Wendy and Leila Weber at a Conference February 25,2012

My lovely Leila passed away June 9, 2024.  We had done so many things together and she accomplished so much.  If I could manage it and she wanted to try it, she did it – the latest was snorkeling.

Her death feel raw as yet.  It may always.  One of the things I do to help is bring out the song I wrote for and sang at her Bat Mitzvah in February of 1994.  It captured her essence and was invaluable to me as Alzheimer’s was stealing her away.

Recently I was invited to go back to a Community Jewish Passover seder at the Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale, AZ.  This was under the auspices of the Gesher Disability Resources organization, formerly the Council for Jews with Special Needs.  Gesher means “bridge”. This also became a model for inclusion of our Jewish Special Needs population around the country and the world and for other religions as well.

Leila and I went to many of these seders.  “Seder” means “order”.  There is an order to doing things for this holiday.

I knew it was going to be painful for me to go, so I found a way to bring Leila with me.  I took a badge from one of the training events I had attended and put in a photos of Leila on both sides of the plastic holder, which is on a rope that went around my neck.

I felt better and was able to attend and see some of Leila’s friends – some of whom didn’t know she had died. There were also parents I’ve known over the years and other care-givers.

Now I wear the photos when I feel the need and it is somewhat comforting to have her with me in this manner.

Perhaps you know someone who has lost a loved one – or maybe even you –  who could use this idea to help with the feeling of loss.

Perhaps you’d like to check out my EZWay Wall of Fame through this link