Welcome to Diane's Angel Pages

In Loving Memory of
William James "JJ" Wade, Jr. ~
September 22, 1972 - January 26, 2004
and Michele Wade Buonanduci ~
December 31, 1976 - May 20, 2004

MY ANGELS HISTORY:

William James Wade, Jr. "JJ," my only son, died on January 26, 2004 from carbon monoxide. His two sons, Brandon--13 & Jamie--12) found him dead and then less than four months later the unimaginable happened. Michele, my only daughter, mother of four children of her own (also Brandon and Jamie thought of as their mom) died instantly on May 20, 2004 in a car accident, after a woman crossed the center line. Michele's youngest son, Michael--3, was severely injured in the accident. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, numerous skull fractures and facial lacerations. He was airlifted to trauma center at Sentara in Norfolk VA and few hours later moved next door to Children's Hospital of King's Daughters, where he remained in PICU in a coma for a week and then moved to the rehab floor for another week and half. Thank the Lord, Michael is 95% like he was before the accident. I have custody of Michael, Jamie, and Brandon.

May is a special month for me, some reasons are blessings, while others are bittersweet. Family has always been and always will be one of the most important aspects in my life. Over the years, the good Lord blessed me with two bundles of joy. JJ Wade, my bouncing baby boy was born on September 22, 1972 and four years later on December 31, 1976 Diane Michele Wade, a beautiful baby girl, completed our family. January 26, 2004 was the beginning of unimaginable changes to my world.....suddenly drafted into a club a parent never expects to become a member of......
overnight I became a bereaved parent.
My beloved JJ died suddenly on January 26, 2004 from carbon monoxide poisoning and Michele moved in to help me raise his traumatized sons, Brandon--11 and Jamie--10 (ages on 1/26/04). She enjoyed doing things with them and her four children.... Jeremy–11, Trent–8, Morgan–6, & Michael–3 (ages on 1/26/04). She took them to church, fishing, swimming, to the skating rink (even roller skating with them...LOL) and helped with homework too. Mother’s Day 2004 was difficult without JJ here but Michele lifted my spirits with love and caring.... unaware of the unimaginable tragedy to strike our grieving family within two weeks. On May 20, 2004 my beautiful Michele was killed instantly
in a car crash when a woman crossed the centerline.

Coping with the emotional upheaval that comes with the losses is overwhelming in itself but I try to focus on the positive aspects in my life. I never imagined I would be raising children (grandchildren) at my age but I will always do my best to provide a safe, loving, Christian home for them. We have suffered tragedies in our lives and we must learn to live with the sadness. Even though my whole being (heart, mind, body, and soul) will always feel the ache of missing JJ and Michele,
I will continue to follow where God and my heart leads me.

One person can't tell another how to handle their own grieving process because each parent and each child are unique.... which makes each and every loss unique. I pray by all of us sharing our different ways of working through our personal grief, we will be able to piece together parts to continue helping ourselves and each other with one of the most difficult things life will ever throw our way.....the death of our child/children. If we refuse to remember our beloved children because the memories hurt, then we would miss some of the wonderful moments we shared with them over the years
they blessed our lives.

A few of the ways I share my children’s lives after they died is by starting some new traditions...yearly scholarships in their memory at a local college they both attended; a Celebration of Life Ceremony for loved ones from around the world to be held each New Year’s Eve; and cleaning a section of road in their memory. Also, I started writing poetry to put some of my emotions onto paper and possibly help others when they are faced with the turmoil and pain of burying a child. I have written poems about the memories we shared, the painful heartache of missing them, and the unrealistic views
from people that haven’t endured the loss of a child/children.

Mother’s Day is on May 14th this year and I continue to thank God for allowing JJ and Michele to bless my life for the years they were here, the hard part is not being able to spend time with them except through the cherished memories they left behind and spending time with their beloved children. I loved them so deeply and I will always deeply miss them but I have faith in the Lord to continuously provide the strength needed to survive this and anything else the world sends my way by counting my blessings instead of my troubles.

Angels Love Notes

My two sweet precious angels,
In no time you were grown,
After you became adults,
Six "small" angels joined our home.

Our pure love for each other,
Gave many smiles and some tears.
All clouds always had a silver lining,
During your brief earthly years.

When our Father decided,
It was time for you to go,
Only He could give us peace and comfort,
While the small "angels" and I mourn you so.

Sweet memories that we shared,
Are lovingly cherished every day.
Angels love notes are sent to you,
Each night when we pray.

You are warm rays of sunshine,
In the many lives that you kissed.
The holidays are an uphill climb,
And your smiling faces are greatly missed.

Michele, Mike (little Michael's Dad), & JJ in Hollywood, CA.

Hope, Love, and Trust

Hope came with our two bundles of joy
First came the bouncing baby boy,
Four years later on New Years Eve
Our baby girl arrived on the scene.

Love was shared in everything we did,
Then our sadness came, God forbid...
After a mere thirty one years
Our son's human life disappears.

Can you imagine, a brief four months later,
Our daughter goes home to her creator.
Yes, we love and miss them so,
But unfortunately it was their time to go.

Father help us understand,
Dear Lord, You took their hand,
Trust and faithhelps me believe,
Only You can give solace as we grieve.

Faith Helps Me

Hope came with my first bundle of joy,
The love I shared with my only baby boy,
Will always fill my eyes with tears,
He only blessed my life for thirty one years.

The pain is so difficult to bear,
Life does not seem fair,
That I should have to bury my child,
It hurts so to miss the way you smiled.

My only baby girl, born on New Year’s Eve,
We helped each other love, trust, and believe.
You were gone after a mere twenty seven years,
A second time to cry those heartbreaking tears.

The pain is so difficult to bear,
Life does not seem fair,
That I should have to bury my child,
It hurts so to miss the way you smiled.

When it was time for my angels to leave,
For my loved ones I will forever grieve,
For everything there is a season
Only the Lord knows the reason.

Faith helps me understand,
Dear Lord, You took their hand,
I love and miss them so,
Give me peace until it’s time for me to go.

This is a picture of JJ and Michele with Mom on vacation in Summer of 1981.

DON'T PRETEND

When my only son suddenly died
Family and friends called and cried
How this can't be so...
He was too young to go

My only daughter was killed four months later,
The heartbreak and pain is so much greater,
Some of the same people avoided contact,
Like a contagious disease they might catch.

Even with people around, I feel alone,
It is more painful now than before,
It has been a year and reality closes in,
I'll never hold my babies again.

How my broken heart cries,
They won't be coming home,
Don't pretend that you don't see,
Share the memories and grieve with me.

Pain and Grieving

When you hear me laugh one moment in time,
Do you think...Oh great! she seems just fine.

The smiles you see, don’t reach my eyes...
Nor do you hear my silent anguished cries.

My heart is breaking, can’t you see...
Without my sweet child here with me.

My heart and soul have taken a big hit...
Yet some loved ones tell me, "get over it."

Each new day is an emotional strain
I pray none of them experience this pain.

Only another parent that is grieving too
Can understand what I am going thru.

My precious child has died, that is true,
Why must I hide this pain from you?

All of the poems on this page are written by
Diane, Loving Mom of Angels
JJ (Sept. 22, 1972 - Jan. 26, 2004) &
Michele (Dec. 31, 1976 - May 20, 2004)
Please do not copy without getting written permission to do so. Thank you!

Heart & Soul


                Healing moment-by-moment when we
                Encourage another grieving person
                As our loved ones are on our minds
                Remembering their precious memories
                Together while sharing our tears

                Surviving the death of our children
                Our loved ones have gone too soon
                Unimaginable pain and heartache of
                Losses so dear to our heart and soul

Copyright ©2006 Diane Craddock
This poem above is from the 2006 Celebration of Life ceremony....
the first letter of each line spells out HEART & SOUL.....
Celebration of Life

Faith, Family, and Friends
~ Dedicated to beloved angels around the world ~

Always remember to extend a caring hand
To the grieving loved ones around our land
Take time to cry, laugh, or reminisce with them
And realize they will forever need a true friend

Angels' time on earth, whether short or long
Yesterday's treasured memories to us belong
After they have gone to their heavenly homes
Our hearts beat as one, until our time comes

God will continuously provide for you
Spiritual, physical, and emotional too
Strength from faith, family, and friends
Provides peace and comfort until the end

The wonderful gifts the good Lord gives
Sharing the lives our beloved angels lived
Counting our precious blessings is easy to do
When prayers to God, end with "Thank You"
Copyright ©2005 Diane Craddock
Angels Arms poem presented at the 2005 Celebration of Life

Click on the gates below to visit all of Diane's Angel Pages ~

Michael, Mike, Trent, Michele, Morgan, Jeremy, Mom (me), Nicole, Brandon, JJ, and Jamie at home
Easter morning 2003.

Here is a picture of the back of my jacket for ~
"My Sweet Angels"
"In Heaven-- JJ & Michele"
"On Earth-- Brandon, Jamie, Jeremy, Trent, Morgan, and Michael"