Mary Elizabeth Waller’s life ended abruptly on October 1, 2002 when her father murdered her and then committed suicide.  She was only three years old. There is no explanation, understanding or rationale that can possibly make any sense of this horrific tragedy and, unfortunately, nothing will bring her back.

Born into this world on May 29, 1999, Mary weighed in at 7lbs 7oz and was 21 inches long. Her birth was a miracle, in and of itself, as she was conceived through invitro fertilization.  She arrived into the world with her eyes wide open and a smile on her tiny face . . .her zest for life continued until her tragic death.  

The hearts and souls that Mary touched in her brief life were vast. Despite being an only child, she was part of a very close knit family with lots of cousins, three generations of aunts and uncles, her nana & papa, and a large extended family. And, her circle of friends was quite large. Mary was a ray of sunshine to everyone that had an opportunity to spend time with her and her death has forever changed our lives.

Mary was truly a beautiful child inside and out. She was always smiling and laughing about something, and reaching out to family, friends and strangers in an effort to make them smile too.  Her thirst for knowledge and keen sense of compassion was remarkable for one so young.  Some of the many adjectives that describe her personality best include loving, generous, charming, sweet, kind, thoughtful, playful, determined, and intelligent. 

Memories of Mary will live in our hearts, souls and minds until we meet her again.