Lourdes Laraya Cuasay
Lulu and I have a long history of friendship. We share the same first name. She went by Lulu, I responded to Ludy. She and I were dormmates in Pi Margall St just outside of the UST Medical Campus when we were in medical school students. I was a year her senior. Many years later after we both came to the United States for further education and in search of a new way of life to raise our children, Lulu and I met again in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden. She worked in Pediatrics in the Osborne Family Health Center while I handled the Pediatric Pulmonary and Cystic Fibrosis Clinic of the hospital. When I moved to Spring Lake and on to Jersey Shore Medical Center and to UMDNJ RWJ Medical School Pediatric Pulmonary Programs, Lulu and Verne, Rica and Robert and our four children had lost immediate contact with one another except through medical colleagues and acquaintances. Somehow, we got wind of Lulu's passing away and after digging into old contacts and friends, we got hold of Rica to extend our condolences and our love, and our children's prayers and deep sympathies as well. No matter how close friendships are-- work, distance, circumstances and other priorities unnecessarily come in the way. To Rica and Robert, we express our deepest sympathies. Ramon, my husband will write a separate tribute and memory in Verne's obituary page. We pray for Lulu and Verne and God's comfort and peace to Rica and Robert.- Lourdes Laraya Cuasay.
