4/14/08: Two years ago today 4:50am Charlotte "GOO" LaRuffa passed away...so with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye I say " WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA and MISS YOU MORE EVERYDAY"

 

4/7/08: Well...its coming up on that time of year...when we all remember Grandma Charlotte..we are coming up on her 2 year anniversary of her passing...lets all REMEMBER the good..and there is a lot of GOOD to remember..

 

1/22/07: For those of us that remember Grandpa. It was 25 years ago today that he passed. Gone but not forgotten...RIP

 

10/18/2006: HAPPY 87TH BIRTHDAY GRANDMA...WE ALL MISS YOU VERY MUCH AND LOVE YOU EVEN MORE...YOU ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE CORNER STONE OF THIS FAMILY...YOUR MEMORY WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON.....GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN....

 

4/14/2006-    5:06 AM Eastern TIme...IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS AND A HEAVY HEART THAT I WRITE THIS CHARLOTTE "GOO" LARUFFA HAS PASSED AWAY.  MAY SHE REST IN PEACE OCTOBER 18,1919- APRIL 14, 2006. I LOVE YOU GRANDMA...... 

 

TRIBUTE TO "GOO" by John Sica

 

Charlotte, Goo, mom, grandma, Aunt Charlotte.

 

These are just some of the names we know her by. But regardless of whatever you called her, anyone who knew her could call her friend. Because of that is what she was, to all who knew her. In fact I think we can add another name to the list, one that we probably never called her, but maybe with our prayers, we can start.....SAINT. She lived a life of service. Her entire purpose in life was to help others, make others happy. She was selfless. No matter how poor she was, no matter if she was sick, or if she was tired, no matter what the weather outside, if you were coming to visit she would shop, she would clean, she would cook. No one could walk into her house without being fed. She was an unbelievable cook, she took a lot of pride in her cooking, and rightfully so. It is fitting that so many of your children, grandchildren, and I would dare to say that someday her great grandchildren and beyond, are in the business of feeding the masses and taking great pride in it.

 

She knew everyone's birthday, anniversary, or any day that was important. If it was your birthday, she would take the long bus ride to King's Plaza to get you the "just right" gift. Even in the last year that she lived in Brooklyn, when she wasn't doing that good and should have not left the house, she confessed to me more than once that she took the long bus ride to Kings Plaza to get one person or another a gift. And at the time, she couldn't walk more than 20 yards without needing to sit down to take a rest. And this past Sunday, Easter, at some point during the day I'm sure you noticed that something was missing, If you were lucky enough to be her child, or one of her children's children, or one of her children's children's children, or one of her niece's or nephew's, or one of her niece's or nephew's children, you probably remembered those little plastic eggs with a few dollars in that she gave out every Easter.

 

She was a proud woman, and it bothered her that she needed to rely on us more and more towards the end of our life.

 

Yet we relied on her for most of her 86 years.

 

More than the food, clothin and other gifts she gave us, was the emotional gifts that she gave us.

 

She listened to our problems

She Gave us advice.

She played cards with us.

She was always proud of us.

 

She Valued family more than anything and stressed the imprtance of keeping our families close together.

 

She loved each and every one of us, family and friends alike, without judgment.

 

I tried to call her every morning, and when coworkers or people I knew would find out they would say that what a nice thing that was for me to do. But I have a confession to make. I wasn't calling her to be nice. Or to cheer her up. It was more to cheer me up. Because no matter what life threw at me from day to day, it was reassuring to hear her voice, to know you had a friend, someone who loved you, someone who prayed for you, a woman of unparalleled strenght. A rock.

 

Now she is at peace. I am certin she is with Iggy and Francie, my mother and father, and all the good family and friends who have gone before us.

 

I think that it is fitting that like Jesus, she died on Good Friday. I'd like to go back to smething I said earlier, That Charolette, with our prayers would be a  Saint. And if there any doubt about that, then I'd like you to listen to a prayer from Mother Theresa which is based on the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, and see if Jesus' wasn't talking to Saint Goo Goo:

 

             When I was hungry, you gave me to eat.

             When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink.

             When I was a stranger, you opened your doors.

             When I was naked, you gave me clothes.

             When I was tired, you gave me peace.

             When I was frightened, you calmed me down.

             When I was small, you taught me to read.

             When I was lonely, you gave me your love.

             I was in prison, you visited me.

             I was sick and you took care of me.

             When I was wounded, you took care of it.

             Looking for friendship, you gave me your hand.

             Whether I was black, or white or yellow;

             Mocked at or insulted, you carried my cross.

             When I was old, you smiled at me;

             When I couldn't find peace, you brought it to me.

             You saw me: full of spit and blood;

             Dirty with sweat, still you said you knew me.

             You were on my side in times of despise;

             In the hour of joy, we were together,

 

Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to Me.

Come Goo Goo, and enter the house of My Father.

 

By John Sica.

 

May she REST IN PEACE....and may her memory go on as long as there is light in the world....GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN........We will all miss you dearly.....but We love you even more.......God Bless you and watch over you....... Our Loving Grandmother, Mother, Aunt, Friend...Great Grandmother......

 

ALWAYS ON OUR MINDS AND FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.......