I wonder if the word neighborhood can sufficiently convey our community here. Where I grew up, you treated your neighbors like family because they were the ones who were there when your blood family were across town or across the country, helping you hold on until your family could get there for you. Or if your family couldn't get there. ita did so much to build our neighborhood. And it is our honor and pleasure to be the best neighbors we can to her family.

Community is in itself an explanation. It's like the proverbial Village. we built it and it is ours and she was a major part of it.

Family, to family, means blood. They are the ones who produced her and watched over her as she grew into the wonderful woman we got to know online.

Just my 2 cents.

I think "community" works pretty well.

I think community comes closest to what we want. Not all neighborhoods are communities, and not all communities are built by or from neighbors. Community implies a commonality, which is what brought us together with ita. Well, many commonalities.

Many, many thanks to those composing the obituary. And yes, to handoffs. I hope you know I'll help as needed and as I can, even if I haven't been especially vocal.

I dreamed Marshall Stacker was cancelin' the apocalypse, and was overjoyed because it meant ita would come home. And then I woke up.

In the same way that we take care of each other, we also take care of anything that is important to each member of our community.

Family was of utmost importance to ita. Her deep connection to her mother, father, sister and extended family was always in evidence. As a result, her family is of utmost importance to us. We are so thankful for their daughter, and for the impact she had on each and every one of us. Right now everyone who was connected with ita in any way is feeling a profound loss. There is a gaping hole where she should be. I just want to thank her blood family for the fact that ita was a foundational part of this "found family." If our pain is this great, then we know that their pain is orders of magnitude greater. I hope they know, that they are part of our large extended community and we share in their loss, and will do anything possible to support and help. While they may not know them personally, there are thousands of people that, due to their daughter, would move mountains for them.

That is a beautiful statement, Drew. So much heart in it, and I defy anyone whose last name does not end in "speare" to put it better.

Drew, that was... everything. That's it.

Perfect.

Does ita still have family here in New Orleans? is something I keep thinking.

Aw, Drew. So beautiful.