Dear Michael and Family,

Marilena was a very special young woman. I got to know her at St. Francis and enjoyed our many talks together. She had an intuitive sense when students required extra attention and she was more than willing to give her time and attention to them. She was an intelligent, beautiful person whose kindness was admirable!My life is richer for having gotten to know her. I can’t even imagine how you can process this tremendous loss but please know that thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless all of you at this difficult time.

Jan Ritter

My dear Anna,

I was out in the Okanagan when Enza called me with the very sad news about Marilena. I am sorry that I was not here to attend services. I remember well your deep pride in your girls, Anna. May God be with you and all your family as you grieve your loss.

Love, Leslie

I had the pleasure to have some wonderful conversations with Marilena, I work at St. Francis in Student Services. She was a pleasure to work with, I could see her kind spirt and dedication to doing what was best for her students. She shared with me some of her art work and I told her she truly had a gift. I hope that her work will be published. I am in disbelief, that I won’t see her this Sept. I want to share my heartfelt condolences to Marilena’s family, this is such a great loss. May your strong faith in God help you through this painful time. Love Peggy

Anna and family,

So sorry to hear of the passing of your beautiful daughter. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. May you find comfort in your memories of her and your pride in her.

Dear Mike

I cannot imagine what you are going through. You have always been so proud of your daughters and to have Marilena follow you into teaching… such a joy.

May you be comforted by your faith and precious memories.

My prayers are with you and your family.

Joanne

Chère Anna,

J’ai eu la chance de travailler avec toi à Ste-Anne, il y a plusieurs années.

Je me rappelle t’avoir entendu parler de tes filles.

Je suis maintenant maman de jumelles de 8 ans. Je ne peux pas imaginer la douleur que vous devez ressentir présentement.

Je vous souhaite beaucoup de courage à toi et ta famille.

Sincèrement,

Lyne Lappin

Dear Anna and family,

I was so very shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of your beautiful daughter. Anna, I remember how proud you were of your daughters and their accomlishments. I can only imagine how much you will miss her in the days ahead. My the company of friends and family offer you some peace at this unbelieveably sad time.

Love,

Carol

Jason,

I am so sorry I have no words to comfort you. Sincerely praying for you. May Marilena rest in peace.

Cicy

My prayers are with you, Marilena’s family and friends. Marilena’s service at Father Scollen School was much appreciated. She was a hardworking and dedicated teacher. May God bless you all, and grant Marilena eternal peace in his glorious kingdom.

Jennifer Woo

Dear Anna and family,

I was shocked and saddened to hear of your loss, my thoughts are we you and your family at this difficult time.

Catherine

I attended interior design school with Marilena. We all so admired her creativity and artistic talent, not to mention her fun-loving spirit. Wishing you all peace at this difficult time.

Dear Anna and Mike: I am so sorry for your loss.May your strong faith comfort you during this terribly difficult time.

Sincerely, Ellen

To Marilena’s family,

It was a pleasure having known Marilena. When she would drop by the main office at St. Francis High School no matter how busy she was she always took the time to say hello and chat. My prayers are with you.

Anna: I am deeply saddened to hear of your loss.

My thoughts and prayers go to you Jason and your entire family. I went to desgin school with Marilena. She was always such a bright light in the studio. I wish I was there today to help celebrate such an amazing woman and the great life she lived. I will be praying for you guys. Heaven gained a beautiful soul.

Dear Mike and family,

I am so sadden to hear of your daughter’s passing. My my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Laura Maes

Dear Anna,

My deepest sympathy in this very difficult moment.I am sorry I can’t be with you,I am on my way to visit my mom in Poland.

Your family is in my prayers.

Love,

Iwona

To the Rossi family:

Please accept my deepest condolences on behalf of the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir community. I was deeply saddened to learn about Marilena’s untimely passing. I remember Marilena as a diligent student with diverse interests and talents and a deep sense of compassion for others. She was always humble about her accomplishments and I can only imagine what an excellent teacher she was and how she must have touched the lives of many students. I hope that fond memories of wonderful moments with Marilena will help to sustain you during this time of bereavement. Our sympathies go out to her family, friends and students.

William Jones

Head of Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School

Dear Mike and Family,

I am very shocked and sorry to hear of your daughter’s passing. Please know that my deepest condolences are with you all at this heartbreaking time.

Jason – I am so sorry to hear of the sudden loss of Marilena. You are in my thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.

Dear Rossi family,

I was so sad to learn of the passing of Marilena. She was in one of my B.Ed. classes in the fall of 2007 when she was becoming a teacher, and I remember her vibrant personality, great smile, and commitment to her studies. For one creative assignment she did an amazing dramatic mask; it had such symbolic meaning and I remember everyone being so blown away by her creation.

Please accept my sincere condolences on your tremendous loss, and I hope your memories of her offer you some comfort.

Dear Mike and Anna,

We were shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of your wonderful daughter. May God give you strength during this very difficult time. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Dear Family of Mrs. Rossi,

Mrs. Rossi was a sweet, funny, brilliant, amazing person! I never had her as a teacher but I had many conversations with her desires to run a bunny farm instead of teaching because the school board could be such a pain in the butt. She was a deserving teacher who deserved a permanent position at St. Mary’s High School. She will be in my heart forever.

Megan Roda

Dear Anna and family,

I am saddened to hear of Marilena’s sudden death. I worked with Marilena briefly at Father Scollen and also this past year through Kara. Her kind heart and dedication was evident through her work and interaction with students. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you cope with this tragic loss.

Dear Mike and family,

It is so sad to hear of your daughters passing My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dear Mike and family,

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Joyce

My thoughts and prayers go to you Jason and family through this difficult time. (Uncle Val’s partner – Lorraine)

Anna, Michael and Liz

Our hearts and our prayers are with you.

My heart and prayers are with you Anna and your family at this time.

Dear Mike, Anna, Lizzie, and Jason

I was saddened to hear about the passing of your beloved wife, daughter, and sister Marilena.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and may God hold you in the palm of His hand during this time of grief and loss.

Teresa Secreti

Dear Rossi Family;

I graduated in 2009 and worked with Marilena at Father Scollen School. She was a wonderful teacher and a great co-worker. She always had a kind word and a beautiful smile. We had many wonderful talks as we both were learning new skills as we learned to teach. I lost my son less than a year ago and have a poem I wish to share with you that was given to me in grief counseling.

We cannot control the movement of time,

nor can we control our own destiny or the destinies of those we love.

But we can take comfort in knowing

that those who have lived in our hearts are never really gone.

for as long as we keep them with us,

in our hearts and our thoughts,

they will be with us always.

For love, which is timeless,

never ceases to exist.

My prayers are with all of you.

Lorraine Brown

Dear Mike, Anna, Liz and Jason,

We loved our godchild, Marilena, very much and we will miss her dearly. She will always live on in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

Take comfort in the fact that she has touched and enriched the lives of many people and she will be remembered by everyone.

We are all in God’s hands.

With love,

John and Tonie

Anna,

I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to you and your family.

Dear Mme (Anna) Rossi,

My sincere condolences to you and your family. I did not know Marilena very well but do remember the days that you brought her to our English class. She always seemed like a very kind, caring and friendly person. I also remember how proud you were to call her your daughter and to share with us all of her wonderful accomplishments in life. I truly believe that a large part of what made her such an incredible woman was that you were her mother. I cannot imagine how hard this is for you.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile because it happened.” Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

My thoughts are with all of you in this very difficult time.

Elisabeth Bowman (nee Dajczer)

Jason, I am so sorry to hear about your sudden loss of your wife. It sounds like you had such a rich life together and I am so sad it has been cut short. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Karen

Dear Rossi Family,

I graduated with Marilena from STS back in 1996. While I haven’t seen her in many years, I am deeply saddened by your loss. Please take care of yourselves and all who loved her.

My thoughts are with you…

Barb Engstrom

I am so shocked and saddened at the passing of Marilena. I worked with her at St. James school where I saw her passion for teaching, and she passed that passion on to her students. She was so talented, I remember most her artistic abilities, so creative. A kind gentle soul I will remember. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and her loved pets.

I grieve with many friends at her leaving us so early in life. Worked with her at Rona Crowfoot NW. for some years. Yes she could talk your ears off. She had good ears too. Her heart, I cannot begin to say how big and loving. Saw her a month or so ago. She introduced me to her husband for the first time. She literally glowed she was so happy. Well my friend I know you’re still happy. Just in a different way. Love you tons Marilena and I’ll miss you sooooo much ’til I see you again. Gin xxoxx

Words can’t express my unbelievable sadness at this sad news that no one would ever expect. Marilena was a beautiful person always with a smile I last ran into her and her new husband at Rona just before I left Calgary for the last time, my heartfelt condolances and prayers are sent your way may you someday find peacealways. Val B

Ms. Rossi was my Gr. 10 and 11 Math teacher. More than that she was a friend. She always had a smile on her face and was caring and compassionate with everybody. She loved what she did, teaching Math and helping students. I used to eat lunch with her, and talk about her many passions; horseback riding and Star Trek included. May she rest in peace, she was an influence in my life whom I will never forget.