Seems I'm the only one here who did not know Monica, but I felt compelled to respond. It was that smile that struck me and I knew this was a very special person. So I decided to try to learn something about Monica and was touched by what I read. Monica was blessed to know you and you were blessed to know her. And I am blessed because I have come to know through all of you Monica's wonderful spirit. She reminds me that there IS goodness in this crazy, nonsensical world. How can someone ever really die when they've left so much behind? She made the world a better place for all us. May God continue to bless and keep all of you.

My sorrow has remained with me over the loss of my dear, sweet, and beautiful friend. I have cried daily in regret believing I could have done more for her. Visit her more, open up to her more, love her more. I've kept her cards and gifts and hand me downs so that a piece of her could somehow remain with me in these physical things. The memory of Monica is as vivid as ever. Everyday I say to myself, "I can't believe she's gone". This is my sorrow.

My comfort is knowing that our Lord and our God prepared a place for her and she is ready to meet her maker on the last day and join Him in eternity, as Livvy Mendoza correctly stated in her May 29, 2008 comment, in her heavenly perfect body.

Monica was somebody I wanted to be like; confident, principled, selfless, brave, honest, real. She lived life the way she wanted to live it and she did it with courage and self assurance. I know I'll never be half the person Monica was. Everyday I'm inspired by the way she lived her life. She will never be forgotten.