Lara Mittaud remembers her lifelong friend:
It is a rare and precious gift to have a friend whom you have known for longer than you can remember, with whom you can laugh, confide, or run off to Europe with only a few weeks' worth of planning. Stephanie Timolat, who passed away yesterday morning from her 6-month fight with cancer at age 26, was that friend to me. I had the pleasure of first meeting Stephanie at her third birthday party, which was attended by most of the children at the Falls Village Day Care. From then on, whether it was burrowing through her trunks of dress-up clothes, sewing Renaissance dresses with her mother, Carol, so that we could attend a RenFair in proper attire, borrowing lumber from her dad, Louis, to build our 'house' for the Lee H Kellogg Colonial Fair in 8th grade, chasing down our train at the Paris train station, or laughing about our lives over a cup of chai tea, Stephanie was the source of so many wonderful and vibrant memories. Her many passions - art history, painting, guitar, her horses, vintage cars, just to name a few - were contagious. She brought such energy and enthusiasm to the things and people she loved that one could not help but love them too. I know she not only has touched my life in an indelible way, but the lives of so many others in this community. Her bright smile, sweet and gracious demeanor, and fervent energy for living will be so, so missed. My heart is with her, and my love goes out to her family during this time.
--Lara Mittaud
Thursday, November 29, 2007
In Memoriam: Stephanie Timolat
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13 comments:
In whatever grace may exist ... let us all believe that a painful battle has ended,
that beautiful dignity is regained, and that the magnificent spirit of Stephanie
journeys on beyond all mortal time.
For us who continue to enjoy our greatest gifts ... I offer the words of Jonathan
Larson's song, "Seasons of Love" from the musical "Rent"
(I was watching "Rent" last night ... and this song stayed with me all
last night and this morning, so I'm left thinking there's something to be
passed on in the words?):
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee?
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife?
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.
525,600 minutes!
525,000 journeys to plan.
525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?
In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.
It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember
a year in the life of friends.
Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!
Measure in love.
Seasons of love!
(For some photos of Steph, check out this link: http://web.mac.com/chasesa/iWeb/Site/Wedding%20%26%20Honeymoon.html)
I am sorry to say that I have only recently become truly well acquainted with Stephanie because it is immediately clear that Stephanie’s vibrant fervor for life and her love for friends and family warmed the world around her. Those who knew Stephanie were genuinely blessed by her cheer, wit, and bright spirit. It seems inadequate to put into words how fortunate I feel to have known her.
When I moved back from Boston, I felt lonely and void of a social life. It was Stephanie, who at Lara’s sushi party, hugged me warmly, listened to my silly antics of life in Boston with an earnest face and handed me a small, warm bowl of saki. It was Stephanie who taught me how to roll small pieces of fruit into a crepe smothered with nutella and slice it like pieces of sushi. Stephanie’s enthusiasm for living in a small community like Falls Village was contagious and I soon felt more connected to this town because of her youthful presence and optimism. Stephanie had a genuinely kind and gentle yet strong and brilliant demeanor. She emanated confidence, youth and hope. The community has endured a tragic event with her passing but I know that wherever she is, her goodness is blessing the aura around her. Stephanie has changed my life, has given it a new meaning for me. I will remember her every day. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to her family.
Lara,
That's one of the most touching eulogies I've ever read (and I've read and heard a lot of them!).
I feel deprived not to have had the pleasure of Stephanie's acquaintance. My heart goes out to Louis (whom I know and respect greatly) and the rest of the Timolats.
Terry Cowgill
How eloquent the writing, and I appreciate every word, but my heart aches and the tears won't stop.
To Stephanie: I want to say how much I admired you through this long and horrible battle. You were so brave. You had such composure. You managed to be so very gracious and kind to all who cared for you in the hospital, when the norm is the exact opposite.
I want to say THANK YOU for being such a good friend to Lara, for passing up a chance to make big money as a stewardess on a private jet and instead putting on a fabulous bridal shower, for catching the bouquet, for making professional videos for those at home and in Iraq (you put me to shame on this!), for having incredible parents who altered the course of my life, and the lives of so many people in this town, in very big ways.
Thank you for graduating from HVRHS, going out into the big, bad world, and COMING BACK HOME with enough enthusiasm to be Secretary of the Planning & Zoning Commission.
You worked at a law firm in Great Barrington with an eye toward law school. You were drawn back to Lime Rock Park because of your love of classic cars. And they returned your love.
I love the words delivered at my father's service this past summer by my sister Lisa, which have stayed with me:
My father spoke often of eternal life. He told me
that dying was like taking off your winter coat and
going for a walk in the fresh spring air. I know he
wouldn't want us to spend our time today being
overly sad about his transition but to be strong,
keep the faith and most of all, enjoy one another's
company until we all meet again on the other side.
Mary M. Palmer,
Mother of Lara Mittaud
Stephanie was my ” little sister” she wouldn’t let me be a mom to her even though I’m old enough to be. There aren’t enough words or emotions to describe what has been loss with the passing of Stephanie.
Steph you brought love and life to those around you. I hope you are galloping over Falls Village-Abby’s mane in your face with Max & Annie trying to catch you! I’m honored to have you as a “sister” and a friend. You will always be part of my life.
What a cliché it is to say I knew Stephanie since her birth, but I had. We moved back to Falls Village when Carol was pregnant and my daughter Sarah became best friends with Maria and Amanda immediately. Stephanie became the little sister who was alternately annoying, fun to play with, a pawn to the plays in the living room and then as they all grew older, another best friend.
After we left Connecticut, our friendship with the Timolats did not suffer from distance. Sarah talked with the girls constantly and when Stephanie became sick, the distance made helping difficult. Balloons, Graeter’s ice cream, a horseshoe necklace were all sent, and Sarah was able to donate her hair and find someone to make a hand made wig for Stephanie. Seeing Stephanie with Sarah’s hair made everyone smile.
It is hard to loose our friend, but luckily we have our memories of this beautiful life cut too short. All my love to those who helped make the memories.
Louise Jenks
Her laughter
Has not stopped
It is softer, less noticed
Behind the noise of life
As it brushes quickly past
Before bounding
Into high gear
Around a sharp bend
With wheels racing
In a joy filled gallop
With the wind.
We do not die
We live in memories and time
We are a part of the earth
And to it will return
This is where we will find you
Like the sun
Brilliant and unexpected
Sweeping out of the wild storm
Briefly lighting the darkness
A rainbow of memories in time.
For many years the Great Mountain Forest (for whom I am the forest manager) has provided the Xmas tree for Falls Village. This year, the Christmas tree is given in honor of Ella Fitch and Stephanie Timolat. Their passing is a great loss to the town.
The loss of a child is the worst thing that you could go through. My heart goes out to the Timolat family. I was a classmate of Stephanie's in high school. She was a great person to talk to. She will be dearly missed. She was the type of person who could bring sunshine out on a cloudy day.
RIP STEPHANIE
Dear Lou and Carol, Maria and Amanda,
Much love is sent to you from all of our Palmer family during this sad time of Stephanie's passing.
As so many know, Stephanie was a bright light here on her earthly journey. She will always shine spiritually.
We can strive to keep the faith for a brighter day and a time of reunion
with our loved ones, and allow our connection to continue during our lives with hope and an open heart.
May you find peace and strength, comfort and courage, as a family surrounded by many loving friends.
May God be with you always,
Catherine Palmer Paton
Lara, what a beautiful eulogy for a beautiful person.
I have been away from FVCT for several years now, I wasn't even aware that Steph was sick. I will always have fun memories of her from indoor & spring track.
Amy Bartomioli Deitz
Elegy
The actions of your whole life take shape
in the air above the beckoning grasses,
the golden bed nobody sleeps in now.
You've become a bird, flying toward what
you remember to love, thinking:
'Summer is cold,' the eyes blinded by sorrow.
When you reach the farthest shore
and have to ask yourself, 'Where am I?'
what answer do you have?
One heart, in a basket of woven reeds,
without a word for 'home,' floats among
all the lost things, your lover's empty hand.
You will imagine how to live there,
not as you imagined how to live here
in the place where death found you
and carried you over. There is no emptiness.
You wait with a music you can almost touch
resonating in the river's swaying rushes.
Each day becomes each day. And you listen,
knowing you'll return as sound in broad daylight,
remembering how joy begins in sorrow.
Stephanie is my cousin. Like Louise mentioned, being far away in Ohio made helping harder. I have great memories of family gatherings at our grandmother's house...Stephanie was definitely the comic relief.
As the years went on, the distance and our busy lives prevented many visits. I did not know Stephanie as much as I would've liked to, but it was nice to read everyone's kind comments. Thank you, all of you who knew her closely...all of your kind words have given me a window into my dear cousin's life. I was unaware of many of her accomplishments.
Stephanie will remain in my mind a smart, funny, energetic, imaginative, mischievous "little sister." I'll never forget that huge smile.
Eric Hausen
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