The web page turned out very nice. I love
you all very much and it goes without saying how very much I love and
miss Kathryn. My heart aches! She is with me always and forever. Love
ya --
Alex Falconio
02/28/06
Kathryn was my cousin. she was the reason i
started dancing. I would not be dancing now but i now know that i must
finish what My cousin Kathryn Mary Bender had started here on earth
Joe Garhan
03/01/06
Like the entire Bender Family, Kathryn was
one of those happy faces you can't help but smile back at. Knowing Nick
since kindergarten and being around the entire family through all those
years we all became part of that family, like they were part of mine.
That kind of friendship doesn't come around everyday and neither does
someone quite like Kathryn. She was just as big a part of that family
of friends as anyone. That is how I knew her and so is how I will
remember her.
Jodie Falconio
03/01/06
Kathryn was so much more than my cousin, she
was like a sister to me. From the day she was born, we began sharing
our birthday celebrations together. When I was younger, I sometimes
regretted not being able to have my own, but as I grew up and for the
rest of my life, I will cherish every birthday we shared. We always
called each other "ugly" which stemmed from the shared birthdays. Some
people might thing that it was inappropriate, but that is one thing
that I will always have with her that nobody else will have. I think
about Kathryn everyday and her spirit will live on in all of us. For
those that didn't know Kathryn, I am so sorry.....she would have
changed your life forever.
To Aunt Doris, Elizabeth and Nicholas,
She was and always will be beautiful and
special. I know there are still so many unanswered questions but
cherish all the great times that were shared with her. Those will last
a lifetime. I love you all very much. Thank you for being such
important people in my life.
Melissa Kuhrt
03/01/06
Some of my favorite memories growing up have
involved the Bender (&Falconio) Families. I'll never forget all
of the great times that we've spent by the pool and at the zoo!!
-I remember when Liz & Kathryn were
in grade school and they couldn't get enough of the Sophie B Hawkins
song As I Lay Me Down To Sleep. I'll never forget listening to the two
of them sing it all the time!!
-One of my favorite memories of Kathryn was
our adventure at the zoo last year when we braved the cold and saw the
Winter Magic because it was a tradition! And I'm glad that we did
because last year was definitely our best year!! Especially with our
gummy fights and hiding from our parents :)
~It's still hard to believe that Kathryn
isn't here with us, but I know that we all have a very special angel
watching out over us. I love you and miss you Kathryn!
Lisa Hamman
03/02/06
A beautiful website. Nice job! It made me
smile many times! You are all doing so many good things in Kathryn's
memory and her smile continues to spread and shine through you all!
Best wishes! We miss you Kathryn! Love, Lisa, David, Jack and Savannah
Jessica Mary Falconio
03/02/06
First of all, for everyone involved in the
creation of this website, you did a beautiful job!
Auntie, Elizabeth & Nicholas-
The words "Aunt" and "cousins" aren't enough to describe you. You are
my other mom and my other sister and brother. I am very far from you
all, but you are very close to my heart. Just close your eyes ... I'm
still next door. I love you!
Kathryn-
Auntie gave my boys two of your bears. I can't thank you enough for
allowing us to have a special part of you. I promise to always speak of
you, show everyone the beautiful pictures of you and keep your spirit
alive ... the kind, beautiful, unselfish, gentle soul that you are. You
are missed more than you could imagine. I love you!
God-
Although we can not understand why you took her so soon, thank you for
giving our family an incredible blessing for 17 years.
Uncle Ray-
I miss you and all the birthdays we shared together. I still come to
see you everytime I'm home to visit. Please take care of our (and of
course, your) little Kathryn. I love you!
Jessica Mary
John Falconio, Jr.
03/03/06
Kathryn was one of the most caring people
that I have ever known and after seeing the turn-out at all of the
services I got to see just how many people's lives that she truly
touched. It is very hard for me to grasp that she is gone, even to this
day. Some of the things that I do remember about Kathryn are the games
that we used to play and all the times she would come around with that
grin on her face that only she could do. We all need to step back and
remember that she truly lived every day to the fullest and left nothing
in her life that she would regret. Kathryn lost her father at a young
age and now she will get to spend the time that she never had to get to
know him in a way that they both should have had here on earth. Kathryn
gets to keep her dad company now and he can see what kind of person she
became, and he, like the rest of us gets to see that she is the best
daughter and person that one could ever ask for. It is nice to see the
support from family and friends that is helping the rest of the Bender
family through their tough times. Please God look over Kathryn and give
Aunt Doris, Nicholas and Elizabeth the strength they need to move
forward from this tragedy. Remember we will all be together again
someday.
Kathryn-
Someday you and I will get another game of Cranium under our belts, but
until then I love you and miss you. I will keep your memory strong. And
I just want you to know that I will do what I can to help your mom,
brother and sister with whatever they may need.
Rachel Rizzuto
03/04/06
There is something very strange about being
away from home when something like this happens. You suddenly feel even
farther away, but your heart feels even closer. You also can't believe
that it's true.
I miss Kathryn so much. I can't help but
think of her everyday. I can't help but wish that I could see her one
more time.
Kathryn always told me that I was talented
and that I was going to make it and she made me believe it. She made me
feel so special. But what I really hope is that she realized how
talented and special she was. She made me strong. She reminded me that
there was still good in the world. She gave me courage and taught me to
always stand up for what I believe in. She made me laugh. She made me
work that much harder.
The first time we ever performed together
was when I was in 5th grade. We actually ended up getting married - our
characters that is. It was a memory we joked about all throughout high
school.
I was always young for my grade and I often
thought about how my life would be different if I would have been held
back that one year. I remember I always told my mom, "Well, at least I
would have still been friends with Kathryn."
The memories I have of Kathryn and the
immensly wonderful times we shared together will always be in my heart.
And I will always cherish the way Kathryn and her entire family have
made me feel like I am someone special.
Kathryn - we shared the same fears, the same
love, the same humor, the same dreams. we shared jokes and tears and
frustrations. we shared a friendship. we shared our childhoods and
those crazy years of being teenagers. we shared a song. we shared many,
many a car ride and some of the luckiest handshakes ever in existance.
i love you very much and i will be very happy to see you again some
day. "the times they are a'changin'"
Gail Hinterlong
03/05/06
Although I didn't have the pleasure of
knowing Kathryn, I knew of some of her accomplishments from her Mother.
I am sad that I never got to know her and her spirit. She sounded so
wonderful!!! I am happy that you have set up a web site to honor her
and allow people that didn't know her, get to know her and the impact
she made on so many lives. God Bless her and God Bless her family. Even
though her voice is silenced, her spirit TRULY lives on in everyone she
touched. Amen!