-Chris Smith, Friend, Opening of Funeral (WEF Star-SPK)
"Melissa-even through all the tears I smile when I hear that name. You were the greatest friend I've ever known and the best roommate I could ever ask for. For lack of a better term I am known as a somewhat loose girl. The name Electra Yaccarino can be seen in just about every male bathroom in the five boroughs and Long Island by the time I was 15. That's when I moved from Brooklyn to here and into my new school. It took about 5 seconds for my rep to follow as suit. So when chemistry came around it was no surprise that no one wanted to sit with the easy girl. And then to my amazement in front of everyone one feisty brunette walked right past them and sat down next to me. She gave me an Oreo cookie and introduced herself. Her boyfriend[that would be Lito] and his buddy[in this case Syphon to you guys] came and the 4 of us became lab partners. Now being the infamous dumb blond of course I told them they were all doomed cause I couldn't learn. Melissa showed up at my house the next day, and to this day I still have no idea how she found out where I lived[Dear Electra-she peaked at the teacher's list in Chemistry.], but she brought a PC learning tool designed to make science easy. Well, I may still have no common sense but as my classmates know you don't get into NYU with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Chemical Applications and Theories without a little brains. But I owe that all to Mel. She was a true sweetheart. I can remember the junior dance when her and Anthony[Lito] broke up over something stupid, I forget what[so do I but it had something to do with me not being responsible and her being too goodie goodie-it was a stupid fight], and two weeks later I ended up with Anthony. We didn't intend it to happen it just did. She walked into my bedroom and when she saw us I could see the hurt in her eyes. I thought I'd lose my best friend but 24 hours later she was at my door step telling me what Anthony's favorite food was and how he liked to be rubbed behind the neck and how she wishes us the best. I mean here was a girl who just lost the guy she had dated for 5 years, and at 17 that's an eternity, because he was now sleeping with her best friend and she was doing all she could to make sure the man she loved and her best friend would be happy.[On a lighter note Electra I still think it wasn't necessary to tell my family, my in-laws, and God that we were sleeping together] She was special like that. Of course 2 months later true love conquered all, Anthony and I broke up and the two of them ran off to Florida for the summer without even saying good-bye. And in turn I was so happy for them. Melissa had big dreams for her fashion designs-and she was thrilled with her new internship but her happiest moments were when she was brining joy to someone she cared for. Whether it was Emily and Billy[her little brother and sister], the kids at the hospital, Anthony, or any of us she was happy when she knew that she touched somebody's life and I just wish you could be here now to see all these people that showed up to honor you[over 300 people showed up to the funeral in the rain-I didn't even know half of them] and you would know how truly special you were to each one of us. And if you are up there watching down on me, telling me to stand up straight, I want you to know that I am going to work so hard to make you proud so that when I see you again for once I'll have put a smile on your face instead of the other way around. Melissa, my friend, I love you, I miss you. Watch over us!"
-Electra Yaccarino, Best Friend, Occasional Roommate (WEF Star-Midnight)
"Melissa was the absolute most amazing person I have ever met. Raised in the most Catholic family in all of New York it is no doubt that she was a saint among us. Now since Chris and Electra shared their personal stories I will share mine. It's one that Anthony likes to forget. The 1 date that I had with Melissa while he was off with Electra and Crystal. Being around an amazing girl like her I naturally developed a crush. I mean I was 17-I had just broken up with a long term girl who treated me bad and Melissa made me feel like a million bucks....she had a way of doing that. Well, I asked her out and I knew she didn't want to go out with me but to my surprise she said yes. We went bowling-I knew she loved it. Well, after I lost 4 games in a row we went over to have pizza and my heart sank as I saw my ex with some new guy with muscles bigger than me. I sat there with Melissa but it was Kerry[this snobby red head he dated for wayyyy to long] my heart really wanted. So I spent the whole evening pretending not to be looking at Kerry and not being jealous. I probably looked like a nut. Well, Kerry disappeared and her new guy was off with his friends when Melissa excused herself to go the bathroom. So I sat and I contemplated all the ways I was gonna beat up this guy who could eat me alive and have room for Jell-O. Suddenly, Melissa ran out screaming that there was a girl sick in the ladies room and dragged me in. There was no sick girl but Kerry was there with a smile on her face and she grabbed me and kissed me. Melissa watched the door for an hour while we...well, while we talked if you will. When we came out Melissa said she would walk home and wished us luck. And two months later when Kerry cheated on me Melissa was the first one there for me and spread a rumor about Kerry that put her in her place. They may have been the meanest thing she had ever done but no one messed with her buddies.[She told the whole school that Kerry got herpes from her brother and got her older brother to say it was true...what kind of a brother was this guy?] Melissa was a class act and it seems to me that this world was severely cheated by only getting her for 20 years. Rest now my friend-you deserve it."
-Jason Penbrook, Friend and One Date (WEF Star-Syphon)
"Well, here is where I find myself tonight. Gathered with friends and family to say good-bye to my cousin-in-law. It seems to me that if there was a God he wouldn't let this happen. Why take such a gem from us when she had so much left to do? We were supposed to go to the Manhattan Fashion Expo next month. I was supposed to pretend to know what she was talking about when she used fashion lingo and in exchange she was gonna let me meet the models.[Lito wasn't allowed to go because of said models] All the models loved her and her spunk. For a 5 foot 7 women she had the heart of a giant. She brought happiness into a huge number of lives and she taught me how to be responsible for myself. She taught a lot to many people. But most importantly she taught me compassion.....compassion that I have used to write my latest song. I would like to play it for you. [Mike sits down and plays a song on the piano called "It's never good-bye". Song lasts about 6 mintues Everyone except SPK and the Priest cry. He finishes.] I'll miss you Melissa-safe journey-watch over us."
-Mike P, Cousin-In-Law (WEF Star-Ryo Hyzaki)
"Melissa-my dear, my life. I look down at that coffin and I see my life lying their motionless soon to be buried with all my hopes and dreams. That first night in the hospital when I held you in my arms as you drifted away I searched real hard for a reason to keep living. I came up with none. I went back to our apartment and trashed the place. I turned the gas on and I just wanted to join you. From our first kiss when we were 12 till the day we finally said "I do" I knew we were made for each other. We completed each other and now I was missing half of myself. Luckily there was a knock at the door. I know I heard it-I'm not insane. Strangely there was no one at the door. And no one around save for one person. My mother-in-law. She had gone out for a walk and was walking across the street. She didn't even realize where she was. I called to her and we talked about Melissa. I felt so alive just thinking of all she had accomplished in her short fashion career. I thought about what a great amount of effort she put into helping me build a life and here I was about to throw it away. I turned off the gas and I talked to Joan [Melissa's Mom] some more. She thinks it was a sign. That she would end up there and that a strange knock would cause me to open the door and see her sounded almost like Melissa knocked and sent Joan there to save me from myself. I'm not here to discuss miracles I just know that whatever happened-I am grateful. Melissa gave so much to me that I am amazed she had so much left to give to others. I sold the apartment where we lived yesterday and I hope the couple that bought it enjoys it. And as sad as it is to have Chris[SPK] as a roommate again it seems rather moot. I've been asking myself where do I go now? Where does a man who walks around dead go with his life? Melissa....we were supposed to live to be like 80 and die together in our sleep remember? You were always trying to get me to go to church and I would never go. Well, you finally got me here but why couldn't you tell your God that he couldn't have you yet? I wasn't done with you. All my dreams died with you. This may have been the first selfish thing you have ever done. But you have proved the old proverb; "Only the good die young". And you were the best. You won the hearts of everyone you met and you won my undying love. I remember the famous love battles between me and Chris[SPK] in 6th grade to see which one of us you would go out with. I was so sure you were gonna pick him. I mean every girl was in love with Chris....it was rather annoying. So all I could boast was that I was really tall and I could sing. I thought I didn't stand a chance in hell. Ooh sorry about that. I'll never forget when she showed up at the dance and we both ran up to her begging for an answer....she smiled and walked past us both and got herself a drink and sat down with her friends. Shocked we went on with the dance. Chris[Again, SPK] started dancing with some girl whose name I have long since forgotten and I went to leave and when I went outside she was waiting for me. No matter how much I tried to get her to talk she refused to say a word or answer a question. I put my jacket on her and she stopped. She leaned up and kissed me, smiled and ran off........with my jacket too. To this year she always teased me about the fact that she refused to give me my jacket back. Well, I have it now. [Pulls a jacket out from underneath the podium. It is a baseball team jacket from a little league team]. And with this jacket I remember the kind of person you were Melissa. Nobody had a better love for life then you did and for you I will carry on that for you. Melissa loved her job at the hospice. Bringing a smile to a sick kids face made her day. Sadly those dying kids have had another thing taken from them for they will no longer have her warmth and her love given to them. Now as I look across the back of the church I see the nurses with the little kids. Melissa loved all you kids...like you were her kids and so I can give one last gift to her by giving a gift to you. Nobody can ever take the place of her but in turn myself, Chris[yes, SPK], Mike[cousin-in-law, Ryo Hyzaki], Electra[best friend, occasionally Midnight], and Emily[sister] will be joining you guys throughout the weeks. I know Mel would want it like this. I know she is resting peacefully now and I will go on living my life the way she would want me to but I only hope I can be as good a person as she was so I can see her again someday. I love you Melissa."
-Anthony, Husband (WEF Star Lito Kruz)
