Some days, just when you feel like you can’t take one more thing, life throws you yet another curve ball. And in an instant, the careful constructs of your life come tumbling right down.

That pretty much sums up my week.

If you read my blog, or follow me on Twitter, you already know we suffered a death in the family. My Aunt Loretta passed away around midnight on Tuesday. It was very sudden, and unexpected. And our family is still reeling with the shock as we try to cope with this horrible loss.

Aunt Loretta was one of my mom’s younger sisters and it is particularly hard on her, as it is for all the Farrell siblings. My heart goes out also to her three sons, my cousins Bob, Tom and Scott Kuddar and their families. I am truly, so very sorry for their loss.

Her death has left a horrible void in all of our hearts, and I cannot adequately express how much she will be missed.

Much of the 24 hours after her death are a blur for me. It took almost that long for the reality, the realization that Aunt Loretta was no longer with us, to sink in. In fact, it wasn’t until I was heading home from an entirely too late night in the office, that it really did hit me.