I’ve decided that I will not re-edit the spelling or grammar in this tribute. I was honored to be able to share this with my family today, and I was overwhelmed by the reaction to it by the family. I think my favorite lines were from Ginetta ‘ you wrote and said what we were all feeling but couldn't exactly say’ or “thank you, I keep re-reading it’ from Teresa Donella, or the heartfelt ‘Thank you’ repeatedly from my brother Salvatore who asked me to read this to the entire family and asked me to read it to the family between meorial services.Also, Zia Nunziata, who told me that I said was what everyone knew ,that Concetta loved everyone and that she did what she did the best for everyone. The cousins that told me they were crying and laughing ( you know who you are Vito and Vanessa !), Huge heartstrings pulled by my nephew and nieces who said ‘thank you Uncle Matt’ in sincere and direct delivery. I cried like a baby after reading this aloud to over 20 people, I was ashamed to be the center of attention. I was also grateful my parents were by my side and I only hope they are proud of me for being me.
I am not trying to pat myself on the back at all, I am just a man who needed to take a tragedy and to flip it on it’s head by sharing the reasons that it is so equally beautiful to remember what we we have lost when we someone so wonderful passes from this life to another. I am lucky to be a part of such an amazing family. When you lose someone and it makes you said, you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not recognize why that person was so important to you. I encourage everyone to identify with what you you had the benefit of enjoying, and yeah, we all take things of beauty for granted. But celebrate the things that make us love one another. All you need is love.
