A Card of Thanks
Dear Editor: On Aug. 18, 2015, our lives were changed forever with the loss of our two sons Elmer, 26, and Ulises, 25, in the Kramer landslide. We think of them every day.
The outpouring of love, and support from Sitka, Mexico, and many other places, was overwhelming to us. We have saved and cherished every card, letter, message, and remembrance of them from our family, friends and the whole community of Sitka. We would like to thank our family for surrounding us: Maria ‘‘Cuty’’ Diaz, Maria Diaz, Eva Diaz, Javier Rodriguez, Choco Diaz, Silvia Diaz and Hector and Jely Hurtado, Cindy and Hector Jr., and all the family members who traveled from California and Mexico; and the following people, and friends of Elmer and Ulises, who helped us through this difficult time with prayers, hands-on assistance, financial support, food, communications, and all manner of ways that we were ministered to, and by which we were comforted: Alaska State Troopers of Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Craig and Haines, Sitka Fire Department, Sitka Police Department, Grace Harbor Church and Paul and Carolyn McArthur, Barragan family and Pizza Express, Carol Denkinger family, Troy Denkinger family, Sitka Kwaan Dancers, Larry Geise, Gary McCarty family, Grandma Linda, Don Seesz, Brian and Lois Chambers, Mary and Kevin Kambak, Kim Sparks family, Mt. Edgecumbe High School teachers, Levine Family, Libby Stortz, Marcus, Marissa and Blanca Hernandez, Mayor Mim McConnell and Assembly of the City and Borough of Sitka, Grandma Claudia, Shee Atika Inc., Chay and Lauren Estes, Leilani Hamilton, Scott, Janie and Taryn Calhoun, Elaine and Jon Calhoun, David and Alex Campbell, Gary and Nancy Short, Jo and Mike DeBell, Naomi Miller, Mary Louise Hutton, Joyce Pearson, Molly Estrada Kitka, Jane Eidler and Mike Wild, St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church, Zac and family, Jarret Hirai, Anna, Marieka and Ariana, Bernice Brown, Pam, Carl and Sig, Don and Penny Lehmann, Sue Riggs, the Ralph and Chola Molls family, Rob Nielsen, Marievic, Andres and Richelle, Isa and Lea, Mary Beth Wilson, Steve and Kari Paustian, Jackie DiGennaro, Irene and Bill Ferguson, Karen Lucas, Baines family, Ernie Egglestrom and Galen Needham, Katie and John Rose, Logan and Karen Martinsen, Mirasol Family, Michelle, Eva Fish and Steve and Kari Fish family, Cora and Bob Nisbet, Ruth and Frank Roth, Carla, Clyde, Santa Ana Family, Renee and Zoe, Bob and Jan Love, Rod and Carol, Racaza, Krist and Marta Martinsen, Sandy, Dan, Raymond and Rebecca Maldonado, Brenna Mooney, Bob and Carol Protruski, Tracy Dupee, Harvey and Kathleen Brandt, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Sitka Community Hospital, Betty Baines, Gigi, Sitka Sound Seafoods, Myrna Cineva, Andrew and Becky Friske, Clayton family, Lillian Owens, Sandy Baird, Debbie Daniels, Bradley Leathey, Goldberg family, Wathen family, Samantha Cox, and eight pages of names, representing hundreds of friends of our two sons, Elmer and Ulises, much too numerous to list. We wish we could have named you all. Know that we have kept your thoughts and prayers close to our hearts, and we are comforted knowing how much our sons were loved in Sitka, and beyond.
We would also like to send out a special thanks to Kori Lindstrom, for her strength, encouragement, and friendship throughout our time of loss.
With love and gratitude to all,
Guillermo and Lupita Diaz, Sitka
