Carl's Words

Carl spoke at Tamara's funeral service. This is what he said.

I’m so broken right now I can’t even think.  When my big sister left for college I cried for weeks because I missed her so much.  Now that my big sister has left for heaven I find myself wondering how I will ever stop crying because I miss her so much.  She was my best friend growing up.  We would play tennis every afternoon in our driveway and the neighbors driveway, using the street as our tennis net.  We would throw lawn darts straight up in the air and then run for our lives.  Tamara and I fought with the best of them, too.  She would run around in circles and chase me and attack me if I ever disagreed with her or made her mad.  But when I was scared she would tuck me in bed next to her and hold me close until I fell asleep.

Now, when my heart hurts, I feel just a little bit closer to her as I hold and love on her children.  I see so much of her in them.  She loved her kids with all the strength and passion that she had.  

If I could share one thing with everyone, it would be to love.  Don’t let the little things be so big - don’t even let the big thing be big.  Hug your loved ones - look them in the eyes every chance that you get and tell them that you love them.  Life is so short, and none of us are promised tomorrow.  I would give anything to tell Tamara how much she really meant to me.  And to keep telling her until I knew that she understood.  Take advantage of every opportunity you are given to love and forgive and love some more, so that you can live with no regrets.

Even though I ache so badly, I am peaceful as well.  I have no doubt that God is in control. I have no doubt that He is faithful to complete the good works that He has begun.  And I have no doubt about the fact that my sister is hand in hand with Jesus right now, joining that great cloud of witnesses that surround us on this earth.  I miss her so very much, and I always will, but I know that I will see her again and I am so thankful for the peace the Lord provides.

Carl said that he learned this from Popi.  Whenever Popi is with Carl he looks Carl in the eyes and tells him he loves him.  It has always meant so much to Carl.  Now he wants to make sure that whenever he leaves anyone that he looks them in the eyes and tells them how much he loves them.  It only takes a moment - and we have learned what we always knew, you never know when it will be the last one that you have with them.

Tamara

As so many of you know, I lost my big sister (in-law) last Tuesday.  I wanted to post her obituary here.

On January 28, 2014, our beloved Tamara Jeanette Pfiester Pate, 42 years old, of Kerrville, passed away in Fredericksburg, Texas.  She was born in Key West, Florida to Carlos & Patricia Pfiester on August 23, 1971.  On June 3, 2000 she married Greg Alan Pate in Fredericksburg, Texas.  Together, they have three beautiful children, Cassie Ryan Pate (10 years), Colton John Pate (7 years) and Chloe Sage Pate (3 years).

Tamara graduated from Tivy High School in 1989.  After attending San Angelo State University she worked in several management positions.  For the last 10 years she has been employed by Starbucks, and served as the manager here in Kerrville.  Her vivacious energy and love of life will be remembered by all.  The passionate love that she had for her family was felt by everyone that she knew.  She was an adoring mother, loving wife and beloved sister and daughter.  Tamara lived her life to the fullest with enviable strength and joy, and with a love for others that surpassed understanding.  She touched and inspired the lives of all who knew her with her love for God, passion for her family, and her own brand of sarcastic, witty humor - a rare combination united beautifully in this strong, amazing, woman of God.  She leaves behind a legacy of love and warmth, leaving all of us endeavoring to love as big and as well as she so effortlessly did.

Tamara is survived by her husband, Greg Alan Pate; her children, Cassie Pate, Colton Pate and Chloe Pate; her brother Carl Pfiester and sisters Tiffany Pfiester Way and Ashley Pfiester Causey; her parents, Carlos Edwin Pfiester and Patricia Peters Pfiester, her great-grandmother, Irene Pearson as well as many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Calvary Temple Church on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Michael Peters, Marcus Bigott, Daniel Bigott, Bobby Pfiester, David Carpenter and Kevin Bernhard.

Memorials may be given to the Tamara Pfiester Pate Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank in Kerrville, Texas.