle Much how many times you told me you were my "child sent from God". Now I know what you mean. Well, I love you babe. Miss you everyday. Watch over our growing babies until they join us. Auntie M Close
thank you Shayna / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and buddy )Read >>
thank you Shayna / Aunt Mary Kay (Aunt and buddy )
Shayna, such a bittersweet moment for me yesterday. We found out that not only is Andy and Connie having a little boy but they are naming it after your Uncle Bob-Robert John. As if that isn't enough, Nick and Jamie tell us yesterday that they are having a baby too. Oh my God-the whole idea of two grandkids is so amazing to us. We are so blessed and yet I'm alittle sad. I feel sad that my grandkids won't get to know you. I promised myself that they will know who their cousin, Shyana, was. They will know that if you were here they would love you so much, just like Maggie and Lily love Cortney. They will know who you were and how much fun you were. I'll rock them and tell them so many funny stories about you. How you made us laugh and how we loved to see you dance. We will tell them the story of you putting makeup on Abby when she was just alittle girl and how she returned the favor. Have to admit that Abby had so much more design and color in the makeup she put on your face. How I loved to hear "Hey Aunt Mary Kay, guess what?". They will know that when we say our prayers we always say, God bless Shayna. And they will know that when they need someone (and they will always know that gram and pap are there for them), all they have to do is pray to Shayna. Thank you and God for our precious gifts. Please take care of our babies. Keep Connie's, Jamie's and Angel's too-all safe and help them grow healthy. Well, Shayna, I love you everyday. I miss you everyday but I know that you are in a very special place. Dance for us up there to celebrate our news. I love you baby. Auntie M. Close
Thank You / Zack Stefanik (Brother)
Shayna.. I wanted to let you know first of all thank you for giving me this opportunity. The chance to attend college somewhere that I really want to go to. I wanted to let you know that today I struggled and didn't do so hot on a test and the thing that chokes me up so much isn't the fact that i feel i let mom and dad down its the fact that i feel i let you down. Im sitting here in this tiny corner next to a window dedicating this whole week to make sure i don't let you down again. As i sit here, i turn and look up to the sky... nothing down bellow but me. I need you to show me what i can be... I need you to help me and not let go... Close
Thinking about you a lot this week and especially after this weekend, your memorial. I know you were there with us, and Erin did an awesome job for you. It was great to see your family again. It's hard because I see so much of you in them, and it makes me miss you that much more. I miss that smile and I have to agree with your mom, I miss your goofiness. I hope you liked all your sunflowers and pink balloons! I'm keeping my rock on my dresser where I'll see it everyday ;)
I found this quote and it made me think of you and your mission statement:
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left. Then I could say, "I used everything you gave me."
Well, Shayna, another year. three years today since our lives changed forever. I believe that you are with us always. So many times in a day, you make me smile.I laugh when I know something would have made you crack up. I smile when I pick up each penny you send me. I don't think a day goes by that you aren't in my thoughts and prayers. You may not have physically been here for all our happy events in the last three years, but I know you were with us in spirit and certainly celebrating with us too. There is no doubt that we will see you again. That is the hope that keeps us all going. Today is a big day for Cortney. You really need to be with her today. She is starting her professional life today even though it is such a sad day for all of us. I just watched your video dancing on the beach. I know you are dancing in heaven. Zack is starting an experience that he will cherish forever. They both need to know that you are with them. Watch over your mom and dad today. They will need you. I guess you need to watch over all of us today. I know I need you. Keep an eye on Angel and Connie's new babies that are growing everyday. Shayna, thank you for all the love you gave us over the years. Dance in heaven today to celebrate. Dry our tears. It's raining today and that doesn't surprise me. I love you Shayna. Keep dancing and keep putting the pink in the skies. Thanks for all my pennies. Me and Uncle Muchie were just telling stories to each other about you the other day. That is what you left us to share. Thanks for the memories. Say hi to Jamie's mom, June, for me. We walked for Pancreatic Cancer for her yesterday. She was such a clown like you. It poured so we figured you and June thought that would have been a funny joke. Thanks. Tell June, I'm taking good care of Jamie for her like I promised.
We Love you everyday! / Mom
Shay, you would be so proud. The party was a huge success! So many caring and generous people helping by dancing and contributing in your honor for the Shayna Stefanik Scholarship Fund. We all miss you terribly, but we know that even if we can't see you....you are here. We love you and miss you everyday...love moml Close
Just wanted to say Happy 21st Birthday! I'm sending you up a ballon tonight... I miss you more than words Shay, and I will be celebrating for you tonight! Keep watching over me angel. I'm having a really hard day today without you and hoping you can send me some of your goofy smiles and laughter... You're always in my heart.
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