26 Comments
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Dr Mary Ann Schran's avatar

Oh wow. I am crying.

LOTs of memories.

I remember her deliberate choice to leave on Feb 29th … and a long crazy drive back to Boston.

Thank you for writing this!

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you for reading, Mary Ann. Sorry to have made you cry. But I do appreciate having people like you who also remember her, and who shared with us that wonderful and sometimes crazy high school experience. ❤️

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willp's avatar

Lovely! Thank you

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank YOU, Will! ❤️

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Lorie Adair's avatar

What a beautiful soul you’ve remembered and recorded here. I feel like I know Mary Grace now, too. 💓

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you so much, Lorie! It has surprised me how much I still think of her, so many years later.

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Sheri Handel's avatar

This is a beautiful tribute. The "I remember" structure works very well!

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thanks so much!!

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Leslie Hunt Palumbo's avatar

Beautiful! Its amazing how 25 years can feel like 25 years and yesterday at the same time....

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

For sure, truly amazing. And thank you!!

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Robin Lanehurst's avatar

Thank you for sharing Mary Grace with us. We don't talk enough about the pain that comes from losing a childhood friend - it's just devastating.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you so much for reading! She was such an important part of my growing up. Have you experienced something similar?

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Robin Lanehurst's avatar

My friend Alyssa passed in September 2023 - such a beautiful, wild soul who left a huge imprint on my life.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Aw, I am so sorry. ❤️ I have been surprised at how much I've still missed Mary over the years — but also at how much a part of me she still is.

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Nancy Barricklo's avatar

I remember Mary Grace telling me about her year as an exchange student at the University of Dundee which led to my year as an exchange student at University of Sussex (the best part of my college experience). Thank you Mary Grace. And thank you, Rosana, for sharing.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

That is wonderful! And it's another great story of someone making an impact on someone else's life by doing what seems to be a small thing. So cool. Mary definitely left quite a legacy in her too-short life. ❤️

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KIrsten wasson's avatar

This brought tears to my eyes. I didn't know Mary Grace very well but remember her intelligence, smile, warmth, and wit. You bring your loving memories to life here.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you! She was a complicated person, and one who left a mark.

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Antonio Scarpitta's avatar

I love this, Rosana. Beautiful!

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you, Antonio!!

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Kay W. H.'s avatar

I miss her. I have so many memories.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

At least we have those. ❤️

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Adam J. Blust's avatar

Beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing this, Rosana.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you, Adam!!

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Patrick O'Halloran's avatar

Very well written. You sound both sad and happy with these memories. That’s how it seems to go.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thank you, Patrick!! You come up in my old diaries, too. 😊 Yes, both sad and happy. I do have many good memories of growing up in Urbana.

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