This is the obituary for former co-worker’s daughter who passed unexpectedly on Tuesday. Please lift the Russoniello’s in your thoughts and prayers….

Elizabeth C. Russoniello

Elizabeth Christina “Liz” Russoniello, 20, of Lancaster, died unexpectedly Tuesday at Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Lancaster, PA, Liz was the daughter of Patrick J. and Janice (Evans) Russoniello.

Liz was a sophomore at Shippensburg University, where she was double majoring in English and Secondary Education. She was employed for three years by Giant at Lancaster Shopping Center as a cashier and checkout coach.

Liz graduated from St. Anne Parochial School in 2003, and was a 2007 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, where she was a member of the marching band color guard, and Writers Anonymous.

A member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Liz taught Religious Education during the 2006-07 school year.

Liz was a volunteer for Relay for life, Respect Life Group at LCHS, and North Museum. She enjoyed reading and writing. Liz was a generous, sweet, loving person, and was a big help around the home. She put everyone else before herself, and as a result of her being an organ donor, was able to help 5 people through the Gift of Life program. She was very proud that she bought her own car in November 2007.

In addition to her parents, Liz is survived by her brothers and sisters, Becky of Austin, TX, Patrick of Lancaster, Joanie, Frank, Tommy, Margie, Maria, and Sabina, at home, maternal grandparents, Frank and Patricia Evans of Flagtown, NJ, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Michael and Joan Russoniello.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial Monday, December 22, 2008 at 11 AM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 East Delp Road, Lancaster, PA with Rev. Msgr. Richard Youtz as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery, Bausman, PA. A viewing will be held Sunday evening from 6 until 8 PM at Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel, Inc., 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA, and again at the church on Monday morning from 9 until 10:30AM, with the rosary being recited at 10:30 AM. Please omit flowers. Memorial Contributions in Liz’ memory may be made to Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary, 1834 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. To send an online condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com.

Home? It is, yet it isn’t. Home is where the heart is..and I’m leaving a big piece here, in Lancaster, and in heaven right now.

Today went very well. It was such a beautiful wake, and it was amazing to see all the friends and family. Thank you to all who came and shared the great memories with us.

Tomorrow morning I fly out DARK and early (I have to be at the airport at 5:30 am!), so it will be rough. My time here has been good, but it’s time to move forward and attempt to get some order back in my life.

I can’t imagine what lies ahead, nor do I want to. But I know there is hope, tears, joy, and sadness. Not much fear….just the unknown.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts and think of me as I fly back to Lancaster tomorrow.

As for the Steelers. I don’t even want to talk about this weekend in sports. I’m angry!

I am a pc. I am not a mac. I am a pc.

Seriously..I love you Mom II, but your computer makes me very angry.

This is probably the umpteenth time I have tried blogging in the past 24 hours, so we’ll see if it FINALLY works!

Many of you are my blog stalkers, but I am one as well, because I am addicted to writing this. You have no idea how therapeutic it is for me to write this. To be honest, I did it more for me than anyone else.

Yes, it helped not having to make a bazillion calls, but it also helped/helps me process everything that happened and is going to happen. Know that this blog is FAR from over. It’s just begun a new chapter.

This new chapter doesn’t have a name, but it’s a new chapter of my life. Unfortunately this is a chapter I begin without Kevin. It’s not a chapter I want to write, it’s not a chapter I want to start. Even getting the first sentence going of this is difficult, but there is no way to stop it.

I don’t know what to call it….anger, sadness, grief, frustration, loss, powerlessness….all the above? I think I’ll just leave it un-named because there are no words, just like there are no tears, big enough to contain the emotion.

I want you all to know I arrived safely to a COLD Winnipeg where I brought with me ice, and now snow. *shakes her head*. As I said before..Welcome to Canada Brenda. Welcome to Canada. Kevin would HATE this weather!

I’m doing ok, but everything here is a reminder of Kevin. Everything. I wouldn’t be in this town if it weren’t for him, and that alone makes this trip extremely difficult. I’m staying in the place where I last visited with Kevin, and that trip was so hard because Kevin was experiencing the first symptoms of this horrible disease. It is not a good memory.

I look forward to seeing his friends, but know how hard that alone will be…because they are Kevin. They were his life, his love. It’s very hard to be here, and although it’s nice spending time with family, I am anxious to be home in our bed, curled up with this fun little kitten, and to just be with my thoughts and my “life”.

I need a dog. Shame we have a cat that won’t allow it. But when I get on my own, whenever that may be, I’m getting a big, cuddly, dog.

Big thanks to an “old” friend who has lent thier ear to me. Who understands this unlike some others…and who is just there. I appreicate your kind words and help.

I don’t know where to begin when I get back. But so far, I have a job interview, a grief group session, a CMA awards date, and a movie date. Besides that I’m dreaming of visiting friends all over the state of Montana, in San Francisco, maybe Washington, and near Philadelphia and Delaware. I have my options. I don’t know if it will happen, but if I need an escape plan, I know your doors are open, so thank you.

This is tough, but I’m getting through. I have some good days, I’ve had some horrible days. I’m just trudging along, and trying to keep my chin up. The best thing I can do, is wake up, take a shower, and attempt to feel pretty because Kevin would want that for the least. So for now, that’s my plan.

Love you all.

I’m packing up for my trips to Canadialand . I am looking forward to the trip, but I know it will be impossibly difficult to be there without Kev. It’s a trip that must be taken, but it’s never easy. I don’t think anything is going to be easy for a long, long time.

I am really restricting myself to what I’m going to do, go, watch, or see. Right now I just can’t handle going out and doing a whole lot-it just exhausts me so much. I find some things are so easy, but then I realize that they’re MY thing. The things I did with Kev, or would have done with Kev, are exhausting.

Packing is hard right now because as I’m trying to find my stuff, I see his stuff. It just hurts a heck of a lot. Overall though, today was really good. I did some shopping, voted, spent lunch with Linda, Ken, and my brother and his fiance. It was just good, but as soon as the sun started setting, like a werewolf, my demons came out.

This is going to be a long, cold winter. I am praying some sun shines through my darkened heart right now. May God give me strength and positive energy.

Yesterday was beautiful, yet one of the most difficult days I have faced. The hardest part is that I know I will have even more difficult days ahead as the realization hits me that Kev is gone.

What you all shared with me yesterday, and with Linda and Ken, was love and warmth and caring. THank you so much for that gift to us. We were ableto celebrate Kevin’s life in a way he would have loved, so thank you so much for this.

It was so hard leaving the church yesterday knowing that the fight really is over and now I am on my own. I know I have so many of you, and God, surrounding me, but it is still a surreal feeling.

You surround me all, and I thank you.

Please be with all of us, as Doug travels back to Beeton, Ontario, and as Linda, Ken and I hopefully all get on the SAME plan back to Winnipeg on Wednesday. I will be there until Monday to be with them, and to participate in the wake in Kevin’s honor.

It is so hard….

I’m not sure I can handle the word “widow” at my age. If you don’t already know, I’m just 24. Who’s a widow at 24??? It’s just so hard to FACE that word.

I think that’s why I chose not just to wear black, but to wear a teal cocktail dress today. First off, it’s a color I love. Kevin told me just last week, that he thought I looked pretty when I wore a new teal tshirt. So..that’s another reason. Plus, I feel pretty in this dress.

I decided to look up the meaning of the color teal. It signifies emotional healing, pleasing, rich, protection, unique and expensive. Not sure about all of them…but the first one. Emotional healing. I think Kevin chose this dress for me. And I think that he’s looking down from heaven and saying, she looks so beautiful. I am sure of it.

I wish I had you here to dance with in this dress, Kev. I really do. I miss you so much.

I don’t know if it’s Irony or what. But today Kevin will be buried in the same cemetary as the church we were married in. My funeral dress is currently hanging off of my wedding dress (as we moved in with my parents, and the dress never got put away). The same pastors who married us and gave their blessing are the ones celebrating Kevin’s life today.

It’s just so hard. It’s a day I don’t want to believe is here. It is a day that I don’t want to be a part of because I know how hard it will be. It is a day I just cannot bear. This is just too hard.

The shock is here, and I cannot believe this is happening. I hate it. I really do hate it.

I miss you so much Kevin.

Again, no words to speak of today.

Doug arrived safely, and we all went to say goodbye to Kevin before the casket was closed. An amazingly difficult day, but we celebrated his spirit tonight by dining at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, one of his favorite places. Afterwards, Linda, Ken and I spent the evening at Doug’s hotel room to just reminisce. It was beautiful.

Tomorrow will be…..well, you know.

Please lift us up in prayer. I just don’t want to be there tomorrow in many ways, but I know I need that closure, and I need all of you. Thank you.

This is going to be a tough weekend ahead for ALL of us. Today we are going to the funeral home to see Kevin before the casket is closed. I cannot imagine how this is going to feel, but I know it’s going to hurt very badly.

Tomorrow will be the private burial before the visitation and funeral. For me, I believe this will be the hardest. As much as I hold him in my heart and soul, leaving his earthly body to rest is going to be so difficult.

Please keep Linda and Ken in your prayers. Unfortunately, Linda’s birthday is tomorrow, and that just makes this all the more harder to swallow.

Lift us up as we struggle through this very difficult weekend ahead. Thank you.