Speaking for both the Blust Family and the Tiemeier Family, we were so very grateful for so many who joined us at our gathering about a week ago to celebrate Vanessa’s life! We’ve already posted the eulogy that we read at the memorial service, but the real treat was seeing so many faces from so many aspects of Vanessa’s life and our own lives, there to support us and remember our kind (and hilarious) Vanessa. Thank you to all who came (some from a great distance!), who brought such wonderful food and beautiful flowers, who made picture boards and arranged tables and chairs, who hugged with us and cried with us and shared stories and laughs and love. We miss Vanessa so much, but are grateful to have such great support as we grieve.

Here are some pictures from the afternoon. (Click on any image to see the big version – especially for the picture boards!)

A page from V’s daily writing journal from a college class

The pages of a book Vanessa designed when she had her period of remission (before the stage 4 diagnosis) – many of the pictures are self-portraits she took

Vanessa’s 2004 senior thesis project for her graphic design degree – she chose a theme of “Make your mark”

This banner is made up of more than *2,000* of Vanessa’s “Live Sincerely” signs from the last months of her life –  each individual little sign on this banner was about an inch wide

Picture boards! (Can click any to make big and then can click the arrow button to flip through them.)

Would you like your own set of paper items from the memorial celebration?

While an amazing crowd attended the event on March 1, we know that V touched lives around the globe, and there were many people who were disappointed they were unable to attend the memorial service in person (or who forgot to grab a memorial card when they were there). We’d be happy to send the printed memorial materials we had at the service, to anyone! Just fill out this form with your mailing address details, and I will ship the items to you. :) (Some pieces we have limited quantities remaining of, so I’ll include in what I send out everything that is still currently available at that time, first come – first serve.)

Thank you for your continued support. It helps us to know Vanessa lives on in the love of so many others.