Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘WE WANT YOU TO FEEL THE LOVE’
Coatesville Flower Shop set for 15th anniversary of ‘Lisa’s Roses’
COATESVILLE >> Something as simple as giving someone a rose can bring them to feel the warmth of the community and make them smile.
For the 15th year, Greg and Dorrie DePedro, the owners of the Coatesville Flower Shop, are inviting their customers to share in Lisa’s legacy to “do something nice for someone today” by distributing free roses on Aug. 23 to make someone smile in receiving such a kind gesture. That was one of her last requests when the community, friends and family had asked how could they help Lisa and show their outpouring love and support. They lost their daughter Lisa DePedro to a rare form of lung cancer on Aug. 23, 2004.
“We want you to feel the love that comes with what seemed like a small request. Come into our Flower Shop, pick up a dozen free roses, keep one for yourself and give the other 11 to different people,” Greg said. “The smiles that you bring to all those faces and the joy that a simple act of kindness can bring will give you that feeling of love and warmth that Lisa wanted to share.”
They are also inviting other parents who share their loss of a child to distribute roses to customers in honor of their child. They encourage people to post a picture of your love one on their “Memory Board” for people to say a prayer.
“Each year we find other
parents bearing this same pain and trying to find a way to express their memories of their child,” Greg said. “We would like you to come and participate with us and hand out free roses in your child’s name. We will be standing right beside you supporting you all the way. This isn’t just about us anymore. We share this blessing of love and memories with all of you.”
This newer part of the tradition began three years ago. He believes that when the parent asks someone to hand out roses in their child’s name that they will feel the warmth of the community and that each rose represents a smile from Heaven.
The DePedros have been asked over the years, if it has become easier to cope with their loss.
“In many ways it has, thanks to all of you, but in many ways it remains right there just under the surface bubbling to come out and grasp us again. Each year when we send out this plea for help, we wonder if we are asking too much of you,” Greg said. “And then, like an epiphany we realize that if even one person comes to share our day in this very special way we have that one person to thank for rescuing us once again. It has been 15 years since the death of our sweet daughter Lisa. As we look back on these past 15 years we cannot imagine where we would be without the love and prayers of our family, friends and community. You have unselfishly shared this day as we ask you to ‘do something nice for someone today.’”
They ask those who regrettably cannot participate in the day to pray.
“Pray for every parent faced with the death of their child. Ask God to show them the path to help them begin to live again,” Greg said. “We would never have gotten through the last 15 years without the prayers of our family and friends and even the strangers that we know are continuing to pray for us.”
The Coatesville Flower Shop is located at 259 East Lincoln Highway in Coatesville. The shop will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.