Four years ago on October 23rd, 2010 my sister Cyndy Filarca passed away after a short fight with lung cancer... we all miss her dearly and think of her every day.

This year, on Friday October 24th, the students and faculty of Dove Hill School will be hosting the "Filarca Fun Run" which is a fundraiser for the school where my sister taught for many many years.

We are trying to help them raise $10,000 this year and have set up a GoFundMe page to allow our friends and family to donate.

If you remember my sister Cyn and would like to help her favorite school keep their events and field trips going... please make a donation today.  We will present a check to Dove Hill School with whatever amount we can raise up to that point.

And... of course you can leave a message for Cyn on that page too. I'm positive she'll see it and be smiling about it!

The link to the page is http://www.gofundme.com/fuzgrg

Photos from the Celebration of Life

Thanks Teresa Block for sharing your photos with us!  And thank you all who turned out to celebrate and share your memories of Cyn's life!

You can take a look at the photos all here:

Official Invitation

This is the email from Joe to all of you... please join us! (P.S. please note it's casual--- in fact our food will be Cyn's fave...Hawaiian!)

CELEBRATION OF CYNTHIA FILARCA’S LIFE
 
Friends, 

The O’Kane and Filarca Families would like to invite you to a very special event honoring Cynthia Filarca, wife of Joe O'Kane and mother to Clare Louise Filarca O'Kane.  Cynthia was taken from us way too early and she will be missed. So a special event has been planned.

Here are the details of Cynthia’s Event:

Date: November 6th, 2010

Time: 1 PM to 6 PM

Location: 977 Asbury Street
                 San Jose, CA 95126

The event was requested by Cynthia to allow all those who knew her to come together, meet each other, and celebrate her life in education.  Her 34 years she dedicated to primary education was the most important part of her life.   The hundreds of children she taught over the years, some of whom did not even speak English, were given the best  education she could offer.

The cards we have received have shared many stories that you remembered about Cynthia and how she influenced you all.  Come and share those stories with her friends and family.

Cynthia always thought of the kids.   For her Christmas and birthday wishes she asked only for cases of paper she could use in her class room for the kids since many of the teachers budgets for paper had been reduced to a trickle.  We would like to continue her wishes by requesting all who knew her to follow through with her request of cases of paper that can help her fellow teachers and students at Dove Hill Elementary.

You may bring the paper with you to the event on November 6th or you can deliver or drop it directly at Dove Hill Primary School, 1460 Colt Way, San Jose, CA 95121-1900, and (408) 270-4964 during office hours.  Please let them know you are doing this in memory of Cynthia.

We will provide food and drink but if you have something special to share, bring it in a disposable container.  Cynthia’s wishes are for everyone to have fun and CELEBRATE HER LIFE.
 

A Celebration of Cyndy's Life!

When we asked her what she wanted for a memorial, Cyn said- "A big party, a CELEBRATION of my life- no crying.  A big spread in the Big House (Teresa's) where everyone can come and share memories and EAT".

So a Celebration it is- to be held on Saturday, November 6th at Teresa O'Kane's home starting at 1pm.  The address is 977 Asbury Street, San Jose, California 95126.  We'll have food and drink,  photos to share and some music too.  However if there is a dish you'd like to share (maybe it was a favorite of Cyndy's?) then please bring it too....as my sister would say "the more the merrier!".

We thank you so much for the cards, emails, flowers and kind memories you've shared along the way. Please make every effort to join us in the celebration of Cyn's life on the 6th.  We're looking forward to sharing memories with you!

My other Bro-In-Law made this in back January after Cyn's birthday... enjoy and reminisce.

Heaven welcomes another Angel...

My sister Cynthia Filarca left us this morning, Saturday October 23, 2010 at 5:07am.  She was surrounded by my two sisters, Josie and Eloise and her husband Joe.  Her passing was peaceful.

For most of the past two weeks she had been resting, as well as enjoying an occasional reading of various get well cards and most special, a recording of a Daniel Day Lewis interview on NPR.   My sister really liked Daniel Day Lewis' voice, so when her brother in law Sean brought the cd recording over she listened to it more than once.

A week ago or so, we talked a little bit about what she expected.  I asked her if she was afraid or nervous and she said no she felt pretty ready.  She reassured me that she would be okay and she wasn't afraid.  I reassured her that we would be okay, and that Clare and Joe would both always be looked after.

I last saw my sister Thursday afternoon as I took my leave for the weekend.  I told her, I'll see you Saturday... I love you Cin Cin.  She said " I love you, thanks".

My sister, although having a million friends and acquaintances- requested that her funeral mass be small and private with just family.  She really disliked it when we cried around her these last few weeks, so its likely she really didn't want to see her friends around crying as well.  She asked that you all please come to her celebration of life memorial which will likely be in 2 weeks.  I'll post details here as we firm up the details.

Thank you for your love and support these past few months.  My sister knew you were all sending good wishes and sharing memories, and she definitely felt the love that you all sent our way.  Thank you so much for that...

gratefully,
Julie Ann (aka "Ann Ann")

Resting comfortably, reading emails, enjoying company.

Thank you all for your messages of support to Cyndy via email to her.  Right now we are focused on keeping her comfortable and  sharing memories and reading stories to her.  Her daughter has been here keeping her company, reading and helping us care for Cyn as much as possible.

Cyn is not in much pain and the pain she does get is being held at bay with medication every 6 to 12 hours and she continues to receive nutrition through the famous feeding tube.

She sleeps most of the day, her eyes opening a bit when someone comes into the room or a smile when we crack a joke.  This afternoon she asked Teresa to now please limit visitors to family only because it is too exhausting to receive anyone else, so with this blog post I am letting you all know.

She continues to try to catch up on reading email daily and enjoys photos so please don't stop communicating to her although she likely will not answer.  Do know that just about every day she goes through and reads every single one.  A friend recently sent pictures from New York of Central Park and the celebration of John Lennon's birthday.  While she was sad to see photos of her friend and her friends husband and the crowd in Central Park, she still smiled and looked intently at each one as if to burn everything into her memory.   She absolutely loves you all and the memories that she carries of you and your time together.