Last night at 6:16 pm, I had a call from a former student of my Voice and Piano Teacher, Suzanne Ferris Hammer, telling me she had passed away from Uterine Cancer after a 2 and a half year struggle. She passed at 2:38 p.m. that afternoon, March 5th. I was told where the services will be and will be further informed of the arrangements as they are finalized.
I had known Suzanne since early piano and later, voice lessons. That was 30 years. When while I was in college, she told me one day with a smile, "Well, Rosie, I've taught you all I know..." I didn't want to stop seeing her every week. I didn't have to. We went out every Saturday, before my Dark Ages set in. We had cappuccino and brioche, spent hours in bookstores and in New Hope, Pa. She took me into Manhattan many times, showed me her "old neighborhood" on the Upper West Side. Taught me how to sing English Art Songs, Madrigals and Mozart arias. I was in a few of the plays she directed, even. As much as I hated acting, I'd do anything for her. She was my surrogate mother, my best friend, my sister. Our birthdays were 3 days apart, and she always picked up a Horoscope book for me when she got her own. She was into metaphysics and crystals back in the '50's, before it was "cool". The one piano piece I'll always associate with her is Shumann's "Scenes from Childhood". She loved Yorkshire Terriers, and at the time of her death owned 4 of them. I'm sure she made provisions for them.
Her husband, Emmanuel, ("Manny" to everyone else) passed in 1984. They had no children. So she "adopted" a few of her favourite students. I was blessed to be one of them.
As for my previous posting, I have no confirmation of my nemesis' demise. I don't expect one. Suzanne filled the void my so-called "dysfunctional" family left.
I don't, well, DIDN'T need anyone else.
So, just a note about the kittehs. I have plenty of food for them, at the expense of my own pantry, but no matter. THEY are my family now.
I intend to keep writing, only on another site. I've made friends there. It's a creative writing site, and very cathartic.
I hope whoever comes across this, even in bitter curiosity, has peace in their lives, as I mean no one malice, and never did.
Goodbye from the Royals.
The Queen Mother is Dead.
I had known Suzanne since early piano and later, voice lessons. That was 30 years. When while I was in college, she told me one day with a smile, "Well, Rosie, I've taught you all I know..." I didn't want to stop seeing her every week. I didn't have to. We went out every Saturday, before my Dark Ages set in. We had cappuccino and brioche, spent hours in bookstores and in New Hope, Pa. She took me into Manhattan many times, showed me her "old neighborhood" on the Upper West Side. Taught me how to sing English Art Songs, Madrigals and Mozart arias. I was in a few of the plays she directed, even. As much as I hated acting, I'd do anything for her. She was my surrogate mother, my best friend, my sister. Our birthdays were 3 days apart, and she always picked up a Horoscope book for me when she got her own. She was into metaphysics and crystals back in the '50's, before it was "cool". The one piano piece I'll always associate with her is Shumann's "Scenes from Childhood". She loved Yorkshire Terriers, and at the time of her death owned 4 of them. I'm sure she made provisions for them.
Her husband, Emmanuel, ("Manny" to everyone else) passed in 1984. They had no children. So she "adopted" a few of her favourite students. I was blessed to be one of them.
As for my previous posting, I have no confirmation of my nemesis' demise. I don't expect one. Suzanne filled the void my so-called "dysfunctional" family left.
I don't, well, DIDN'T need anyone else.
So, just a note about the kittehs. I have plenty of food for them, at the expense of my own pantry, but no matter. THEY are my family now.
I intend to keep writing, only on another site. I've made friends there. It's a creative writing site, and very cathartic.
I hope whoever comes across this, even in bitter curiosity, has peace in their lives, as I mean no one malice, and never did.
Goodbye from the Royals.
The Queen Mother is Dead.
