The memorial is Monday July 14th at:
New Life Philadelphia Presbyterian Church
425 East Roosevelt Blvd (At D Street and Bingham Street, next to the park…looks like a synagogue)
Philadelphia, PA 19120
Phone: 215-324-4566
The memorial is scheduled to start at 9:30am
There will be light refreshments afterwards.
thanks for posting!
Hi Alec,
No date posted. Love the Senior high pic!!
Ruthie
Wonderful pictures!! Thank you for sharing them with your readers.
Thanks for the photos…wish I could be there.
These photos are so moving. Thank you.
May you dream you are dreaming, in a warm soft bed
And may the voices inside you that fill you with dread
Make the sound of thousands of angels instead
Tonight where you might be laying your head
That’s our Andrea!
Thanks so much for posting these pictures! What a joy to see her smile. Love you guys.
Thanks for sharing your Mom’s smiles with us. I will be there at the service in spirit and stop for a moment at that time to remember her.
I wish I could remember what she wore that blue dress for but I know the photo was taken right outside of her Mom’s house in NE Philly. Great photos! Oh, your church… it was a synagogue. Actually, it was the synagogue that my Grandparents rose my Mom and her brothers in. 🙂
I shall be there to honor your adoring mother and wife……..to celebrate her life and share the sorrow of losing her with those who loved her so much.
I love her sweet baby picture.
I will have some moments of silence for her during the time of your memorial. I hope it is a peaceful time for all of you, where you can come together and send her love out to the world.
Fab photos. How old was she? I was talking about her to a friend only minutes ago and we wondered whether she listened to the same stuff as us as a teenager.
I am wondering if the address of the church would be a place where people could send cards, etc…?
Thanks Ruthie, Actually our home address might work better, as our church is actually the circle of hope in our neighborhood. Also remember that we are moving in about a month.
Kelly Smith
2623 Sepviva st.
philadephia,pa
19125
thank you for caring
Kelly
What a beautiful child – woman – mother – spirit.
Thank you Kelly. I wanted to send something also but didn’t want to ask. These pictures are wonderful. Her smile, I think of you all through the day. I know you are surrounded by loving family and friends. Just as it should be. Lifting all of you up in prayer. God Bless you all, debi
that third picture down is a spitting image of bailey! love these pictures, thank you for posting them.
Hi Alec & Kelly:
Thank you so much for sharing these precious photos of Andrea with us!!!! Her smile is beautiful!!!! Bailey is the spitting image of her mom, too!!!!
I will hold my own moment of silence Monday at 930am with you and your family!!!!
WE continue to hold you all up in prayer and in our deepest thoughts!!!! May you each find comfort in knowing Andrea lives on in each of you!!!! I love you all….Donna in SC
I will send you a card….Andrea had shared her home address with me a month or so ago…in our emails…thnaks again…Donna
Your wife is a magificently beautiful woman. I wish you and your family peace.
Kelly-
Thanks so much for posting the beautiful pictures of Andrea-what a bright light!
My heart continues to be heavy as I wonder how you all are coping…please continue to make use of Hospice’s Bereavement services-I’m sure that your Hospice people are as wonderful as the ones that I work with every day.
I will be holding you all close in my heart on Monday at 9:30, I know that Andrea will be watching over all of you-please know that there are so many of us who still will check in daily to see how you all are, and that you are all well, and praying for peace and love and contentment in your lives-
I wish only that for each of you,
Fondly,
Michelle
I absolutely love the picture of Andrea holding Bailey. She looks so happy and healthy – that’s how I will remember her.
Fantastic pictures – thank you so much for sharing.
Peace be with you.
Its all in the eyes…you can see how loving and caring she was in those eyes. Thankyou for sharing
Elesha
Thank you so much for the pictures. They are so wonderful. Bailey looks just like her. I will be holding you up in prayer Monday morning. Love ya, Wendy
Kelly….beautiful pictures!! Thank you for sharing them. Keeping you and the children in our thoughts and prayers. You are such a special family.
Dear Kelly & Family –
I am so sorry for your loss and pray that God be with you during this time. Thank you for posting the pictures of Andrea – she was a beautiful person inside and out.
I just learned about Andrea a few days ago from a breast cancer sister of mine on Myspace and found the online journal Andrea kept. I was so touched by the way she wrote and expressed her feelings that I sat down on Sunday afternoon and read each entry that has been posted until present. She truly was an extraordinary person who fought very hard with so much courage. I can’t tell you how much she has inspired me especially during this time while I am fighting the breast cancer. I just wanted to take this time to let you know how much Andrea touched my life.
May God bless you and your family.
Those pictures are so wonderful!
I also saw ‘der pink panzer’ on frankford ave today and thought of her. So thank you for that too Alec
-Aja
Thank you so much for sharing the photos! Been thinking about you all so much and will certainly be thinking about you Monday morning, 6:30 Arizona time. May you find comfort in each other.
Deb in AZ
Kelly and Family,
The pictures are such a gift and I thank you so much for sharing them. Andrea’s beautiful eyes speak volumes. She had gorgeous eyes even when she was a baby! My thoughts and prayers continue for you all and I will be especially thinking of you all on July 14. God blessings and peace be with you all.
I only learned about Andrea a few months ago, while reading the Philly Inquirer, and I had to come here to say how much reading this blog has touched me. I am in tears, to read about this wonderful woman and her amazing family. I wish I’d known you in life, Andrea, but God and Goddess will take good care of you in the Summerland.
Blessed Be,
Amy/MiseriChik/JanuaryRaine
Great pictures. Happy memories. Good times.
Hang on to them. Best wishes from London.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing these! I will be there on Monday.
Linda
Kelly, Andrea looks exactly the same from her first baby picture.
Andrea is physically as beautiful as she is spiritually beautiful.
I am thinking of you all and sending my deepest respect and sympathy.
Love Renee
Thank you for sharing. She was beautiful inside and out.
She was so lovely from the get-go. You can see the joy in her life shining from her face.
Thinking of you all,
L
it’s insane how much bailey looks like her mother. so beautiful. thank you for sharing. i’m praying for you guys.
What a radiant woman. She was simply beautiful on the inside and out. You know we have lost a jewel here on earth but what a beautiful angle heaven has gained.
Thank you so much to the family for sharing her pictures with us, I will continue to pray for your family and Andrea will always live in my mind and heart. God Bless each of you.
Your Sister in Christ
Tammy
If you want I could send you a ton of pictures of Andrea growing up. Please let me know if you would like to see the wealth of pictures of Andrea. The Andrea’s whole family has tons of pictures you might like to have so her children will be able to get to know all about their mother.
Please send my condolences to my neice and nephews,
From their
UNLCE Daryl
We have been grieving for all of you. The fotos are beautiful and are triggering many memories.
I have only been here once or twice before..I have been praying for Andrea and your family..She was so brave, and beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing her photos, her life, and struggles with us.
She was truly an amazing woman.
Biddie
I was hoping you would post some pictures of Andrea before the diagnosis. It is amazing how so many hearts can be connected who have never met. Thank you for your generosity in thinking of us in your time of grief.
Peace and love,
Sara
What a beautiful soul.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart aches for the loss of her physical presence but rejoices in the freedom of her beautiful soul…what an ambiguity. I have loved you, Kelly, and all the family over this past year. I have prayed and sent what I can to help all of you. She is in my mind and heart through out the day. I can feel her love and presence as I walk through the mundane of my life. She is in the rising sun, the scent of the flowers, the humming of the birds, the rush of the wind, the crash of the waves, the setting of the sun. She is eternal. She is LOVE.
Missing her posts…wishing that she was still with her family…enjoying life and loving her dear ones.
I have never posted here before. Had never even read her blog until 2 days ago. I have spent the better part of the past 2 days absorbing all of Andrea and your family. What a beautiful lesson in love and life.
Please accept my sincere condolences. I hope for healing for your beloved family. Andrea was well-loved during her vivacious life, and in her courageous death. Much love to you and yours. You and your family are in my prayers.
Love,
Denise
My prayers and thoughts are with you.
i am honored to have shared these moments with you and your family.
her beautiful spirit with hover over you all if she has anything to say about it. thank you again for sharing with us. peace be with you, andrea and your children
Thanks so much for the pictures. I can’t believe how much she looks like Bailey in the 2nd & 3rd ones… and how her joie de vivre shines through all of them. In the midst of so great of a loss, it’s good to know there’s so great of a life to celebrate.
Thank you for sharing your story, Yall have forever touched my heart!
i will be praying for you guys and will observe a few moment of silence in honor of your loss! all my love and sympathy!!!!!
What a beautiful memorial in pictures. I’m very sorry for your loss and hope and know that you will be taken care of. She’s very beautiful and I can tell she was very loved.
I just returned from vacation, and was sad to learn of Andrea’s passing. I wanted to extend my condolences to you and your family, just from reading her journal I know that she was well loved and cared for, and you should be proud of that.
These pictures of Andrea are fantastic. I had the pleasure of meeting Andrea years ago at Temple University. Besides being a wonderful wife, mother, and friend, she was also a lifelong student and had a passion for learning. She was bright, brave, witty, and kind. Running into her on campus or grabbing coffee after class with her brightened my day. She always had a kind word, and invitation for fun, and wore a great smile. While I am deeply saddened by her loss, I am also heartened by the courage, insight, and joy she shared with the world. Andrea, Kelly, and their beautiful family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Andrea was one of the kindest and most inspiring women i’ve ever met.
I’m glad she was able to communicate her last blog, which has resonated deep within my heart and the hearts of many.
If you ever need a performer for future events in her honor, please be sure to call on me. You will always have my time.
xoxo
deirdre/little darling
Came to learn of Andrea belatedly, but I’m completely floored by the beauty of her life and I know this blog has touched many. So much love. These pictures capture the essence of a strong and graceful presence. You, Kelly, and your family are certainly in my prayers. Have you considered turning this into a book, documenting her life and teaching people about IBC?
Wow. Just wow. I hope that as time goes on, you’ll let us know what you need and if we can help. There’s an ocean out here, waiting for the right time and place to send you our waves of gratitude and care.
I quit my crappy job (well, I’m giving my notice on Tuesday when I’m due back in to that toxic Hell Hole next) and am pursuing freelance illustration full time, which is my dream. And I will do this proudly in honor of Andrea’s quote, “be happy now because today is all you have”.
I want you to know that I love and understand how hard it is to loose someone you love. I wish I could be at the service on Monday, but you will all be in my thoughts and prayers. Instead of flowers and I decided to send you something in your paypal account. The pictures of Andrea are precious.
Love you all,
Grandma
Kelly…Ed and I will be attending the memorial service, but will be leaving Owen home with our parents. If you get a sec, please let me know if it will be OK if we bring the gifts for the family to the memorial service- they can be placed in an envelope, but I am not comfortable mailing the cash and gift cards. If you would prefer we wait, that is fine too. Either way, we would love to bring Owen to visit with the kids one day before summer ends…or have Clay come here to check out Owen’s playroom. We don’t want to lose our connection to your family. Owen has been praying for all of you every night, and keeps asking when we will be seeing Andrea’s family. For a 3 year old I think he has a pretty good understanding of what has been happening. I hope that things have been relatively peaceful at your house. Please email if there is anything you need for the service or otherwise. Much love, Dina (and Ed and Owen too) learnfromdeen@aol.com
I am keeping all of you in my daily prayers. I have been so touched by all of you, yet now that she is gone my words seem inadequate, at best…so i don’t write. i think i feel heartbroken, yet i never met her….such was her way of getting into your heart. love to all.
Hi Kelly & kids,
Thinking of you. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for the lovely pictures. I hope all of your hearts are warmed by her smile. She seemed a lovely woman, I wish I could have known her personally, but through all of this I feel like I knew her and all of you just a little bit. May the days, weeks, months & years that follow bring you reprieve from your sadness and a warmth filled with the woman she was. I’ve lost innumerable family members and some of the most joyful moments I have now are remembering the things they used to do. I know its too soon for any of this and right now its all just a blur, but there will come a time when you’ll be able to speak of her and bask in joy. Its Gods gift to you, one of many.
May God be with you always,
Stephanie
Andrea’s family and friends will be in my most sincere thoughts tomorrow.
With love,
Maureen Farris
Akron, OH
To the family and friends of Andrea….
You all will be in my thoughts and prayers tommorrow morning. May the love and peace of God be with you!
Amy Sherwood
Lincoln, NE
I have become very lonely. I miss her words and find myself coming back to this site, over and over again…… Just waiting for more of Andrea.
I’m thinking of you all today.
Sending extra prayers your way this morning. May you all feel the love and peace you deserve. Remember a mothers love lasts forever, whenever you need her just take a moment & she will be in your heart to guide you through.
Thinking of you all today and praying for you. May God sustain you in your time of sorrow. All of our hearts are heavy today with you.
God bless and much love,
Jill
I just wanted you to know there was yet another person thinking about your lovely family today. I have followed Andrea’s story for a long time, and have grown to love her and you so much.
I can only echo what another reader said – I know that today has been hard, but know that healing will come and there will be a day that when you think of Andrea you will feel joy and laughter when you remember all of the wonderful things about her.
You’ve got one hell of a guardian angel out there now.
Thank you for sharing with us and teaching us so much. Thank you.
Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Tucker, Asa, Bailey, and Clay,
You all have been on my mind all morning. I pray that your wife’s/mom’s memorial service was a true celebration of Andrea’s life. I pray that you are comforted today.
Ruthie from Cali
Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Tucker, Asa, Bailey and Clay,
I’m thinking of you and praying for you this morning.
Love you, Wendy
I found my way to Andrea’s site by way of the Philly Inquirer last week. I am so very sorry that this beautiful woman has left earth. I haven’t read through all of her blogs yet but I will and I will keep you and your kids in my prayers in the days and weeks to come.
Her beautiful soul I am sure will be around you every day.
To all of Andrea’s loved ones, especially Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Tucker, Asa, Bailey, and Clay … I’m thinking of all of you today as you celebrate the beauty of Andrea’s life.
So beautiful. You are in my thoughts…
Kelly,
I only stumbled across this website a few weeks ago. Your family has touched my heart forever. I have prayed for you all everyday since and will continue to do so. She was on my mind on the 4th…you see I live in Sevier County, TN. I read her post about wanting to take the kids to Dollywood. I though of you all while I was watching fireworks on the 4th in Pigeon Forge and wished I had the money to bring the entire family down here. Continue to be strong and know she will be with you always.
Lisa
Thinking of you all, especially today.
Hi Alec,
What wonderful pictures of your Mom. Thank you for posting those. I wish I could be with all of you today. Please know I’m thinking of You. Much Love,
Grandpa Brian
Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Tucker, Asa, Bailey and Clay,
I stopped working for a little bit today when I knew that Andrea would be closest to all of you-I spent the morning oscelating between being profoundly sad for a wonderful woman that I didnt have the good fortune to ever meet, and thankfulness that your family was surrounded by such love-I could feel it here in Niagara Falls.
You are loved and prayed for, and in my mind so often!
With love-
Michelle
To Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Tucker, Asa, Bailey, and Clay~
Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures of your wife/mother. She’s a beautiful soul. Today, I think of her as you all do. Celebrate her wonderful life! I didn’t ever get to personally meet your mom but what she shared with us made her a part of my life. I hadn’t been on her blog for a few months because I had found out my cousins 1-1/2 year old has cancer and then I just came back the other day and I was so very sad to hear Andrea had passed. It hurt my heart to hear this. She was an inspiration to me and a hero. Please know that you are all in my prayers!
~Stacy~
I just found out today, that she past. I missed the service and I am feeling sad. I have know her for what 20 plus years, going back to the old days at Revival. Philly feels like a very sad city to me today. Rest in Peace you deserve it and I will cherish my memories of you.
Kelly, Alec, Jesse, Asa, Tucker, Bailey, & Clayton,
The service was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed everyone’s different stories about mom. Alec your song to mom was beautiful. I wanted to say hi but there were so many people longing for your attention that I didn’t want to bother you. I just wanted you all to know that your mom has changed my life in so many ways. She is my true hero. I am a changed person in the way I think, feel and act. I just realized for the first time in my life that I don’t care what other people think about me. I am also learning to express myself more and speak my mind…..I am a stronger person because of her. I learned these wonderful attributes by reading mom’s blog and talking the couple times we met. I don’t mean to ramble on but I just wanted you all to know that. ………………Kids, I just wanted you to know that I had given something special to Lizz for each of you last week. She should be giving it to you some time this week. I hope you like it…….I just wanted to do something nice for each of you because you deserve it…….you are all AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Love each other. You are all in my prayers and thoughts.
Love you all
Chrissy
I hope your service went well. A great opportunity to remember and reflect with peace and gratitude.
May you find support and comfort from everyone’s good wishes today.
I have just heard about this tragedy in your lives and wanted to leave my condolences with your family. I plan to go back and read her posts, because I am sure she still has much to say to me.
Alec,
Happy 18th Birthday.
Love You
Hey Alec,
Long time no see! Kido, I had no idea any of this was going on. When I moved to Jersey & my boys(Nikolas & Jourdon) stopped going to Rock School we lost touch with sooo many people. It truely saddens me that I lost touch with you guys and now this. I looked at the beach photos, you guys are all just’a growing up! You all look GREAT! I miss you guys.
~Jeannie (267-312-6094 cell)
I was referred to this website through the perfect post award given at Suburban Turmoil. I have never read your blog before, but I felt I had to comment after reading that you live in Philly and her memorial service was at New Life (I have gone to the “mother” church of New Life Glenside my whole life).
It is always sad to hear of a young mother who dies, but I was encouraged to read that she loved Jesus, so that you do not “grieve as those who have no hope”. She is whole and well and with her Savior now, which is a beautiful thing. I will keep you family in my prayers as you grieve the loss of your wife, mother and friend. May you continue to find comfort in the arms of your Heavenly Father.