In December of 2007, a reader, Lois, wrote in asking for Bitchery assistance in finding books to help her take her mind off horrible chemotherapy. Many people wrote to me privately to ask for her address to send books for her to enjoy. Later, in April 2009, Lois found a copy of the Bosoms, and reported in that she was doing well.
Today in my inbox I had a message from Lois’ daughter, which I wanted to share with you.
Dear Smart Bitches Trashy Books,
Within the last year my mother, Lois emailed you. I don’t know
what the email said, I have a feeling she told you that she had breast
cancer. Well not long after that my mom received this HUGE box of books.
I would like to thank everyone at Smartbitchestrashybooks.com for the hours
and hours of joyous reading my mom got from you. I would also like to thank
your readers ( I know you posted her email here on your site) for words of
encouragement to her . My mom loved to read and had a wicked sense of humor
and your website was a big hit with her.My mother passed away on August 16th from complications caused by chemo. Her funeral service was on August 20th. I thank God that her passing was in her
sleep and painless.Again, I just wanted to thank you all for the hours of reading that she
could “disappear” from the real world and not think about the cancer and
treatments she was going through.God Bless you all,
Tara
Thank you, everyone, for helping a kick ass woman face down cancer. I’m so sorry to know Lois isn’t here with us anymore – her email messages were hilarious and she must have been one amazing woman. My condolences, Tara.
Many condolences, Tara. To handle the bitchery, she must have had some sense of humor. 🙂 I’m so glad she got so much joy out of reading.
Such sad news. So sorry, Tara.
My deepest sympathies and condolences to Tara and her family. I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. May Lois have all the romance novels to read upstairs.
My condolences, Tara.
I’m a crusty broad, but I’m crying right now. Life is hard and then we die.
But as Teresa of Avila said, there are condolences. And for me, reading has always been one of them.
I hope this doesn’t sound weird or wrong. All my sympathies for Lois’s loved ones.
Oh, I’m so sorry… 🙁
Very very sorry to hear this news. Condolences to Tara and her family.
I’m very sorry to hear this. I sent her some books, and hope they provided her with some escape and comfort.
My condolences, Tara. Your mother sounds like an awesome woman.
I lost my sister-in-law to this vile disease ten years ago. I am so sorry for Lois’ family and will keep them in my thoughts in the days to come.
Thanks and congrats to the Bitchery for being a source of comfort for others dealing with cancer. Very awesome.
That is so sad and so touching!! It’s especially unfortunate that she passed away from the treatment that was supposed to be helping.
However, it’s great to know that there are still good people out there that helped make her final days just a little bit happier 🙂
My condolences to Tara and her family during this difficult time!
?Isalys
Book ? Soulmates
My condolences to Tara and the rest of Lois’ family 🙁 But I am glad the Bitchery was able to give Lois some escape from her pain.
My condolences to Tara and her family. And also thanks to her for taking time to let us know about how much she enjoyed the site and the books!
I can personally testify that a good read is invaluable during chemo. The authors, the gifters, both of you know that Tara is sincere in the comfort Lois got from all of you.
I’m sorry she’s gone – this is a cruel and unpredictable disease. My sympathy to her family.
Oh, man, that’s awful. My own mother died of ovarian cancer a few months ago, so I know the feeling all too well. What a wonderful thing for Tara to do, taking time to thank the people who made her mom’s life brighter in her last days. I know I wasn’t up to it when I was in her position.
Very sad news, but may Lois rest in peace.
My heart and prayers go out to Tara and the rest of her family.
That gave me a few tears since I recently also lost a mother to cancer, my condolences also.
All you bitches are so wonderful out there.
Thank You Ladies, for being with bitches everywhere.
An image in my head of this woman reading books with guaranteed happy endings is making me choke up.
Prayers to the family.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Tara, condolences to you and your family.
Such sad news. Condolences to Tara and the rest of Lois’ family and friends.
*sigh* I remember when we first heard from Lois. It’s always a terrible tragedy when one reads news like this, but it’s good to know she and her family found some comfort in the efforts of the Bitchery.
Condolences to Tara, and all of the family.
Tara, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your mom sounded like a really cool woman. I hope that wicked sense of humor helped her and your family through what must have been such a difficult time. My condolences.
My sympathies to Tara and family.
Sending prayers out to Tara and her family and friends.
🙁
This kind of community support for a reader makes me proud to read and write romance.
Just want to add my condolences to her family and kudos to SB.
Little kindnesses count for a lot to people who need them(been there) and thanks for doing your part make the world a little kinder
I am so sorry to hear about Lois. My prayers, thoughts and sympathies go out to you, Tara, your family and all of Lois’ friends. I think that the Bitchery is the most awesome group out there and what you all do here makes this planet a brighter place. Peace and blessings to all of you out there.
Sniff
Hugs to Tara and her family
Sympathies to Tara and family. My mother had ovarian. Distraction was a welcome thing.
Tara, I’m so sorry. All the best.
So sorry to hear about Lois. My sympathy to her family.
I’m so sorry. ((HUGS))
There are hardly enough smart bitches as it is, and now we are one less. So sorry for your loss, Tara, and ours. Your mom was a special woman – we know because she had such an awesome daughter.
My sincere condolences, too, to Lois’s friends and family. While the departed are still remembered, with love, joy and respect, we have not lost them. They continue to influence our lives, and the way in which we see the world. My dear friend Talpianna, who sometimes used to post here, died a year ago today, on 25 August, 2009, after a gruelling final illness, and not one day has gone by since when I have not thought of her; her friendship became a permanent part of me.
Lois, too, was abviously a great lady, with courage, humour and determination, and it is fitting that she should be mourned and honoured here.
My condolences to Lois’s family and friends, you are in my prayers.
What a fantastic thing to do, Tara – to take the time to say thank you. Your mum sounds like she was a very special woman.
I’ve only been accessing this site for a few months and have had some of the biggest belly laughs. It has been an absolute delight to be able to share my previously semi-secret passion with the Smart Bitches community. I didn’t know about your mother until today but I can well believe that she would’ve felt uplifted by the support, sisterly love and humour of the SBs.
I wish you, and your family and everyone who loved your mother, all the very best.
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