Venesha Richards
Family Tribute:Thank you for sharing with me the best seven years of my life. Our unconditional love for each other was enough to make life worth living. Your life with us was cut short tragically, but the unforgettable memories will live in our lives forever.
Thank you for the joy and happiness you brought into our lives. You will always be alive and never forgotten in our hearts.
Indescribable Precious Rose, you were truly loved.
Sadly missed byHusband & DaughterMom & Family
Venesha Richards: A Dream of Paris
When Venesha Rodgers caught a short ride home from work at Bradlees in North Brunswick, N.J., her lift, Hopeton Richards, instantly realized she was just the person he had been looking for: fun, smart, an active Christian and, like Mr. Richards, an émigré from Jamaica. Not only that, she lived around the corner. In July 1998, four years after that five-minute car ride, they were married.
Mrs. Richards was a one-woman power plant. As a young mother, a student in technology systems at Pace University, holding a full-time job, she still helped run trips for her church youth group.
Before baby Kayla was born last year, she and Mr. Richards traveled to Mexico; Key West, Fla.; the Bahamas; and the Poconos. 'Ven always wanted to go to Paris,' Mr. Richards said.
Mrs. Richards, 26, 'was more of a mama to me than I was to her,' said Lelith Grant, her mother, who worked night shifts as a nurse so she and Mrs. Richards could swap child-minding chores. On school holidays, Mrs. Richards took her little brother and sister to work at Marsh & McLennan on the 100th floor of 1 World Trade Center.
Heading home, she always made a beeline. 'She couldn’t wait to see Kayla take her first step,' said Mr. Richards. 'She took it three days after the incident.'
Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co. Reprinted by permission.
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Tributes
Gone but never forgotten , see u of munchie everyday ... luv u forever my sis.... another angel gone too soon. :-(
Alicia richards, Family
Dear Venesha,We shall never forget you, your smile, your voice and your laugh. We shall keep this day as a sacred remembrance of you and what we lost in a moment.We carry on but we never leave you behind. Thank you for helping us daily to carry the tears and the sadness in our hearts but still to move forward with strength and determination. God Bless You and your family today and always. Patricia & Charles Barraza
Patricia Barraza, Colleague
Seasons change, time passes but what remains the same is your imprint on our hearts. Your smile, your face, your stories & jokes are forever ours. Rest in peace and may God Bless you and your family today on the 10th anniversary of that terrible morning. We miss you and we are better for having known you. We remember you today and always...
Patricia Barraza, Colleague
Today, a day very much like that Tuesday nine years ago we are remembering you with love. Keeping your memory forever in our hearts and praying for you, your family and friends. Patricia and Charles Barraza
Patricia Barraza, Colleague
No word can express my feeling of the lost of my dear Ven. it was just like yesterday watching you grow up to a very special sweeth young lady. and became a wife and a mother. Your daughter Kayla is just like you every bone, action and smile when you where her age(8). Her present around me is like you are still her in body. I know she will be as sweet has you when she grow up too. I cannot question God call, but for sure you are miss by so many of us love one, you are an Angel of glory. With lot of love Angie
Angie, Family
Hopeton, Thinking of you and Kayla during this time. May God bless you both today and Always!!! Corrie & Family
Corrie Hopson, Family
HOPETON ITS JOEL SEARIGHT YOUR OLD FRIEND FROM FRANKLIN HIGH IAM SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR LOST I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR WIFE BUT YOU ARE MY HOMEBOY FROM SCHOOL MY HEART GOSE OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS YOUR OLD FRIEND JOEL. P.S.IF YOU NEED TO TALK GIVE ME A CALL MY NUMBER IS 6514944521 PLEASE CALL ME.
JOEL C. SEARIGHT, Friend
It's been 8years now and there haven't been a single day that I haven't thought about you.I would give anything at this point to see your beautiful smiling face again. God, I miss you sooo much, for eight years I keep asking myself, why,why why? I've yet to get an answer.Every now and then when I think too much about you, I would break down in tears but I quickly pulled myself together because I know I have to stay strong for our daughter.She look so much like you, thank God for that because she reminds me of you everyday of my life.She is the gift of life thank you!I have so much to tell her about you...thank you for the wonderful memories. I miss you so much, say hello to the angels for me and I will see you when I get there. Lots of love Husband & Daughter
Hopeton Richards, Family
Ven, I thought about you all day yesterday, and althought it's seven years later, I find it difficult to accept that you are gone. I keep remembering the last time I saw you at the church Labor Day picnic-- you were so happy to hear that I was relocating to Atlanta. You were truly an angel here on earth. You are gone but certainly not forgotten. Hopeton and Kayla have certainly been blessed having you in their life. Love always, Judi
Judith Jackson, Friend
Venesha I will never forget your smile and all the enthusiasm you had whenever you talked about your baby Kayla. I watched you each morning get on Mel's bus to transfer for the downtowner, you were always so demure and pleasant. My prayers and best wishes for Hopeton and Kayla are forever present. You will never be forgotten. Peggy formerly from Peartree Lane
Peggy X. Forest, Friend
Venesha, Remembering you on this sad anniversary. God Bless you and your family today and always. Pat
Patricia Barraza, Colleague
I can't believe it's been seven years. I finally have the courage to leave a few words without feeling the fear of that horrible day. Ven was the most happiest pregnant woman I've ever known. She was a great person to be around. She always had a smile on her face everytime I went into work at Marsh. Her spirit will live through her daughter for always. She was truly genuine, and is in the best of hands right now. You will always be remembered. Prayers go out to Hopeton, who I've met a few times in the past and the rest of her family. Keep the faith and stay strong. The lord will not steer you in the wrong direction.
Carmen Rodriguez, Friend
More than a moment of silence, on this day and everyday may we use our lives to honor and respectfully remember you. With careful consideration we continue on where you could have gone, good left undone, countless gifts not given. We will not fail; we will not forget you, our precious family, our dear friend, our inspiration. Patricia & Charles Barraza
Patricia Barraza, Colleague
Although thousands of miles apart you were still considered a close family member, someone who was kind, gentle, and 100% genuine. You became such an admirable Woman, Mother, Daughter and Wife and although your time with us has ended you will forever be in our hearts - We miss you, we love you, and you will never be forgotten! -xxx-
Aunt sandra, David & cousins Sade & Omar Currie
With a terrible sadness we mark this day, the third anniversary of the morning we lost each of you. In the end it is only a marker. The grief, sorrow and the incredible possibilities that we lost in those horrific moments remain with us every day. We weep, no, sob from a place deep, deep inside that has been left empty by your absence. And we pray, for you, your families, your friends, and your colleagues. And for ourselves may God give us the strength to go forward and honor you with our lives. We will never forget you. Patricia Barraza
Pat Barraza, Colleague
Remembering - I wanted to write to say we remember you and think of you as we go on. We miss your being, but feel your presence. I believe that your spirit is our angel watching over us in a dangerous world. Remembering you keeps you with us and brings us peace in turmoil. In this season of renewal and everyday since we “lost” you we keep you and your loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. Peace to you.
Pat Barraza, Colleague
Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the softly falling snow. I am the gentle showers of rain. I am the fields of ripening grain. I am the morning hush. I am the graceful rush of beautiful birds in circling flight. I am the star shine of the night. I am the flowers that bloom. I am in a quiet room. I am the birds that sing. I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there.I did not die.' ...Mary Frye, Baltimore MD, Circa 1933 Alive in our hearts forever... In loving memory of dear Venesha Patricia & Charles Barraza 9-11-2002
Patricia & Charles Barraza, Colleague
It is so hard for me to think of Venesha without a lump forming in my throat. Venesha was the very first person I met at Marsh and for a while we shared such a close friendship. Our lives were so parrell. First Marriage, then a new house, a dog, next a baby. We seemed to be on the same journey. Venesha and I had lunch together everyday for atleast a year. We would chat about everything under the sun. Venehsa was always such an awesome cook and she would force me (as if she had to twist my arm) to try all of her Jamacian specialties. My favorite was always her dumplings. One of the last conversations I remember with her was over some dumplings. I was pregnant and craving dumplings so she made me a batch and brought them in. She said she reufsed to be responsible for my baby having a dumpling mark on him/her becasue my craving was not met. She was always so thoughtful like that. I will never forgot the way she glowed throughout her whole pregnancy and how she rejoiced in every aspect of Kayla. I am so sorry that KAyla will not kow firsthand what a beautiful person Venehsa was. For those of you who know her you can't help but rememer the smile that always appeared on her face with any mention of KAyla or Hopeton. She literally radiated love for them. It was inspiring. I am sure that if there are Angels Venesha is now one of them. I will always think of her and remember her. I will always pray for her daughter and her husband whom she cherished. I am so sorry that her time was cut so short, but I am thankful that I had a chance to really get to know her. You will always be missed!
Stephanie K. Danizger, Colleague
I never forget the time Venesha told me she was pregnant. She was one of the happiest women I have ever seen. We were pregnant almost at the same time (she was one month earlier then me)and she was glowing through the whole pregancy. While I was sick the whole time she just love being pregnant. Once she had Kayla, she shone like a bright star. Kayla was her life and hopefully, when Kayla grows up people will tell her that she was her mother's pride and joy! Venesha, I will always remember you!
Rebecca LaCasse, Colleague