In Memory of Pat Quattone, my sister-in-law and friend.

I first met Pat when my husband and I started dating, about 43 years ago. She was a warm and happy person and always had a smile on her face. We would spend late weekend nights at their home, hanging out and just enjoying each other's company. On cold winter nights, she would be cuddled up under a nice warm afghan on her couch.

She was married to the love of her life, Nick and they had 3 children. Their kids were not like nieces and nephews, they were more like our own kids. People often thought that her youngest, Casey, was my daughter.

Then came that night. We received the call from her that they found out that she had breast cancer. Bob and I stayed up that night in tears. How could this happen? It can and does happen to anyone.

We did everything together, including going on several vacations to the Caribbean, skiing up north and also visiting the warm vacation spots. For my 40th birthday, of course they were expected to come with us on the trip. She told us that they would not be able to come because she was going through her chemo treatment. I felt guilty going on a trip without her as I know that she would have been there if at all possible. We sadly left for Grand Cayman without them. On the first night at the hotel, we heard someone in the lobby that sounded so much like Pat. Don't you know that she surprised us and showed up and spent the trip with us! That was the best birthday gift that I could have had!

She continued the fight. After several rounds of Chemo, and a bone marrow transplant that put her in isolation for a month, she was in remission. After her treatments, Nick and Pat were going to be celebrating their 25th anniversary in Hawaii and they wanted us to go with them. How could we say no? It would be a beautiful celebration. They renewed their wedding vows in a beautiful church on the ocean in Hawaii. We had a beautiful dinner and danced the night away.

That was a happy time for all of us. But a couple years later, the cancer returned. She fought. She tried every form of treatment that there was at that time. A couple of days before she passed was the last time that she came with us out for a ride on our boat.

She passed leaving her husband Nick, and her 3 children, Nicky, Nicole and Casey. Casey had just turned 8 years old 4 days before she passed. We think of her every day.

BTW she also loved wine and sunflowers.

Love, Laura

Items in Basket include Hand Crocheted Afghan (Black & White), Bottle of Josh Cabernet Sauvignon, Bottle of Apothic Red Wine, Bottle of Relax Riesling, 4 wine glasses, Two signed Caroline Kennedy Books ("She Walk's in Beauty" and" Profiles in Courage for Our Time"), Candle (Snowy Birch) and Cocktail Napkins.