On Friday, March 30, 2012 friends and family gathered to celebrate Cherie at the famous Olde Town Liberty Train Station restaurant in Bedford, Virginia. One of Cherie and Dick's favorite places to eat, they just happen to have the best food in town. Norma and Joel Shapiro, longtime friends at the lake, helped coordinate this lovely event with guests coming far and wide from California, Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland and of course tennis and dance friends from Virginia. In honor of Cherie's love for gardening, tables were adorned with beautiful little live plants, potted by Norma and Dick, of pansies and other beauties in a rainbow of colors for guests to take home and enjoy. Cherie's carvings and photos adorned and antique oak buffet and guests enjoyed watching a DVD of Cherie's life created by her husband Dick, children Greg and Kristi, and granddaughter Andrea. After lunch, Cherie's sister Amy Kossuth shared memories of a "fierce" little Cherie growing up in Ohio who was the protector of the block and became an accomplished equestrian with a full scholarship to St. Francis College. Amy, a talented writer, also read her poem Sisters. Cherie's husband Dick shared his story of "finding Cherie" at an Easter egg coloring party (see Finding Cherie, Our Beginnings). Greg and Kristi shared memories of growing up with Cherie for a mom, including learning to love reading and animals, appreciating the beauty of art, playing competitive tennis, and being privy to mom's many talents, from homemade lamb and castle cakes and cookies to a fully furnished homemade dollhouses and refinished antiques for our own homes. Kristi finished the family stories with a reading of Kahil Gibran's On Children (see Thoughts), and guests enjoyed Harry's famous cheesecakes for dessert and sharing memories. Family and friends visiting from out of town also came later to visit the lakehouse for a Friday night pizza party and picnic on Saturday (see Gallery).