Thoughts of Remembrance of our Daughter, Sister, Friend, and Colleague, Alissa Mari Cole
Thank you for joining us here today to honor Alissa. Alissa loved the life she lived here at home in Rochester and in Fredonia. She was able to touch many lives in many different ways, in such a short amount of time. We all cherish these precious memories of every moment spent in her presence.
Alissa loved and cherished her family more than anything, especially her little “big” brother, Johnny, and of course our Labrador, Penelope. She made us all feel very special every day with her loving smile and compassionate words. She shared her love of life and deep faith with everyone she met. The simple things in life were important to Alissa; like watching the sun set, listening to the rain fall, or seeing wild daisies bloom. She saw beauty in everyone and everything. She had the words Live, Laugh, and Love in every room of her home. She truly Lived simply, Laughed freely, and Loved deeply.
Alissa knew at a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She had several very special teachers and mentors that made a profound impact on this decision. Her 3rd grade teacher, shared this memory “Alissa was on her way to the hospital for an MRI, and I had just begun the day with her classmates, we spoke about keeping Alissa in our thoughts while she was at the hospital – and who should appear at the door, but Alissa with her parents. She came to give a friend a card she made with a get well wish because she had sprained her ankle the day before. Alissa said she always appreciated cards sent to her throughout the year. Needless to say, it was difficult getting back to the lesson at hand. I remember saying to the class what a wonderful lesson we learned from Alissa today – Think of others and do something kind for them.”
Alissa graduated from Fredonia Central High School in 2009, and from Fredonia State University in December, 2013 with a dual degree in Elementary General Education and Special Education, with a Middle School English Language Arts Extension. At Fredonia State University’s College of Education, Alissa’s passion for teaching will always be remembered. In the words of faculty and staff “Alissa represented everything good about a teacher. To Alissa, educating children, our future generations, was more important than any other profession.” Alissa pursued her Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum, Specializing in Students with Significant and Multiple Disabilities from the Warner Graduate School of Education at University of Rochester, graduating in May, 2015. Professors at Warner shared this of Alissa “Alissa made it her passion to learn and work with students that needed the most support in a classroom. To find happiness and joy in a profession by valuing and prioritizing the happiness in others is perhaps the best gift any educator could ever give the world.” Here is a quote of her own from her philosophy paper, written in July 2014, “The most rewarding outcomes I find in this profession are experiencing the student’s comprehension, joy, and pride in their achievements; they may face numerous obstacles again and again, but when there’s a will there’s a way and I love being a part of the support system to make it happen.” These words rang true throughout her three years teaching.
Alissa returned to graduate study again during the summer of 2016 to add additional certifications in Early Childhood General Education and Special Education, fulfilling her education goals and becoming an inclusion kindergarten teacher.
Alissa loved being an inclusion kindergarten teacher. And she loved her school, the Theodore Roosevelt School #43 in the City of Rochester School District. She loved her colleagues and her classroom, but most importantly she loved each child that came into her classroom. Not only was it important to Alissa to academically teach her young students, she also shared love and compassion, and respect for themselves and others through her own strong faith. She gave them food when they were hungry, mittens to warm their hands, books to take home, and teddy bears to hug at night. She prayed for her children every day. In Alissa’s words “I love each of my students unconditionally and what they give me in return is so much more than I could ever give them!” One of Alissa’s closest colleagues said “I often feel her presence when I am listening to a child rather than talking to the child. She taught me and reminded me of the gift we teachers have. She was an exemplary teacher.” To honor Alissa’s memory and her love of daisies, her colleagues planted daisies around the school’s garden.
Alissa was a faithful servant and teacher to the young, the needy, the sick, the poor, the hungry, the elderly, the homeless, and everyone that she met. As a childhood cancer survivor, Alissa was very dedicated to children with cancer. She grew up as a Camp Good Days and Special Times camper, and later became a summer counselor for young campers for the past several years. The very special people of Camp Good Days share many of the same values and principles that Alissa had. See the good in everyone and everything, be honest, be kind, be compassionate, always be humble, and never give up. Words cannot describe how important Camp Good Days is in our lives. We have received love and support from them since Alissa was first diagnosed with brain cancer at age 7. We are very grateful for our Camp Good Days family.
Alissa was also very dedicated to her many friendships, even when life got busy or miles separated her from them, she always thought about her friends and the many things they accomplished together, and when she would see them again. In the words of dear friends “Alissa meant so much to us, she was sunshine, hope, joy, faith, and love all rolled into one impossibly wonderful person.”
Alissa did not have a mean bone in her body. She genuinely loved everyone that she met. She was truly a selfless person, always putting others needs before her own. We would like to share some words of wisdom that Alissa thought were truly important in life:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
– St. Mother Teresa
We thank God for Blessing us with the beautiful person that Alissa was, and always will be.
Alissa, we love you and miss you, but you are always with us. See you in the sunshine!
Thank you,
The Cole Family
