Sunday, September 30, 2012

Blessed union: Couple thankful to share wedding with mom battling terminal cancer

Jaqueline Diaz-Sua, left, embraces her new mother-in-law, Geri Kidawski, shortly after her wedding ceremony Sept. 23 at the assisted-living facility where Kidawski lives as she fights cancer. (Lenn Stout | The Coloradoan)

FORT COLLINS?? Most brides plan their wedding over a span of months, crafting every detail with precision and care ? down to the last flower petal.

But for Jaqueline Diaz-Sua, 23, of Florida, the perfect wedding required no pomp and circumstance ? only the people she loves and the blessing of her 63-year-old mother-in-law, Geri Kidawski.

Diaz-Sua and her fianc?, Chris Kidawski, 34, began planning the makeshift ceremony three days before saying "I do," flying to Colorado on Friday night to give the family one more memory together before the end of Geri's two-year battle with cancer. She's expected to die in the coming weeks.

"That's what weddings are all about ? to have the people around you who you love there to witness your love," Diaz-Sua said minutes before walking down a makeshift aisle in the garden of Turnberry Place Assisted Living, where Geri recently moved. "That's the most important thing in this world."

Change of plans

The couple, who got engaged July 22, originally had planned a larger February ceremony in Diaz-Sua's Florida home. When it became apparent that Geri likely wouldn't survive long enough to be there, the bride and her mother began drafting a plan to include her "second mom" in their special day ? a gift to her husband-to-be and the woman who raised him.

The February ceremony will feature a slide show from their fly-by wedding in Colorado, she said. Last Sunday's ceremony was as "perfect" as any wedding could be.

She donned "something new" ? a princesslike white dress purchased from David's Bridal the night before. Her hair was swept into a simple, romantic side ponytail by a local stylist at Arabella Salon.

She slipped "something blue" ? graceful royal- blue sandals ? onto her feet.

"Something borrowed" came in the multiple donations from the Fort Collins community ? a donated cake from Baby Cakes bakery, donated photography services from Natalie Beck Photography, donated decorations from Fort Collins Nursery and a donated arch and chairs from Front Range Event Rental ? that put the finishing touches on what started out as a small, private ceremony.

"We have everything," said Chris Kidawski, looking on as flower girl Hailey Meurer, 6, twirled around the property in her turquoise dress. "This is indescribable."

"The people of Fort Collins have been very good to us," Diaz-Sua said. "There are a lot of good, beautiful people in the world ? and I now know that there's a higher majority of those people here. ... They made miracles happen."

As the bride and her mother, Astrith Sua, shared precious moments together before the ceremony, Geri quietly prepared herself in another room, adjusting her wig and smoothing the green flowered dress that hung gracefully from her shoulders.

Linda Bennett, Geri's nurse from Pathways Hospice, grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table and tucked them into the side of Geri's wheelchair.

"You better just take the whole box," Geri said, laughing. "I'm going to be crying today."

The tears started early as she began talking about the young couple and the "love that surrounded" her on their wedding day.

"I called Jackie 'my daughter' from the very first time she called me," she said. "She is such a sweetheart, and I love her so dearly. ... My boys have also just been amazing through all of this. They love me so much. I know they'd do anything for me."

"Lover of life"

Chris said the wedding was a "bittersweet" gift to the ever-giving mother of three boys who always hoped for a daughter ? battling miscarriages, stillbirths and "so many bad things."

Geri's strength and inspiration through trials, culminating in her fight with cancer, is a "constant inspiration" to the three boys, he said.

"Describing my mom is like writing a book or trying to do a crib-notes version of the 'The Iliad,' " he said. "She's a lover of life ... even though she's been hurt her entire life ? she's been controlled, she's been manipulated, she's gone through indescribable things ? you'd never know it. Even in this situation, she's smiling and she's happy. There's never any animosity towards anything that's happened to her. She's very selfless."

She passed on those qualities to her son, said his mother-in-law, Astrith Sua.

"My daughter found someone who will love her and trust her and take care of her for all her life, thanks to Geri," Sua said. "She did an excellent job."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dp-news-local/~3/HY3sNJHn7bg/blessed-union

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    Masked Conn. teen killed by dad called a good kid

    The residence of Alexis Scocozza at 7 Meetinghouse Hill Circle is seen in New Fairfield, Conn., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Scocozza's brother and next door neighbor, Jeffery Giuliano, fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, state police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

    The residence of Alexis Scocozza at 7 Meetinghouse Hill Circle is seen in New Fairfield, Conn., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Scocozza's brother and next door neighbor, Jeffery Giuliano, fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, state police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

    Visitors arrive at the home of Jeffrey Giuliano in New Fairfield, Conn., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Giuliano fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, Tyler, state police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

    The home of Jeffrey Giuliano is scene here in New Fairfield, Conn., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Giuliano fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, state police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

    Students leave New Fairfield High School where in New Fairfield, Conn., Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. Tyler Giuliano, a student involved in Civil Air Patrol at the school was killed by his father Jeffrey Giuliano during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning. Giuliano fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defense, then discovered that he had killed his son, state police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

    A blue tent protects the scene of a fatal shooting in New Fairfield, Conn., Thursday, Sept, 27, 2012. Police say Jeffrey Giuliano shot a masked teenager in self-defense during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Thursday morning, then discovered that he had killed his son, Tyler. (AP Photo/The News-Times, Carol Kaliff) MANDATORY CREDIT

    (AP) ? Tyler Giuliano had no trouble with the law. The teenager loved flying small planes as a Civil Air Patrol cadet and seemed happy as he played an online game with friends Wednesday night. But hours later, authorities say, Tyler was outside wearing a black ski mask and wielding a knife when he was shot by his father, who thought he was a prowler.

    No immediate charges were brought against Jeffrey Giuliano, a popular fifth-grade teacher, in the slaying of 15-year-old Tyler, who was gunned down in his aunt's driveway next door to his own home in New Fairfield around 1 a.m. Thursday.

    "It's something out of a Hollywood script," said John Hodge, the first selectman, or top elected official, in the town of nearly 14,000 people about 50 miles from New York City. He said he couldn't recall another killing in his eight years on the job.

    State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said the boy had never been in trouble with the law, and some of those who knew him described him as a good kid with an easygoing personality. Investigators and acquaintances said they were at a loss to explain what he was doing outside dressed all in black and carrying a weapon.

    "Certainly, that is the major question we are trying to answer at this point," Vance said.

    State police said the shooting happened after Jeffrey Giuliano got a call from his sister next door saying that someone might be trying to break into her home in their neighborhood of attractive colonial-style houses. Giuliano grabbed a handgun and went outside to investigate, troopers said.

    He confronted someone in a ski mask and opened fire when the person came at him with something shiny in his hand, police said.

    When police officers arrived, Tyler was lying dead in the driveway with a knife in his hand, and his father, in a T-shirt and shorts, was sitting on the grass. Detectives informed the elder Giuliano several hours later that he had shot his son, Vance said.

    "All in all, it's a tragedy," Vance said.

    Police were investigating whether the father's gun was registered.

    No one answered the door at Giuliano's home or his sister's.

    Tyler was a student at New Fairfield High School and a Civil Air Patrol cadet. Some of those who knew him said he enjoyed spending time with his family and flying gliders and small planes. He was adopted by Giuliano and his wife a few years ago, friends said.

    One classmate said many students were baffled by what happened.

    "I just thought it was so weird when I heard because I knew Tyler, not very well, but he was just a sweet person and he always made everyone laugh. I met him in the chorus room, actually, and he just wasn't the type to do what happened," said Erin Pallas, 16. "So it didn't make sense to us. It doesn't make sense to the student body."

    Brett Rasile, a 14-year-old friend, said he and Tyler were playing an online game called Minecraft while talking and laughing together via Skype until about 10 p.m. Wednesday, when Tyler said he had to go to bed. Brett said Tyler wasn't in any trouble that he knew of, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

    "Same old Tyler. He was perfectly fine," Brett said. "He didn't really leave any evidence, any hints towards what he would do."

    Alicia Roy, New Fairfield superintendent of schools, said the elder Giuliano grew up in the town, holds summer music and zoology camps for his students and plays guitar in a local rock band that raises money for charity. He is affectionately known as "Mr. G" around Meeting House Hill School.

    "He was the teacher you requested in the fifth grade. He was a great teacher. All the kids loved him," said Rosemary Rasile, Brett's mother.

    Brian Wyckoff, 17, said Mr. G "was always walking around with a smile on his face. He always says hi to everyone."

    The high school stayed open late to provide grief counseling for students and parents.

    "The community is deeply saddened, and our hearts go out to all the family members," Roy said.

    ___

    Associated Press reporter Dan Sewell reported from Cincinnati. Pat Eaton-Robb and Stephen Singer reported from Hartford, Conn. AP video journalist Ted Shaffrey also contributed to this story.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-09-29-Masked%20Son%20Shot%20Dead/id-a3c6ae5b18b64e31b5b058ad617ef683

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