Bethpage-Tribune_2003-05-23

              Celebrating
SERVING BETHPAGE, ISLAND TREES, OLD BETHPAGE, PLAINVIEW, SEAFORD AND PLAINEDGE
VOL. 41 NO. 21 FORTY CENTS May 23-29, 2003
E'LL NEVER FORGET
OPPE
Losing someone that you love
is one of the most difficult things
that anyone can ever go through. It
is always so very painful to say
goodbye. Today an entire
community is feeling that sorrow
and that pain with the death of an
extraordinary lady, Joan Poppe.
Joan Poppe was one of the most
special woman I have ever met. She
was one of a kind and a truly
precious human being. As a wife,
mother, grandmother, great -grand
mother and even mother-in- law,
Joan was simply the best. Her heart
was filled with so much love for
each and every member of her
family. When she spoke of them her
pride and love was so evident in her
eyes. And she was so very lucky to
be a part of such a wonderful
family. Joan knew how much she
was loved and that is such a special
gift that her family gave to her.
And while I knew Joan as a
friend I can tell you that she loved
her friends with just as much of her
heart. To me Joan was like an
adopted mom. I'd call her for
advice, and she would listen. I 'd ask
her to proofread my editorials, and
she did with a smile but above all
the one thing you never had to ask
Joan for was her love. That she gave
fi-eely and unconditionally. Joan
was one of the most thoughtful
people I have ever met. She was
thoughtful to everyone. If it was a
holiday... Joan sent you one of her
famous crumb cakes. If it was your
child's birthday... in the mail they
would receive a card with some
candy and money rolled up inside. If
you needed advice she was a phone
call away and she always, always
spoke the truth.
When I think about Joan what
comes to my mind first is her love
for her country and her dedication
to the American Legion and all
Veterans. Year after year Joan
would call asking if it was okay for
her to write a story for the front
page for Flag Day, Memorial Day,
Veterans Day, Labor Day and
virtually any other day that she felt
needed to he celebrated. She always
told me how important it was to not
let people forget about the
importance of our Veterans and also
to make sure that people have pride
in their country. My answer to Joan
was that she could have anything
that she wanted. Anything because I
loved her with all my heart and it
was truly my honor to have had her as
a friend for so long. In my heart I
always felt that the Tribune
belonged to her as well. So year
after year, month after month Joan 's
articles graced the pages of this
newspaper and inspired people to
never forget. That is a gift she gave
to an entire community and it was
truly my honor to have her messages
appear in this newspaper for so
long.
About a year ago, I went to visit
Joan after she returned home from a
hospital stay. When I arrived, there
was Joan cooking, away in her
kitchen. A pot ofccff:" V>Q$ veadv
for us and we sat for a white una
talked. We were talking about the
goings-on in Bethpage (and oh, how
Joan loved this Town... SHE WAS
MRS. BETHPAGE) and Joan said
"Linda, when I •"" gow you better
make sure that people always
remember how important this
country is... re mind them to fly their
flags...remind them about the
importance of Veterans Day and
Memorial Day. We can 7 let them
forget. " I promised her then that I
would and I make that same promise
to Joanie today. As long as there is
a Bethpage Tribune there will be a
"Joan Poppe Story" in it for each
and every one of "her " important
holidays. And as a tribute to my
forever flag- waving friend, there
will always be a flag in her honor
on page one of this newspaper. Not
only to remind us of this great
country but to honor a woman who
touched so many lives and was such
a beautiful and special person to
everyone who had the privilege of
knowing her.
I can say with all my heart that
this town will not be the same
without that beautiful pearl wearing
lady who sat hour after hour selling
poppies in front of King Kullen. This
town will not be the same without
that smiling lady waving her flag as
she road through Bethpage during
every Memorial Day parade.
Bethpage will never be the same
without Joan Poppe but I can say
that all our lives... the lives of whom
she touched are so much better for
(Continued on page 5)