08/07/2016
Good Morning Everyone... I wanted to put this out last night, but if you attended our dinner, you could understand why I fell asleep.
Let me start off by saying:
Hi... I am Chrissy Rodino Pakish . there are several editors on this page, but this post is coming from me. This may be long, but please try to read.
A little over 20 years ago now, Kaitlyn Greco... a beautiful baby girl was born into this world, and from that moment on, there was no one that was was not touched by her beauty, her love,her grace and her genuine love for anyone that she met. I know that people say that a lot about loved ones, but, if you were a fortunate one to have met her, you would completely understand.
Almost a year ago, Kailyn was call home to live in the beautiful Heavens above us. We could only figure that God took her from us because he needed a beautiful person to stand by him to shine her love and protect us down here from all of the things that would hurt anyone that she loved. And let me tell you, She is doing a fantastic job.
In our home, in our family, there is not a day that goes by without a laugh, a thought, a tear or an OMG ..Katie would have or Katie would have loved this.
On that day, August 17, 2015... Her mothers life along with her brother Dominic and sister in law Jess, and the most adorable baby girls, Ava and Maria, that she was so proud to call her nieces, her Uncles, her Aunts, Her Pap, and her cousins have never felt anything like the pain and anger that we felt that day. If you know our family, then you know..how much our family means to us.. and how we would do anything to protect and keep each other safe. This day, our entire family was challenged and there was nothing that we could do.... BUT we did... We held on to each other held each other up, just passed glances during busy times just to say.. "im here if you need me" or "are you ok?" even times just holding a hand in silence knowing that we were not alone. One August 17, 2015.... Our lives would never be the same from that moment on........ But, we did something.... Something amazing!! You see, the last 3 days of Katies life, would not.... could not... AND ABSOLUTELY will not be what we remember!!!!!
Kaitlyn has so much more to remember than he becoming a Beautiful Angel in Heaven So Perri, her mother wanted her to be remembered for ever.... As so she pioneered and she did!!!
Kaitlyn Greco Memorial Scholarship Fund is a way that Perri knows that in years to come....when she is holding the hand of her daughter... Kaitlyns name will still be on this earth. Katie will touch so many people in her memory... in her beauty and most of all in her love for Children's Education!!!!
Last evening, was our 1st Annual Spaghetti Dinner as you are all aware of. And I am very proud to say.... It was an OVERWHELMING successful!!!
Over the last month, making phone calls, walking business to business, making lists and notes and ideas down, asking people for donations... Talking to people that didn't know Kaitlyn, replaying that day over again, looking at my niece Chelsea with tears in her eyes and just holding her hand , I WOULD DO IT IN A SECOND to see this turn out like it did!! There was not a minute that I would take back, not a tear that I shed wising that It didn't. The business people who asked "what happened" and the swallowing hard and explaining to them over and over again. Chelsea, my mom and I sitting at my kitchen table wrapping 800 pieces of silverware... almost saying nothing.... I wouldn't give it back for a min. There were many others that put in effort and I couldn't have done it without them!!!
But this is why I did...
When the doors at the Donora Boro Building opened at 12noon, and I sat at the table to sell dinner tickets... I held my breath.. I think at one time, my sister Jodie looked at me and said I was turning blue and to breath. When the first person walked in with a smile on their face.... I let out a big sigh of relief and for the first time in 8 weeks, I actually smiled and felt relief... There was no turning back.... Its time.... And after over 400 dinners went through that kitchen, and hearing everyone laugh, seeing Perri smile and laugh and hug and pride!!! OMG WE DID IT!!! We actually did it!!! We were surrounded by sooo many people that loved and adored Kaitlyn, so many strangers that heard about her story and wanted to come and support our family.
So I would like to say, to everyone and I promise I might not remember your name, but I will never remember you face, your help and your hug!!! From the strangers that I didn't know... From my friends in New York that I couldn't hug and say thank you... To the ones that came and donated all of their time.... and the ones that came to support us and I couldn't sit with you, the friends that came Friday night just to see if we needed anything.... There aren't even enough words. This would have not been possible without all of you!!!!
So I say this... I am proud to say that I am loved and I was called Aunt Chrissy by a beautiful angel, who drops me dimes all the time. I am PROUD that GOD gave me a wonder Mother, Aunt, Brothers and Sisters nieces and nehpews!!! I am Proud to say that yes... I am a RODINO and I am Proud to have the GRECO family as my own!!
My family thanks you.... and there is no way that we will ever forget what you all did for our Kaitlins Memory on August 6, 2016.
