For Krista---From Sammy

Krista used to call herself my step monster, but I can tell you all – she is the best step monster you could ever imagine.
To me, Krista was more of a really close friend, someone who I could confide in, someone who I could trust, someone who I could share my passions with and someone who I could love.
There is a song that we sang together, just one of the many that she taught me to sing. It’s called ‘For Good’ and is from the musical Wicked. One of the lines in the song sums up just about all of what I want to say ‘I do believe I have been changed for the better, and because I knew you – I have been changed for good.’
Krista is so inspiring; I know she has been a lot of people. Yesterday when I was meeting with people, I heard stories of how Krista would help keep people going when moral was low in a group. She was the person that we all looked to, to give us a vote of confidence. She will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life, and I will walk with her words to me always in my heart.
There are just a few things I want to thank her for:
First of all, Thank you Krista for being a part of my life. For all the laughs and conversations, for all the love we shared.
Secondly, Thank you for all the things you taught me. From what moisturizer to use to the extra history lessons to life lessons that are priceless
And finally, Thank you for making my Dad so happy and giving us the gift of a family.

To My First Child, Krista.....A Poem from Dad

MY FIRST CHILD, KRISTA

What I always wanted to tell you but failed to try:

(this was the piece that Jeff wrote and read for Krista at her Memorial Service)

It will forever be plain to me,

 That we loved you first, you see.

Yes, you our First to brave the new world,

Your entrance in dramatic style in New York City, the Great White Way,

Your First home for a while.

First to make us laugh and make us cry.

First to earn your badge of courage,

A band aid on a wounded knee.

First to see Doctor Sandberg for shots in the arm,

You winced and grimaced and bravely stood your ground…

No harm!

First to climb the hill and down the other side again,

Run in the field and play in the glen.

First to be carried on daddy’s shoulders on high,

First to climb a tree, glide on a swing and kick the sky.

And in each Spring in your garden green,

Strip the peapods and berries clean.

And when questioned: Who? What? When? Where and Why?

You merely sigh and say,

“Not I”!

First to watch for fireflies in the night air of July,

First to chase Snipes, Malikas and other fairy tales in the wood,

First to toast summer marshmallows over campfire wood… mmmm.

How good!

First to sit in pride, your smile wide on your first pony ride,

To walk and play in the new mown hay.

First to be churched, baptized and communed…

Ribbons festooned in your light blond hair,

And the long white gown to the ground you’d wear.

First to act out in the school and Christmas plays,

First to dial 911 for mommy’s sake and save the day.

First to take to the father/daughter dance and win the handsome prize,

For, of course, you were always first in your daddy’s eyes.

First to learn to drive, in a way…

Get licensed and grounded on the very same day!

First to graduate from Senior High,

Leave home for college and parts unknown,

To ply your skills on Capitol Hill.

First to hold a public seat,

(How neat!)

To stand for justice and wave the flag so free,

For those who couldn’t stand and be.

That was awesome, your greatest feat,

Strike up the band!

And first to sit high above the Fenway Green,

The brand new press box of the newly sold Boston Red Sox.

Truly you’ve had many firsts,

My Sweet,

Which no one can deny.

But now this first can only make me cry,

To leave so soon with barely a good-bye.

So this day, I proclaim in God’s name:

We thank you sweet angels above,

For Krista was ours First to love.

Make way, today, step aside,

Her grand entrance to abide.

Our dear Krista is yours to love.

Now that she’s on heaven’s side!

Thank you.....

On behalf of Brendan, Jeff, Evelyn, Scott, Amber, Jess, Andy, Z, and C, 

we would like to express our deepest thanks to the Players from 

the Barker Playhouse for the beautiful tribute they held for Krista. 

It was very heartfelt and touching to see all of the wonderful actors 

come together in song and dance in honor of Krista’s life.  We are so 

grateful to everyone who participated. We will remember the night 

for the rest of our lives.  

A Tribute to Krista--From Brendan

This is what Brendan (her loving husband) wrote for Krista and read at her Memorial Service......

There are many words that can be used to describe Krista – who she was and what she stood for
So many good words that I finally selected just two
TWO words I will particularly use to remember her by
You can probably guess the first one – it’s the word from her heart and soul
But I challenge you to guess the second one.

The first word is the word LOVE….. no surprises there
If you think about it - the moment of her creation was an act of love - and then she was born to an immediate welcoming reception of LOVE form her parents Evelyn and Jeff.
And all through her earliest childhood she was adored and LOVED and then her siblings arrived and there was more love around her. And so this bubble of love whose name was Krista grew and grew
There was a constant two – way stream of love flowing in and flowing out of Krista in all directions
LOVE from parents – LOVE to parents
LOVE from a brother and sister – LOVE to a brother and sister
LOVE from grandparents – LOVE to grandparents
LOVE in – LOVE out
LOVE in – LOVE out
LOVE was like breathing for her – it was so natural
LOVE from Aunts and Uncles (And there are a lot of those if you hadn’t noticed)
LOVING Cousins (and there are even more of those)
LOVING Friends of the Family that were like second Parents and second siblings
LOVING DOG
LOVING CAT
And LOVE from her small but growing circle of friends
The sources of LOVE go on and on
And in return she LOVED them all back in her unique and special way
And so it is I believe that Krista was nourished on LOVE
Nourished on the two-way stream of LOVE both giving and receiving

So at the very centre of Krista was this wonderful word and gift of LOVE
When I stood in line last night to welcome her friends and family during the calling hours I heard the word LOVE expressed or used about 500 to 600 times.
To quote a line form one of her favourite movies
LOVE was ACTUALLY ALL AROUND
She was LOVED by everyone that had any form of relationship or encounter with her
It made no difference if it was 5 minutes or 5 years
Krista was able to show people a special kind of LOVE and they all respond with LOVE.
Most of you here know exactly what I am saying because you have shared in that special LOVE
Krista was able to win a special place in your heart and at the same time kept a special place for you in her heart
The BEATLES were right when they sang
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
I am lucky am privileged to share her LOVE for over 6 years.
We were LOVERS, FRIENDS, and SOUL MATES
We had a joyous time together despite some of the extraordinary challenges
Krista loved our adventures to far flung, wild and exotic places like Newport and Jamestown New York, New Hampshire, London, the Caribbean, to name but a few
She loved to swim in the blue waters of Grand Cayman where we went for our honeymoon
She loved New York and London so much she liked to consider herself as a NYLON (An abbreviation for New York and London)
She loved an adventure no matter how near or far
She loved the Ocean and beach like she was still a five year old
She loved good food and was a wonderful chef.
She loved playing scrabble and participating in Jeopardy (from the sofa)
She loved cats and dogs
She loved theatre and film
She loved reading
And she loved writing
She loved her brother and her sister
She loved her friends old and new
She loved her grandparents and all her uncles and aunts
Her niece and nephew
Her step-daughter
She loved her parents
And she loved God
If you feel I missed you out please don’t be concerned
The list is endless
She LOVED life
So in the words of Spike Milligan
"If I could write words
Like leaves on a forest floor
What a bonfire my letters would make
And if I could write words of water
You would drown
When I say I love you"

I must have told Krista she was loved a thousand times
The last words I said to Krista and the last words she heard were the words I love you
And I know that I speak for everyone in this room that We LOVE Krista and SHE LOVED us
So may you rest in eternal peace and LOVE Krista, and thank you for LOVING us so well and so individually
The SECOND words is a challenge to say – I wonder if you can guess it
This word is soooo Krista
The word is…
SUPERCALI-FRAGILISTIC-EXPI-ALI-DOCIOUS
You all know it well from Mary Poppins
And Krista’s dream on stage was to play Mary Poppins.
She LOVED Mary Poppins
She would sing many songs at any time of day or night and for most of my time I really felt that I was married to Mary Poppins. I really do
It was wonderful to listen to the stage performances from Krista – My own Mary Poppins in the shower or in the kitchen when she would be so full of joy she would just sing as if on a Broadway audition.
Krista had a beautiful singing voice
She loved Mary Poppins and loved to sing
Every day was a Broadway show in our house
Songs from WHICKED, EVITA, OKLAHOMA, ALL THAT JAZZ, MARY POPPINS and many many more
I will definitely miss the singing the house will be awfully quiet without Krista
Krista’s love for Theatre and Film became her driving passion and her vocation.
And if you have ever been involved in Theatre or Film you will know how much goes on behind the scenes in all the rehearsals and preparations. It’s a lot of work
Most of us only see the well rehearsed performance on the stage
Krista used to say
Life is not a dress rehearsal
You only get one curtain call and one performance so do it as best as you can
Krista I give you a standing ovation for your role as Krista Weller Burns in life
It’s a joy to experience the theatre, stage and film with you
I enjoyed your performance as Krista and wished it could have been much longer
May you rest in peace In light - and of course - in LOVE.

Impressions of Krista....A Note From Mom

This was the piece that Evelyn wrote and read at Krista's Memorial Service.....

 

 Just born… little bow lips… in the shape of an “O” with a sweet dimple on one cheek. Perhaps “OM”?  I ached to hold you and they kept you so long from me in the hospital… that was the reason I chose home births later on.

I hear you say your first word….  “pretty”  not mama or dada… that was to foreshadow your love of beautiful bling things.

I see you at two…  elbow deep in bread dough with flour on your nose. Just a hint of the great creative cook you would become.

I see you at four years old at the kitchen sink helping wash just harvested tomatoes for canning…  Always ready to join in and help…Your pants got wet from the sloshing so you just took them off and continued with your chore…  bare assed… we have a sweet photo of that!

I see you at five in the chamomile patch plucking the little daisy heads and collecting them for our tea. You knew all the names of the herbs and would take visitors for a tour. How impressed they were as you named purslane, borage, chives, peppermint and so on.

I see you learning how to pet the bees with Grandma Mamms.

I see you lovingly holding your little brother when he was born and help cut the cord when your sister arrived.

I see you at 7 finally found after a frantic hour of searching thinking you had been taken by a store patron.  We find you fast asleep in your sister’s baby carriage on the front porch… You had chosen it for a cozy hiding place while playing hid ‘n seek. 

I see you sitting at the top of the stair, sleepy and rubbing your eyes, crying that it was all smoky upstairs and low and behold, you had awakened us all and saved your siblings from smoke inhalation from mom’s burning Thanksgiving turkey soup pot that she had forgotten on the stove.

I see you at your birthday party leaping into the air to swat the butterfly piñata that we had made together hanging in the apple tree.

I see you reading… and reading… and reading… and watch you fall in love with books, and words and Film and Learning. I marvel at the story ideas that flow from you. I think you must have gotten your love of words from Grandma Betsy.

I see you run, jump, swim, skate, swing, dance, sing, play the piano and ride horses … a person of action.

I see you at the emergency room telling the doctor that yes, indeed there is a splinter in your foot… he can’t see anything… you insist and bravely endure immense pain as he pokes around until finally a one inch piece of wood is removed to his surprise.  Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the last time doctors would disappoint you.

I see you fall in love with horses and later boys… the horse was more worthy of your love then most of the boys until Brendan…

I see you work hard and diligently from the age of 14… first as a camp counselor and lifeguard and then holding down two jobs while in college…

I see you graduate from college and wearing Grandpa Biznonno’s sneakers to commencement.   You knew how much he would have loved to have gone to school.  He never went to school so you honored him on your big day and took him along.

I see you traveling about, in the US and abroad… and everywhere you go you tell me stories of people stopping you on the street to ask for directions… and surprisingly you’d give them as though you’d been there all your life.  

I see you laugh and sometimes get frustrated because people frequently try to guess your heritage, your origins… you’ve been asked are you East Indian, Native American, Asian, what are you anyway? You look people in the eyes and see and embrace the best in all people.

I could go on and on… You’ve given me so many memories to cherish… from the most wonderful to the most heartbreaking…

Thanks for raising your voice in song with me, and for planting the garden with me all those years. I will find you in every melody and see you in every fruit and flower, especially your beautiful dahlias.

Krista, we disagreed, argued, and battled it out as you and I both grew up together… mom and daughter…  I taught you lots but you taught me too. And I thank you for helping me learn more about myself. I am better for having loved you… and so proud to be your mom.

May you be peaceful, May you be happy, May you be safe, May you now see the light of your own true nature, May you be free.  Namaste,  my sweet Krista.

A Special Tribute for Krista--Saturday Night

This Saturday night the Players, from the Barker Playhouse in Providence, will be holding a special Tribute for Krista Weller Burns.  Krista was an important part of their organization both on stage and off and so the players have put together a special tribute to her. The tribute will be a true celebration of what Krista meant to the Players family.  There will be 15 people performing various songs, poems, monologues, dances and scenes.  There will also be a raffle to benefit the Kiki's Sunshine Fund.  The event is BYOB and there will be munchies, soft drinks, coffee and tea.   

Location:  Barker Playhouse, 400 Benefit St in Providence RI

Date: Saturday, June 19th
Time:  7:30pm-11:30pm

Kiki's Story and Obituary

Her life began on April 29, 1974 in New York City, when she was born as the first daughter to stage performers Evelyn and Jeffrey Weller. She was fond of joking with people that she was born in a theatre trunk as her mother and father were just completing a tour as Judy and Jesus in the Boston company of Godspell. Her birth was a rising from the waters of a theatrical stream that nourished her soul with a passion for music, stage, dance and song. She will be remembered mostly for her love of performing on stage and writing screen plays where her list of acting performances and accomplishments ascended throughout her life. Through her acting and writing she connected with so many kindred spirits and made many life long friends. She appeared in productions at Perishable , Curtain Call and the Firehouse Theatres. She most enjoyed her term on the board at the Barker Play House, America’s oldest private theatre club where Krista produced, directed and appeared in the 100th Anniversary Gala - a crowning achievement and wonderful collaboration with her thespian friends.

She grew up on her parents’ herb and flower farm in Exeter with her siblings Scott and Amber and a small menagerie of animals including rabbits, chickens, geese, goats, horses, pigs, cats and dogs. It was no wonder that she loved animals which were always drawn to her gentle and glowing spirit.

She was an accomplished pianist, avid reader, and most enjoyed traveling, the RI beaches, gardening and gourmet cooking .

Her early career was in politics which she studied at George Washington University and returned home to be active in local politics and was elected at the age of 23 to serve on the Exeter Town Council. She worked with the state and local Democratic committees and on the campaigns of Patrick Kennedy, Jack Reed, Myrth York, and Eva Mancuso among others. She also worked in Boston with Rasky-Baerlein Stategic Communications, Inc. , a public relations, lobbying and public affairs firm where most memorable was her involvement in the sale of the Boston Red Sox.

Many will remember her in her role as politician and lobbyist but those pursuits would soon be surrendered to a higher calling. It was the rising passion of theatre and stage that changed the course of her career mid stream and she left the political scene to pursue her true vocation as a writer, singer, dancer and performing artist.

Krista also had a special connection to nature and the spiritual world as well as to the Narragansett Indian Tribe where she worked for the past few years using her writing skills to benefit the Medical Health Centre. She walked in a spiritual path at one with nature and mother earth.

Krista was a devoted to her family and friends and her loving husband Brendan who all brought cheer and joy into her life. The recent arrival of a nephew and niece Zachary and Caroline increased her joy and hence she was to adopt a new name, Aunty Kiki. Krista brought passion, joy and light into every project she embarked upon, and every relationship she encountered. She will be remembered always for her passion and her loving and shining spirit that will glow eternally and light the path for those she left behind.

We love you Krista with all our hearts, what more can we say?

You are the everything in our souls!