Anita was one of my dearest and most faithful friends, dating back the the 1960's when we attended the same church and she baby-sat our son, Dwain.  He loved Anita and she always seemed to love him as well.  She and I worked together at a couple of companies, shared work confidences, took trips together, shared happy and sad family moments, had countless girl lunches together (sometimes we let our husbands come, too!), and I honestly cannot imagine what it will be like not to get to see her and talk with her (and email her--when we couldn't find time for lunch).  To simply say I loved her doesn't seem like enough, but it's all I can say at this sad time.  I will grieve for her, but I know I will see her again.  She called me her 'forever friend' and she was certainly mine.
With deepest sympathy to the family--
Roy and Deanna Almond