Megan O'Donnell Obituary

Megan O'Donnell On March 28, 2004 at the age of 17, Megan O'Donnell, a senior at Los Gatos High School, passed away at her beloved home. Even though her body was failing her, Megan's happy and cheerful attitude inspired other people and made them realize their problems were not so great. In spite of her physical challenges, the past year has been an active one, water skiing in Wisconsin, snow skiing in Lake Tahoe, and girls trips to Monterey and to Disneyland with her best friend, Amy Clark. At Christmastime she traveled to Chicago to see her extended family. At home Megan enjoyed writing poetry, and listening to audio books and stories. She used her computer with specialized software to send and receive emails from friends and relatives across the country, as well as to play games, Megan is survived by her father Timothy O'Donnell, her sister Kathleen O'Donnell, and her mother Carolyn McRoberts. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 219 Bean Avenue in Los Gatos, Friday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. with a reception following. The burial will be private. Megan will be buried at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos, California. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to 'The Megan O'Donnell Summer Camp Fund' at Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley, 1165 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95125. Funeral arrangements by DARLING & FISCHER CHAPEL OF THE HILLS, Los Gatos (408) 354-7740.

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Published by San Jose Mercury News on Apr. 1, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Megan O'Donnell

11 Entries

Charles & Sylvia Richardson

April 7, 2004

If words could heal hurt, we would write them. Words can only say we hurt for Carolyn, Kathleen, Tim and all of Megan's family and friends. One of our best memories is the time we spent with Megan and Kathleen and family at Virginia Beach. We often talk about how much we enjoyed that occasion. Let us remember that happiness and know that during each moment of our life we are creating a memory. Let us live our life so those memories are as wonderful as the one we have of our Virginia Beach reunion. Megan, we love you. We love your family and will remember you always.

Great Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Charles Richardson.

Debi Parker

April 6, 2004

There is an emptiness in my heart today. I just got back to Richmond on Sunday after attending Megan's Celebration Service. I will miss chatting with Megan on the phone and e-mailing her. She was my niece and I loved her very much. We will all miss her but we are comforted in knowing that she is in a better place. How fitting that in this week of all weeks we are reminded that there is victory over death. Take care Megan, I look forward to seeing you again one day. Love, Aunt Debi

SylviaFran Richardson

April 4, 2004

I know everyone who knew Megan also knew this day would come. Although Carolyn, Tim, and Kathleen must have surely prepared for it, they could not possibly have known the pain they would feel. Take comfort, my family, in knowing that Megan was most certainly greeted by Granny Lila's warm, loving hugs, her Christmas rocks, butterscotch pies and Granny biscuits. No more worries and pains, Megan. Granny will take care of you now, and in our hearts you will forever be our youngest angel.

Sandy Louthian

April 2, 2004

Megan was always giving, and I will miss her greatly. I believe her words were an inspiration for me. When she e-mailed me an assignment she did in high school last January, she gave me the gift of validation as she discussed the literature we read and discussed during seventh and eighth grades:

“I remember reading some really great books. I remember us reading all sorts of different books such as- Roll of

Thunder, Hear My Cry. I loved all that book allowed me to experience in

its pages. I remember The Outsiders, and that was fun. I could hear about

different ways of life. There were plenty of other books we read and

did appropriate projects that helped us understand the books.”

The next month, just this last February, she sent me another lesson. This time, it was a life lesson. In this case, she was teaching me.

“Take Hold of Every Moment

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk

paper wrapped package:

"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She

has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box

next o the other things he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just

died. He turned to me and said: "Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up

to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses

every day.... I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel

like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever

I want to. The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my

dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see,

listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if

she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think

she might have called her relatives and closest friends.

She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to

think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food. It's these small

things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would

meet, letters...... letters that i wanted to write

One of this days.”

Megan was a gift. I adored her when she was in my class. I looked forward to her e-mails. I know she is in a better place, but I will miss her. I was able to attend her celebration of life today, and she deserved every kind word and more. The memory of Megan O’Donnell will be with me always. Sandy Louthian, Megan’s seventh and eighth grade English teacher.

Virginia Patterson

April 2, 2004

I am Megan's great aunt. We corresponded by e-mail. Megan," we hardly knew you" but loved you.You are with Granny in heaven. She will keep you safe.Love and prayers from Aunt Jenny xxoo

Spencer Parker

April 2, 2004

Ada and I both express our sincere regrets that we could not be present for the memorial service for Megan. I will always remember Megan as one of the most spirited personalities in the family. She was so full of life and was always ready to discuss anything at anytime. I did not get to spend enough time with her due to the distance between us, but I was lucky enough to be able to have a correspondence with her through e-mail over the past year and a half. She always took the time to write to me and I greatly enjoyed our conversations. They were too few. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carolyn, Kathleen, Tim and Loren as they deal with this difficult time. Megan we miss you terribly but are glad that you are now in a place where you suffer no more. Our love to all.

Dennis Parker

April 2, 2004

Wish we all could be there with the family during this sad occasion, but since we couldn't be, I want to let you know we are thinking of you and offer our sincerest sympathy. Though this is a sad time for us all, it brings to mind happy memories of our times spent with Megan and the strong, upbeat mood she kept thoughout our conversations and emails with her in recent times. Distance between us has limited our times together, but I'll never forget the week we spent at Virginia Beach with the family, when Megan was younger; I can still visualize her "instructing" her parents on how she would moniter her blood sugar and when she would need to check it, though mom & dad may have had different ideas. It's ironic that she had such a strong will to try & take charge of so many situations, when in reality she had no control over her lot in life. God rest her soul and God be with you as you cope with this loss.

Lisa Tripp

April 1, 2004

I was the girls' pediatric nurse at Dr. Stemmle's office when Kathleen and Megan were babes, and can still remember their sweet little faces. What beautiful and strong young women you raised, Carolyn and Tim. I am heartbroken at your great loss, and pray for peace for Megan and all who miss her.

Rob Richardson

April 1, 2004

I am very sorry I couldn't make it to the service. I only got to meet Megan on two occasions, 10 years apart, but I will always remember those encounters. My profound sympathy goes out to everyone who was touched by Megan's brief time with us.

Carolyn McRoberts

April 1, 2004

A little angel came down and lifted you from your physical burdens. You were a strong willed young lady with a great sense of humor and a beautiful inner sole. Your sister and I are going to miss you terribly.

In my thoughts and prayers,

Peace be with you Megan

Love, MOM

Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills

March 31, 2004

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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