Stories and Letters

If we love... We grieve

Krista Weller Burns
1974 ~ 2010

 Memorial Celebration
June 12, 2010

(click on the names below to read what they said)

Gathering Hymn: How Great Thou Art
Greetings: Brendan Burns
Opening Prayer: Monsignor Gerald Saborin
Reading: Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepard
Meditation: Because The Lord is My Shepard... Jeffrey and Evelyn Weller
Parents’ Farewell and Remembrance... Jeffrey and Evelyn Weller
Music Selection: Turn, Turn, Turn
Reading: I Am Always with You... Jessica Weller
Siblings Farewell and Remembrance... Scott and Amber Weller
Music Selection: Over the Rainbow... Dennis Bouchard, Fellow Thespian
Reading: All the World’s a Stage... Samantha Burns
Music Selection: You’ll Never Walk Alone... Angie Margiotta, Fellow Thespian
Husband & Step-Daughter Farewell and Remembrance... Brendan and Samantha
Reading: John, Chapter 14 Verses 1-6... Andrew Richardson
Hymn: Ave Maria... Lilly Cataldi Simmers
Closing Prayer: Monsignor Gerald Saborin
Departing Hymn: Amazing Grace

A Love Story

The Tale of Brendan and Krista 

Like a tale out of a storybook, Brendan and Krista met in the quaint village of Wickford, RI on Valentine's Day 2003. Krista was working in her friend's gift store, when Brendan walked in "through the mists of a rainy day". He was British and well dressed. Krista, ever the practical, tried to sell him a lamp. Each weekend after that fateful day, Brendan visited Krista the Shopgirl with the hopes of getting her to go out on a date. The bribes were numerous - lemonade, cookies, brownies, coffee,...then an invitation to join him and some friends for a glass of wine. Still, she said "No, thanks." Eventually, they discovered that they also worked for the same company during the week. They started to email, but Krista still kept refusing the invitations for a date. Brendan discovered that Krista was an actress and was appearing in a  local production of Shakepeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". On the day that Krista lost her job, Brendan emailed her back the entire sonnet from the play. Along with the line.."Up for a glass of chardonnay?" Krista finally accepted. Think it's over....not quite. 

That same night, at Meritage in East Greenwich, RI Brendan and Krista finally realized that their fates had been decided long before they met. Brendan, ever the gentleman, thought that Krista, having had a bad day (losing her job and all), might want to meet some of his friends (for at this point he had all but given up on thinking she was interested in him). While meeting his friends, however, Krista discovered that she and Brendan shared a love for musicals. He asked, "What's your favorite song from a show?" She replied without hesitation,"On this Night of a Thousand Stars - from Evita." She began to sing it - but forgot the rest of the words. He picked up where she left off and serenaded her at the top of his lungs in the middle of the crowded bar. That night they shared their first kiss...the rest is written in the stars.

 Good Times with Our Big Sister

Dinnertime concerts, chasing fireflies at night, fresh bails of hay, rooster crowing at the break of first light. A goat named Adam, a horsey named Barron, chicks in the mail, drying flowers from the garden. Climbing the apple tree, slip-n-slide when it was hot, swimming at Grandpa and Grandma’s pool, trips to Wakefield where piano was taught. The Washington County Fair, Mancini’s Hardware, reading books at the Wickford Town Library and catching fish with Dad at the town docks. Saturday mornings at the YMCA, swimming as guppies, minnows and sharks, sometimes in the afternoon, we’d hit the swings at Wilson Park. A few years later, riding lessons, jumping fences. Remember the summer when you played the Tin Man and I was the Scarecrow? Who could forget Barber’s Pond, I think we went fishing there too. We would always watch the A-Team and Star Trek, or was it Scarecrow & Mrs.King? When you were a teenager, you definitely had a James Bond thing. Beatles, Beatles, Beatles, is all we heard for a while. Sweet dreams are made of these.

Thanks for making us smile.

We love you Big Sis. My "Big Sister" Krista  

My whole life I wanted an older sibling.  Whenever I asked my mom and dad for one they would tell me that I was lucky to be the oldest and leave it at that.  Well 11 years ago when I met and fell in love with Scott, my dream of having an older sibling came true and boy did I get the best!  Krista thanks for being my older sister.  I am so lucky to have you to look up to and admire.  I love your passion, creative energy, strength and enthusiasm for life.  I always know I can count on you for advice and help and I so enjoy the time we spend together.  Your niece and nephew adore you and always look forward to playing with their Auntie Kiki :)  You are an amazing individual and I am so proud to have you as my sister in-law.