24 THE COURIER SUN • APRIL 4, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com victoria’s secrets VICTORIA SCHNEPS vschneps@queenscourier.com Sad loss of a ‘WOW’ friend come in for our WINTER specials DYNAMIC DENTAL WORK 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 175-15 JAMAICA AVENUE • JAMAICA $500 OFF $500 OFF So many to thank It was overwhelming to have experienced the outpouring of love and support after the passing of my beloved Stu. The touching notes, flowers, donations to two worthwhile causes in his memory and gifts of food from well wishers nourished my mind, my soul and my body. I was amazed at the multiple messages of kindness and thoughtful wishes. A unique card came from my friends at the Living Museum at Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens Village. It meant so much to me to receive a touching card that read “Farewell Stuart, and bon voyage in your journey back home to Heaven. We will miss you.” The beautiful message was signed by many of the artists with a wonderfully touching image of an angel rising to Heaven drawn by one of them. So personal and so special. The world-recognized artists who work at the Living Museum have all had a mental illness. Under the nurturing, talented, passionate direction of Dr. Janos Marton they have shown their unique works around the world. The Queens Museum had an exhibit of their pieces several years ago and I had a show at the Courier/Mittman Art Gallery at our Bayside offices. I own some of the artists’ works because I found them so powerful. Another one of the beautiful cards I received included the poem by Dylan Thomas “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” Its tender words reminded me of the yearlong battle Stu fought to say alive. Over the years Stu weekly bought me flowers when he went to Pathmark supermarket to do our grocery shopping. So it meant so much to me these last few weeks since he passed to receive so many beautiful bouquets and plants. Somehow I feel he is around me. I hate, as the days pass, to have to throw out the dead ones. I’m trying to keep the flowers “alive.” I learned from my dear friend Barry Kleinert, who has owned a floral store for years, the trick of preserving orchids. He and his caring wife Debra Markell had come for Passover seder with Claire and Mel Shulman and my three children and their children. They had brought me a gorgeous, elegant double orchid plant. Barry gave me the directions to keep it alive: put a few ice cubes in once a week. I will report if the orchid survives. I’m a plant killer by reputation! My friends at the Living Museum at Creedmoor sent a touching card after Stu’s passing. Goodbye dear Athena. It seems like several lives ago when I went to Athena’s wedding to her beloved George Onorato, our former state senator. But I remember it like it was yesterday. It was her first marriage, 18 years ago, and she wore a flowing white bridal gown, looking like a young girl. She glowed like a teenager. The love they had for each other was all encompassing. Although Athena had a career as an engineer and later a banker, when she met George her life totally revolved around him. Wherever he went she did. When he went to Albany representing the northwest region of Queens she kept him company and was there for him. When she got ill he was with her day and night, spoon feeding her and tending to her every need. We talked a few weeks before she passed away and his devotion, dedication and adoration was pouring through the telephone line. How blessed they were to have had each other. It was a different kind of love than Stu and I had, but I know we both miss our mates dearly and I feel greedy wanting to have Stu with me longer, as I’m sure George feels about Athena. It’s so hard to lose the one you love. There is a hole in my heart . . . Dear friend Athena Onorato will be missed.
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