Mark
Mark
Mark
Mark
Mark
Mark
My speech at Marks funeral 🥺
Hello everyone. We are here today to celebrate the life of Mark. Mark was adventurous, fun-loving, charming, and never far from a good martini. But more than any of that, Mark changed my life. Mark and I were together for almost eight years, and in that time he showed me so much about life, love, and myself. I’d like to share a little of our story, and why he will always hold such a special place in my heart. I met Mark on a dating app. For our first date, he drove all the way from Albany to Cooperstown holding a single red rose. That date lasted four hours, and I remember thinking, oh… this is different. From the very beginning, Mark knew I carried a lot with me—things from my past, burdens I didn’t always know how to set down. He met all of it with patience, kindness, and a quiet, steady love. I used to joke that I didn’t like being touched, but Mark turned out to be the best back rubber in the world. He would say, “Come here, baby, let me pet you,” and somehow all the tension in the world would disappear. That was Mark’s gift. He had a way of making life softer. I’m an introvert, but Mark gently opened my world. He introduced me to an incredible circle of people who loved him deeply. It was intimidating at first, but he made me feel safe, like I belonged there too. And if you knew Mark, you knew his laugh. It filled a room. You could always find him just by listening for it. Over time, Mark became my confidant, my comfort, my calm place. I used to call him my “room temperature butter,” because being with him made everything easier, smoother, softer somehow. He also convinced me to travel—to explore the East Coast, Canada, and Italy. We collected seashells from beaches everywhere we went, filling a little fishbowl with memories from our adventures. But in Anzio, Italy, we found the most beautiful shells of all. Later, without telling me, Mark took two of those shells, measured my ear plugs while I slept, and created the most beautiful shell ear plugs for me—each one displaying those shells from Anzio. That was Mark. Thoughtful. Creative. Loving. Always finding ways to turn ordinary moments into something unforgettable. Even after we parted ways, I would still message him whenever I needed a little “Markism”—one of those simple, wise, funny things only he could say that somehow made the day feel lighter. I’m also deeply grateful that I was given the chance to see him before he passed. We shared a private moment that reminded us both that the love was still there. He gave me a kind of peace and closure I had searched for my whole life. That was one of the greatest gifts anyone has ever given me. Mark was a truly special man, and I am so grateful that I got nearly eight years of life beside him. And this is the story of Mark as he lives in my heart. Besositos, mi amor. Thank you