Wednesday, January 19, 2005
To the Family of Irene McBride,
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother, Irene McBride.
My mother, Henriette Boczar, passed away last year on January 16, 2004 - and that is when I began reading the Obituaries.
I recognized your mother's name from our many summers down the beach at Ortley Beach. I was friends with your brother, George - who I was sorry to learn predeceased your mother.
We stayed on Harding Avenue, at "The Hacendia", (a collection of apartments, with a garden / sitting area in the front of the property on Harding). I was in the 13 - 15 year old range when I knew George. (It's hard to believe I am now 48.) George met my girl friends at the beach, and dated 2 of them. We lived in South Plainfield, and my mother and I would often drive him back to Roselle, with his bike in the trunk (... just a short trip up Route 28).
George used to always tell me he'd never forget my name, Irene - as that was also his mother's name. I liked him, of course - however, at that age I was "dorky"; the friend type of girl, not a "dating" girl.
In any event, my mother would stay on the beach until it was dark, and always enjoyed watching George (and his friend, Jerry) surf. No one in my family has ever surfed, and my mother always wanted to stay on the beach until it closed - and the surfers hit the waves.
Several years ago, my mother started again to rent a house on Coolidge Avenue, and we all went back to Ortley Beach as adults. I have 2 brothers (Jon and David), and a sister, Celine). They all remembered George and send their regards to your family on the loss of your mother, and your brother.
My sister, Celine and I now rent a house for the week in Ortley (always the end of August)- and with my mother now gone, it has become a tribute to her memory.
She was cremated last year, and we have kept her ashes in the house. We decided to inter her ashes on Friday, 1/21 - the one year anniversay of her funeral. So, although a year has passed - we feel that we are all in mourning, once again. (I guess I always will be, in some regard.)
While I cannot believe a year has passed since my mohter is gone - we all remember the good times we have shared and her legacy of always wanting us to be a close family. My father is still here - age 88, and he is really lost without her. We try to fill the void as best we can.
My heart goes out to you and your family in this time of loss, and wish for you "Peace".
In Friendship & Love,
Irene Boczar Stewart
k.i.stewart@patmedia.net
irene.stewart@regulusgroup.com</b></font><br><br>
