Valerie Kirkpatrick Gattuso

Valerie was such a joy to know, such a sweet woman.  She always seemed happy.  I remember last August at Sharon's house, she gave a baby shower for my cousin Kris.   My aunts and Mom sang for Val, and it was a wonderul time of fellowship.  She was a gracious host, and I am blessed to have got to spend a little time with her.  Sharon, we are still praying for you, Gene, Regan, and especially little Kennedy, every night at bedtime with my 2 little girls.  May God continue to be with you all.  Love Jennifer

Val, it is impossible to go anywhere that I don't have memories of us being there together.  As painful as it is to be there without you, I cherish every memory.  I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful sister for 37 years.  I love you.

I read some of your "Kennedy" journals yesterday.  I have never seen a Mother so totally besotted, obsessed, and overwhelmed with love for their baby.  IF any one reads this please pray that Valerie's heartfelt prayers for Kennedy will be answered.

 

Valerie, I feel your heart with every beat of my own.  I thank Dr. Liao for saving your life for 20 months, and I thank Dr. Long for making it possible we all come home together for 11 months.  How wonderful and painful were those months.

 

We joined Fairview Church Sunday night, and felt that if you could have expressed yourself you would have been happy.  Trelany joined AWANA's as a Cubbie Wed. night, and we long to see Kenenedy there also.  Kennedy was so obsessive about calling it "her church".  Jerry Brown still ministers to our hearts there, he always mentions you in such glowing words.  We love you

 

I remember one cold night at the U of M hospital, Valerie could only whisper and then it was difficult for her.  We had just turned off Dancing With Stars (a little something we had to look forward to), some reason she had gotten very weak and lost ground, I was worried and trying not to show it.  She wanted to talk, and I said "Honey, please try to save your strength". She told me many things, but to put in a nutshell, she said "I have learned through this, that the Lord is all we have, and that HE is all we NEED."  She told me she kept thinking of the scripture of the "refiners fire" Isaiah 48: 10-11  "I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.  I will rescue you for my sake, I will not let my reputation be tarnished".  I read that verse this morning, and thought of how every day I saw more purity in Valerie's life, as she was refined I look back and see how her love and attitude mirrored Christ's.  That was her truly her desire.

To know Val was to know how sweet and genuine she is. She would be a shining bright light to all she came in contact with.  Val is a gracious gift, simply doing her Heavenly Fathers work here on earth. I met Val and her family in 1994.  She shared something very special with me, that changed me forever. What she shared with me was Christ. Val you will always be my angel just waiting for your wings. Thank you for touching my life as all others lives you have touched.   Your dear friend, Terry