Dear Editor:
Over the course of my granddaughter Amanda Beckett Callagy’s short life, God has blessed me with the enormous privilege of loving her.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been there for all of us this past week. As you all know, Amanda passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, August 3, 2008 with her mother, Debbie, by her side.
Special thanks to all my friends and co-workers at the Hudson Reporter, who were there for me, not only at her funeral but also there to comfort me during the ups and downs of her illness. To Mary Paul, the writer who wrote such a lovely story about Amanda, which touched our hearts. To my daughter Debbie’s friends Tesha and Denise, who didn’t leave her side for one minute during the worst week of her life.
To the Weehawken, Hoboken, and South Brunswick police departments for their escort to the cemetery. I know she was so proud of the fact that they stopped all traffic, so her friends and we could follow her uninterrupted to her final resting place.
I want to thank my grandson, Michael James Callagy, for being the most devoted brother to Amanda. He put his own life on hold to spend as much time with her as possible, making jokes and making her laugh during her last days. He gave such a touching eulogy to her, and I know she was smiling down at him from heaven.
Lastly, I want to thank my family, my husband Jimmy, who stood strongly by my side, while quietly enduring the pain of his loss. They were the best of friends. To my daughter Debbie, Amanda’s mother who has been through so much pain, watching her only daughter suffer the way she did, my other daughter Donna Chong and her family, her husband Argenis, my grandchildren Emily, Sophie, and Samantha, who loved Amanda unconditionally and will miss her visits on the weekends.
Amanda, your journey has ended; no more pain and suffering. You will be in my heart forever.
C. Barbara Dillon
“Mimi”