Dear friends,
This past August my sister's doctors put our family on notice that her condition had worsened and that, based on the medical tests, it appeared that she may not survive more than six months. Sadly, she recently experienced another major downturn in her battle with cancer. On Monday, she and her husband made the very difficult decision to begin hospice care.
Please pray in earnest for Ann Marie that she may have the blessing of a peaceful death. Over the past year she has spoken to me with great sincerity about this final journey. She shared her fears, her questions and the concerns she has for the care of her young children whom she will be leaving behind. It was a privilege to witness in my sister such a brave soul, a woman of courage and dignified strength as she struggled to somehow find God's will in all of this. It has been a very long and challenging road but I have been impressed by the beautiful spirit of peace that she carries in her heart -- a gift that Ann Marie personally attributes to Our Blessed Mother from the pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes that the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word arranged for her and Ed and their daughter, Mariana Therese, a few years ago. She has been radiating that beautiful peace and sharing it with the rest of us throughout all of the ups and downs of her struggle with cancer over these past four years.
Please, please pray for her. And please pray for her husband, Ed, and for their young children. My heart breaks for them. Jesus and Mary have them by the hand but the coming days and weeks will undoubtedly bring much sorrow. I also ask for your prayers for my mother, myself and for my family as we face this next reality. It will be a most challenging goodbye, and painful. May we be blessed to feel the presence of God and Our Lady!
Many thanks for all your love and goodness.
Peace,
Fr. Anthony
Dear Fr Anthony and Ann Marie...I will be praying for you and your entire family in this new journey. May our Blessed Mother accompany you through this. God bless you and keep you in the palm of His hand! I willl offer my daily Divine Mercy novena for you, Ann Marie.
ReplyDeleteLove, Monica
May God hold you close.Be assured of my prayers for each of you.
ReplyDeleteDear Fr.. Anthony and Ann's Marie, Please know my prayers and sacrifices will include all of you during this most difficult part of the journey. May God and His ministering heavenly staff comfort you all in this life and the next!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Fr. Anthony my prayers are with you all. Bob seidel
ReplyDeleteFr. Anthony, I will always recall the goodness and joy of your dear sister Ann Marie from our days as classmates at Franciscan University. Please know that we are holding her in prayer as well as the entire family.
ReplyDeleteMark Griswold
AnnMarie was my 5th grade teacher and left an enormous impact on me as I grew into adulthood. Is there an address where I can write her a letter?
ReplyDeleteIf you will email prayersforannmarie@gmail.com, I will give you her address. As yet I do not have permission to publish the address here.
DeleteYou and your entire family are in our prayers! May God's abundant Grace fill you with the peace and understanding that He is with you through each moment of this trial. May He manifest Himself in your lives in a new and special way. Amen.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers, Lateena
Please pass along the prayers of the Nelson family, tell them Tim said that she was one of his favorite teachers and he has such fond memories of their time together.
ReplyDeleteOur most sincere and heartfelt prayers continue to go out to Ann Marie and her loving family.
ReplyDeleteWith Love from
Mary and Don Wendt
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church
Sullivan, Wi.
Dear Ann Marie, family and Fr. Anthony: You have our prayers and love during this most difficult time. We will offer the novena to Fr. Solanus...you have been in our prayers . With our love, the Keck Family...Doug, Terri, Matthew & Caitlyn (EWTN)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter forwarded to me information re: Ann Marie. My daughter is Sister Madeleine Marie at SSEW.
ReplyDeleteOur hearts are breaking for you at this time. Sr.'s dad and my late husband was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 38 and did survive for 11 years before he ultimately succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
As I know you know, there is much comfort in offering up this time in all of your lives to God to use and unite with Jesus' suffering. However we are human and we will miss our loved one - a lot. There is no getting around that.
I'm praying for peace of mind at this time for all of you. That Jesus and His Mother wrap their arms around you all. In a family as prayerful as yours, your daughters will be loved and cared for, and will always love and treasure their time with their mother. My daughters both do.
I'm sorry you are going through this and would hold you in my arms if I were there. Peace.
Linda Van Dillen
All of the Steltens and Palouceks are in my prayers (you're in my "sock drawer"), and those of my family too!
ReplyDeleteLynn (household sister of Anner)
My eyes are full of tears as I read this. May god grant you and your family peace. Hoping. For. A peaceful entrance to the lord. You family is always in our prayers. My 6 year old said an extra one for Ann last night. Love your family. In MN. Michelle (widen) wilson
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of the St. Vincent De Paul group of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Sullivan, Wi. please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Sending love to the entire Family...
ReplyDeleteDear Fr. Anthony and Ann Marie, I will be praying for you and your family's at Mass this evening. We unexpectedly lost my Dad on September 18th so I understand the sorrow you are experiencing. I am a convert to the Faith and my Dad was Methodist but I had several very kind people who came to the hospital to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. May God grant all of you his love and peace.
ReplyDeleteCountless prayers are being sent up for Ann Marie and her family from the Catholic Community of St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Sullivan, Wi.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you, Ann Marie, Ed, and the children. Your family is a beautiful example of the love of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI just want the family to know even though you are in Wisconsin and we are here In Minneaota your family has been on our mind and in our prays everyday. We love you guys and pray for when the time does come when god takes her away from us here on earth that he helps guide her family through the new journey that they will be taking without their beloved mother, daughter, sister, cousin and friend.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to take this all in as I sit here with heartfelt tears. Ann Marie was my former roommate when I first moved to Mil. I will never forget the many life lessons I learned from her, they have stayed with me throughout my adulthood. Every time I look at an overwhelming sink of dirty dishes I think of what she would tell me in her cheerful, peaceful voice," work through the good times and the bad". I have been heartbroken ever since I heard the news in the beginning. Know that you do not walk this alone, many are praying for you and sharing in this terrible sorrow. I know God has great plans, but right now I can only say I trust in you Jesus, Jesus I trust in you, that's all that' left to do. Love you Ann Marie!
ReplyDeleteMay Our Loving Lord wrap His arms around you as He guides you on your journey. You and Ed have raised the most precious family and we will do whatever we can to help in the times to come. Love and Prayers from your Church Family at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Sullivan, Wi.
ReplyDeleteI am a member of your EWTN family for many, many years, and as such, very saddened for Father Anthony Marie's passing. My humble prayers for all of her family. I am sure she is in Heaven. Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother will be with all of her family giving them strength, and guiding them through their life until they meet again in the joy of the eternal life. Jesus, in You we trust.
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