Video Montage

The funeral home chose from the thousands of photos we gave them (no mean task!) to create a video image of Karin. It runs for 20 minutes and can be seen at http://www.mem.com/movie/MovingMemories.asp?ID=2761956. The video ran continuously at both Visitation times and at the Reception following the funeral.

New posts

Please note that there are new posts back to the funeral, Dec. 19. After scrolling through the current page, you will have to click on "older posts" to get to all of them.

I leave this weekend to go home for a week. I am being replaced by a cousin from Canada who is coming to spend the week with the kids.

Christmas in the Faulkner House

Karin, the ultimate organizer in my shadow, had purchased all the gifts online. Boxes have been accumulating inside the front door for the past few weeks. Cousins, detained by the weather, helped with the wrapping. There were smiles and laughter this morning, but we lacked the traditional movie of the children waiting on the steps (that would have been difficult anyway with two 18 month olds!). Also the joy and sparkle that traditionally accompanies Christmas Day were tarnished.

Kevin with Santa

Kevin decided that he was ready to visit Santa. However, he did not want to wear the Polar Bear sweater his mother had intended. After standing in line for an hour, he was unsure of this venture. Santa and his elves remembered us immediately and again expressed their sorrow. Santa's mother is doing a bit better. We sat on the floor in front of Santa and watched a few children behind us in line have their photos taken, then he reluctantly allowed his photo to be taken with Daddy, but definitely not ON Santa's lap nor would he speak to Santa. For Kevin, the best part of the experience was watching the photos being printed and coming out of the machine.

Santa Visit

Kevin is having a very hard time. He did not want to wear the new polar bear sweater Mommy had bought for him to wear for his Santa picture, and he did not want to visit Santa. He stayed home with Daddy while Grampy, Heather (nanny), and I took the babies to see Santa. They were very good as we waited in line for an hour. One of Kevin's preschool teachers was in line also with her daughter. When it was our turn, Aria cried on Santa's lap, so I had to sit with Santa to make this picture happen. Santa was intrigued with the adopted children and was asking multiple questions and declaring that parents who adopt are the finest people in the world. All of this conversation was happening while the photographer was trying to get a decent photo. Apparently, Heather was saying that each shot was not good enough causing the photographer to become irritated that it was taking so many shots. I finally told Santa that the children's Mommy had passed away a week ago today. He was shocked and dismayed. Tears started rolling down his cheeks. When I told him that she had kidney cancer, he said that his mother was dying of kidney cancer, and he hoped that she would live until he arrived on Christmas as he could not leave town until he had completed his job. Grant said, "We are sorry to put a damper on your day." He replied, "Damper on MY day?" His glasses fogged up and the photographer had to clean them for him. Grant comforted him while the long line waited for Santa to regain his composure.

Heartwarming

About three weeks ago, Karin and Steve's church announced a very special gathering to pray for and sing carols to Karin at their house on December 21 at 6:30 PM. The plan went forward with the alteration of praying for the family. Close to 40 people encircled the house, each holding an unlit candle. The first person ignited their candle and said a prayer, then lit the candle next to them. Each person prayed for the family until the entire circle glowed in candle light. Then they sang a few carols before leaving the yard. It was a beautiful, moving time with holiday overtones.

Newspaper eulogy

A cousin's husband, Tom Rivers, is a journalist. He wrote a piece about Karin for his local paper, The Daily News, Batavia, NY:


Tom Rivers: Praising God in the face of a tragic loss

Thursday, December 18, 2008 12:37 PM EST

Another day, another blog entry from Karin Faulkner about her children. This lady is over-the-top ga-ga about her kids. I find her writings very amusing and sweet.

Karin, 35, is my wife's cousin. She wins the award for the purest heart of any adult I know. Nine years ago my wife and I attended Karin's wedding to a super guy named Steve. Their first dance together, done in ballroom style (they had taken lessons for weeks ahead of time), with them beaming into each other's faces, is something I'll never forget.

Four years ago they adopted a baby boy, Kevin, from Russia. Karin soon started posting daily blog entries about her son. She noted his achievements and shared cute stories about things he said and did -- ending the sentences with multiple exclamation points and smiley faces.

My wife and I got a kick out of the blog, and were happy to see Kevin so enthusiastically embraced by Karin and Steve. They live in North Carolina, where Steve is a computer guy and Karin, a stay-at-home mom who designs and runs Web sites. She's very creative.

This year, the Faulkners adopted two more children: Kien and Aria, both 1 year old, from Vietnam. Karin blogged about the adoption process and the family's excitement over welcoming the new youngsters. Kevin was eager to be a big brother.

Karin added many photos of the expanded family, including Kevin in a T-shirt that boasted he's a big brother to twins. Steve was always smiling in the photos while Karin had at least one kid clinging to her leg, arm or waist.

In early September, Karin wrote a blog entry titled, "Shocking News." Her persistent lower back pain was caused by a malignant fist-sized tumor on her right kidney.

During the next three months, she would give frequent updates about her treatment, surgery and radiation. She often wrote about the friendliness of the doctors and nurses, and she would praise God for the success of a day's treatment.

She often thanked her friends for their encouragement, for sending over meals and helping in so many ways.

I assumed the cancer was just a little blip on her life's journey. Last week, Karin got pneumonia. On Monday, she died. Many of us, those who know this sweet lady, are absolutely devastated.

No one should die so prematurely, and so agonizingly, especially someone who has opened her heart and life to three young children.

I am so sad and angry about the unfairness of the whole thing.

Steve, Karin's husband, has maintained Karin's blog during the past 10 days, writing posts to let her friends and family know how she was doing.

Steve refused to be bitter in a blog entry on Monday, informing everyone that Karin had died. He wrote in her style, with exclamation points, even praising God that her pain was over and she was in a better place. Steve titled the entry, "God is Good."

"Our life together has been a wondrous love story, a great adventure, with many joys and many struggles -- great expectations, great disappointments, and great joys! True life!!! Well lived!!" Steve wrote.

"Though we will miss her greatly here, at this moment I can think only of her and the joy she is being freed to -- perfection and joy -- the world she always tried to make reality here on earth!! :-)"

God bless you, Steve.

Tom Rivers is a general assignment reporter who also writes columns, which are published alternate Thursdays.

Blizzards and backlog

About 30 family members traveled from afar. Due to the extreme weather conditions across the northeastern part of the country and Canada, most were not able to leave on schedule. Saturday, we enjoyed a house full of family. In fact, we think that Karin orchestrated this storm so that everyone was forced to spend more time together. Most were able to get out late Saturday or Sunday. Some were here until Monday and even Tuesday! :)