Thursday, October 29, 2009

In Memory of My Friend

My friend, my cousin, Ms. Cynthia Berry, lost her battle with cancer on Monday, October 26th, just before her 39th birthday!  She was a beautiful, purpose-filled woman who spent her final days how she wanted, at home with her children.

Cindy was so driven to succeed in whatever she set her mind to.  She spoke fluent Spanish.  She went to college and then law school, graduating at the top of her class each time.  She worked in the legal field and when she bored of that, she switched to the real estate field, where she excelled with ease.  She also dabbled in the music business in her "spare" time, songwriting and managing musical acts, and organizing fashion shows. 


Aside from her professional life, she was a good friend and loved her family most of all.  She has been to almost all of the family events for each holiday for the past 7 years, without only a slight glitch, which she was highly upset about.  She loved spending time with her cousins, from the oldest to the youngest.  Her older daughter and my youngest daughter are inseparable when they are around each other.  Cindy made sure that family stayed connected.  It was very much her focus in life.


She was in Stage IV and taking the radiation treatment but that wasn't enough. I kind of knew from our conversation last month that she wouldn't be around to spend Thanksgiving with us this year, but I was hopeful! When Love and I made plans to go down south this year, it was in my thoughts that it would be my first time not being home and not having her around for the holiday. Now I know that deep down we both knew she wouldn't be around for the holiday. I do have to respect the fact that she chose to be home with her kids, and do things on her own terms. The type of person she is would not allow her to be stuck in a hospital bed, not being able to enjoy her last days.



Cindy had my back from the first day we met. She was around when I went through a lot of mess with the ex, Moe but mind you, she is Moe's cousin, not mine! She had no problem telling him when he was wrong and that he messed up. When she met Love last year at Thanksgiving dinner, and Moe called, she let him know that although she was his cousin, it was his fault that he wasnt there, not hers, and that she wasnt going to miss out on my cooking because of his stupidity. Then she told Moe that she liked Love and that it was Moe's loss! That was my girl!!! She pulled no punches.


Ms. Cynthia Berry is preceeded by her father and older sister, both to cancer. She leaves behind her mother Hazel, her 10 year old daughter, 3 year old twin daughter and son, and a very large extended family here in NY.


Kiss your loved ones who are close, and call the ones who are far.
Every day is a present, enjoy the gift!


xoxo
Charisse


5 comments:

Brown English Muffin said...

wow that's soo sad....all I can think about now are her kids. wow...so sorry to hear this news.

Anonymous said...

((Hugs))

christina said...

i send her prayers. i pray God is holding her family, at this time.
xo

Miss Snarky Pants said...

This was a beautiful post...May Ms. Berry rest in peace.

mademoisellechitchat said...

Both you and your family are in my prayers.

This is a wonderful post. God bless!