A beautiful woman died today.  

You were a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.  I sit here teary eyed thinking of the many things we did together as children.  You became one of my best friends when you and your family moved in across the street on Renfrew Place.  Along with little Laura, we’d spend all summer running all over the neighborhood trying to tag along with the older girls while Frances tried to tag along with us, hanging out at Laura’s, or in the finished room in your attic, making up shows in your backyard, Red light Green light 1 2 3, Mother May I, Hopscotch, jump rope, tag,  going to Brother’s Pizza, McDonald’s, swimming at Jackie’s, sleigh riding down Murdock Place, sliding on boxes down the hill on the side of the service road, building snow forts, playing with Barbie dolls, talking about boys we liked, going to  see your sister Geryl and Cindy and Steven on Forest Avenue, roller skating at the Ritz, Donna’s Dance studio, Ralph’s Italian ices, Pop’s for penny candy, Honey Bee, Carvel, walking to the rock quarry and to see friends in Mariner’s Harbor, jumping out the second story window onto a mattress at the abandoned house on the corner, PS 22, IS 51, Port Richmond High School Class of 1985, birthdays, communions (you got the white shoes I really wanted), confirmations, first dates, second dates, trying to get into the movie  “the Boogens”  when we were just 15 years old & after waiting at the theatre for a few hours, finally getting someone to buy the tickets for us, seeing Madonna and C-Bank at the skating rink in Staten Island with Laura, being there during those crazy adolescent times when I really needed a friend, your great smile, sharing important moments in our lives, graduations, weddings, the births of our children (even if some of it was only through Facebook or phone calls), and much more. 

We moved to different areas and hadn’t seen each other in a while, but you were always my friend and we became closer in the last year  and change through your diagnosis, surgery, and treatment through texts and messaging.  I love you and will miss you always Linda.  May Mark, your boys, your mom, sisters, extended family and friends be comforted and find peace. 

Cancer sucks and it doesn’t discriminate.

A beautiful woman died today and she will be missed. 

In loving memory of Linda Maloney Vasquez.  October 24, 1967-June 30, 2014.