This was written by Jeanne Martin, wife and mother, to the congregation of OLPH on October 8, 2006..

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

First, let me thank you with all my heart for the unbelievable outpouring of sympathy, compassion, and support I've received over the past weeks. It truly has been an extraordinary time. As shocking as Doug and Amy's passing was, the response from so many different communities of which we are a part has truly been incredible. Again, I can't seem to find the words to adequately express my thanks to all of you for your kindness and support. I am offering my suffering and constant prayer for all of you and your intentions.

Doug and Amy were extraordinary people. They truly believed everything that the Catholic Church taught, whether they understood it or not, and wanted to share it with anyone who would listen. As Msgr. Smith so eloquently remarked during the homily at the funeral Mass, Doug was not oppressed by the teachings of the Church! Just the opposite--the teaching of the Church allowed him the freedom to love without limits and without fear. It gives all of us a way to live without struggling to figure everything out ourselves. What a gift this is, if we only unwrap it! So many of us within the Church are standing with the gift in our hands, still wrapped. I pray that all of us will unwrap this gift and use it as God wills us to. As for me, I remain profoundly peaceful, as I have been throughout this whole experience. It occurred to me the other day that if God had asked me if He could take Doug and Amy from me to bring others closer to Him, I would have said 'Yes' without hesitation. I am certainly very, very sad, but I am peaceful to leave God in control of my life. He isn't my co-pilot, but my pilot! And, I am not jumping out of the plane. I am going to stick right with Him, wherever the plane goes, even when it looks like the plane is going where I don't want to go. My favorite prayer right now is from Pope Clement XI: I want whatever You want, because You want it, the way that You want it, for as long as You want it.

I pray that Amy's legacy would be that all young people would ask God what He wants them to be, rather than they say that they want to be a ....whatever that is. And I would pray that Doug's legacy would be that every husband and father would love their wives and children more, and love God most of all. And my message to the parish would be just two simple words: TRUST GOD.