Memorial in honor of Corey Womack

Memorial in honor of Corey Womack- Sunday, March 25- 8:00pm, St. Clare's Church on Central Avenue in Colonie.

Corey affected so many of us in many different ways. He was not just a friend to my children but over the years had become more like family to us all. When I think back on the suddenness of Corey's departure I feel like there is so much more to be said. Corey's light was with us for such a short time and he made such a large impact on those around him that some of us still have the need to join together as a group and express our gratitude for the gift of life that Corey shared with us. We invite everyone of any denomination and faith to come and join us on Sunday, March 25th for prayer and reflection. We plan to offer a few prayers for Corey and then have a time for sharing so that anyone who wishes can share their memories of, and love for Corey. All are welcome, this is not so much a religious ceremony as it is a way for us to get together to give thanks for Corey's life and send him off with our love and good wishes. Any questions feel free to email Jennifer at apme@nycap.rr.com.

Rest in peace Corey, I know you are in a better place right now, I just wish that place could be here and now!

Mrs. Mooney
"Jennifer Mooney"

Condolences from Oscar Zubia

I can't believe this. I just heard today of Corey's passing. It had been
so long since I even heard from Corey. All I have now are all of the
memories from when we were younger and still living in California. We used
to hang out almost everyday, we would take him to school and he would stay
with us until his mom got home from work. He was always one of my favorite
friends, we all had so much in common. Going over to Corey and Joy's house
was always fun, I never knew how much I would miss it. When we moved we
barely kept in touch and then Corey and Joy moved to New York. We would
keep in touch a bit through email and instant messenger but I wish there
could have been more. Joy encouraged me and my brother to plan a trip up
there but things didnt work out and we all got busy with our own lives, I
wish it could've been arranged, I wish things could have been different. I
would give anything to go back in time and go up to see Corey one last time,
get to know him again, see what he grew up to be. Judging from this blog
and from the video that was made for him and all of his comments and
condolences I see that he turned out just like I thought he would. He was
always an amazing guy raised by an amazing mom. It hits me so hard that
this could happen to someone this full of life. He will not be forgotten in
my mind and in my family's minds, we all loved Corey very much and will
always remember him. We hold so many memories of the past, I only wish I
could've been part f his future. My condolences go out to everyone out
there who is grieving about this loss and hope everyone can get through
this, life goes on and Corey will not be forgotten.

Oscar Zubia Jr.
Las Cruces, NM

From Corey's Mom

I am compelled to write on Corey’s blog to publicly thank all of you for Corey and myself. I wish Corey could write this as he was a far more articulate and creative writer. I will just have to hope the words come to me from him.

I have received such warmth, love and support from reading here as well as the personal emails, the flowers, the donations, the baskets of goodies, the pictures, YouTube tribute, chorus ensemble, teachers and mentors involvement, words and stories heard at Corey’s service, as well as those spoken privately or in cards.

Corey truly was one of the “beautiful” people, inside and out. He honestly surrounded himself with others, who in their own special way, belonged in the same class. There is not a lot written here that surprised me about him. I have always known his wonderful ways and qualities. The one surprise was his “sweet dance moves”. He never let on he was a dance machine. I was always waiting to hear it though as my family, the Dutton's, were always known to take over a dance floor. :)

Love for music was always in our household. In fact, I used to sing the James Brown “I Feel Good” song to him as an infant. By the time he was able to sit, he would rock back and forth, with a big smile ,to the rhythm of the song as I sang it:)

He also developed his predilection for storytelling at a young age. Our routine at bedtime was for me to give a “rub back”, as he called it, while we discussed his day. At the age of six, first grade, I was rubbing his back and he started to tell a story of his day. He described a flock of geese flying down into the schoolyard, causing the children to run and scream. The teachers did nothing. More flocks of geese came until the whole schoolyard was full of them, children freaking out, and now the teachers running and screaming too. I was sitting there replying “No! How horrible and scary…. Etc” He lead me on with this story for several minutes until it became so absurd I realized he had fabricated it. He turned his sweet face toward me, eyes twinkling with a huge smile, and then just laughed and laughed – making ME laugh. He could always make me laugh, and always did.

His favorite movie at about age two or three was “Mary Poppins” and I started talking with a British accent like Mary P. “Would you care for a spot of tea”, “spit spot” etc. His gift for accents came quickly and never stopped.

I need to specifically thank Mr. T, Ms. Lupe, Ms Weeks, and Ms. Eichholzer for being his mentors and teachers as well as his friends. Thank you Will, for creating this blog, Audrey for the YouTube tribute, Ryan Mooney and Jade Brewer for the awesome support and kindness as well as assisting with help creating his memory board. Thank you Jeri Ann for writing a beautiful and comforting song (performing May 12th at Cook Park), Erin for your lovely poem. Thank you J-Steve, Sam -Chan, Shane, Chris, C-Joe, Kayla, Gabby, Jeri-Ann, Sean, Joe, Anson, Will, Will, Ryan, Oscar, Tommy, Phillip, Gina, Elliott, Brianna, Olivia, Kyle, and numerous others. Thank you for your friendship. You made Corey a very happy person for knowing you.

Thank you Renate, Teresa, Paula, and families, Jenny, Ikey, Valerie, Phil, Ellen, Eileen, BC, Paul, Scott, Neil ,Janna, Bobby, Judy ,Rusty, Harry, Bibbs, Wanda and My Dad , my personal friends and family for being there for me, through it all. I thank all that I work with and used to work with for the support and generous gifts.

Corey’s best friend , John Twordowski – thank you for driving me around, coming to visit at any call and assuming Corey’s role in making me laugh. I have officially adopted you.

I always believed, and I still do, that I was brought to this world specifically to bring him into this world for his wonderful, nonjudgemental ways, creative talent and comedic loving nature. Apparently his gift to the world was completed, his impact felt and absorbed. I will miss him all my life and keep his memories as gifts from him. Please honor him, carry his memories and emulate his kind ways.

To everyone who has written the wonderful words here, I thank you. I feel Corey’s love for me through you.

Be kind to each other, live, laugh, love, sing – and get out and DANCE!

Love, Joy Dutton, Corey’s mom

coreyjoy@aol.com

PS I know I left some peoples names out. Please forgive me.

" Do not stand by my grave and weep, I

am not there, I do not sleep. I am a

thousand winds that blow, I am the

diamond glints on snow. I am the

sunlight on ripened grain, I am the

gentle autumn rain. When you awaken

in mornings hush, I am the swifter

uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled

flight. I am the soft star that shines at

night. Do not stand by my grave and

cry, I am not there, I did not die."

Condolences from J-Steve

I miss you, so much. I keep hoping that maybe this nightmare isn't real, that any day now an email from you will pop into my inbox. It all just seems so unfair. I did not get to spend enough time with you. Two years is not enough; every day of the rest of my life would not have been enough. You always sold yourself short, never gave yourself enough credit. But, Corey, you touched my heart and affected me the way no else ever has, or ever will. I wish I could tell you that face to face...I wish I had done so before, so I could be sure that you know. But I have to believe that you can read this, that you're not too far out of touch. So you know. You must know.

So many things are different now...you told me you thought you were inconsequential, but I hope you see now how wrong you were. I mean, the thought of singing "Dies Irae" without you is sickening right now, and who is going to walk in the halls with me all the way from 2nd to 5th period every day? My whole world has been turned upside-down. You know, I've started remembering little, stupid things that matter, but really don't matter...like the fact that I had to check to see if you'd returned the library book I lent you. As far as I can tell, you did, but I never got to talk to you about it, find out if you liked it or not. I went through all these old papers and things to find the notes you'd written me way back in 10 grade, remember? I found them and I read them, and they only made me miss you all the more. I gathered all the pictures I have of you and sadly, it isn't as many as I would like. I wish I had kept all our Oswald pictures, and all our old emails. If there was any way to get them back, I would...every word you ever typed, wrote, or said to me is sacred to me; I wish I could gather them all and keep them forever. I wish a lot of things.

I am afraid...afraid that slowly, over time, your face and voice will fade from being crystal clear in my memory to nothing more than dim recollections, and I don't want that to happen. Ever. I fear that years of other things will push my memories of you aside, but as you said about me, I would hate myself if I ever forgot about you. I can still hear you speak, the way you'd say "J-Steve!" and smile your heart-warming smile with those beautiful eyes. When you sang, I melted inside. You know that, right? No other sound like it in all the universe. I am so infinitely happy you joined chorus and sang with us. It is impossible to say how much you added to our little 4th period musical group...I know that because of you, we all have so many delightful memories that will never be forgotten.

There are so many things I was planning and expecting, and taking for granted that they would come to pass. We were supposed to stand on-stage after the final performance of Little Shop and get our senior flower bouquets. We were supposed to pick out a senior song, and sing it, and wear the little red corsages that identify us as seniors at our last concert. You were supposed to sing "Soldier, Soldier" with us, and sing the gorgeous solo Mrs. Weeks had picked out for you. You were supposed to be there at senior prom, to make the night all the more memorable. If you had asked me to go with you, I would've said yes, without a doubt. Corey, you were supposed to walk across that stage with the rest of us come June 22nd. There would have been laughing and crying and more pictures and parties than I care to imagine. You were supposed to be there to celebrate my 18th birthday with me, just like I was supposed to celebrate yours. You were supposed to write a message on the back of your senior picture and give it to me, but now I will never get the message you planned to write. I wonder what you would've written...I wish I could know.

I miss you more than I can tell. I miss everything about you, from all your different faces and voices, to your gestures and expressions. The same black sneakers you wore every day, and the way you hung your coat on the strap of your bag so it'd be easier to carry. The way we were total kids of the 90's and had so much in common...the way you'd sweep back your hair with your fingers when it fell in your face. All of these things were strangely comforting in their perpetual sameness and I probably took it for granted that I could always count on you to be the same old you. Now I miss that comfort and solidarity with my whole being. I hope that I touched you as much as you touched me, and that you will remember us all, the ones you left behind way too soon. Corey, I love you forever and will miss you always. I carry you with me wherever I go; you are my shining star and my inspiration. I hope you are happy wherever you are, and I will never ever forget you.

Love with all my heart,

J-Steve