I sure am glad we've got these guys working on our solution...
Posted on 12/12/2001 11:49:15 AM PST by mdittmar
A 51-year-old woman whose friends say had been depressed since her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Center committed suicide this week, authorities said Wednesday.
Pat Flounders, 51, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home Monday, Monroe County Coroner Dave Thomas said. Her body was found by a friend.
Her husband, Joe Flounders, 46, was worked for Euro Brokers Inc. on the 84th floor of trade center's South Tower, the second skyscraper struck by hijackers Sept. 11.
Pat Flounders had said she was at home watching television when she saw a jet hit the North Tower. She called her husband and told him to leave, but was later told by one of her husband's colleagues that he stayed behind to assist a co-worker who went into shock.
"She was so distraught. She just lost her will to live, she lost hope," said Kelly Lewis, who helped Pat Flounders gather personal documents after her husband's death.
Flounders was also in poor health and was recovering from surgery in which she had a pacemaker implanted, Lewis said. She refused the offers of free counseling that were made to families of trade center victims.
The couple had moved to Monroe County from New York three years ago.
Pat Flounders held a memorial for her husband last week in New York, which was attended by friends and former co-workers, but she remained despondent.
Her husband's death "was just so hard for her; he was taking care of her, he took care of all the financial matters," Lewis said. "He was only a few years from retirement and they were really looking forward to it."
And Richard Gere still feels that he has more than enough COMPASSION to feel superior.
Lord, please take her and wipe away her tears...
Me too. Bad enough we have the evil we do in the world without some simpering shrink tell us how we aren't handling our response to it correctly. What got me about this article is the supposition that had this lady only availed herself of the help offered she would be alive today.
I sure am glad we've got these guys working on our solution...
Will O'Reilly report tomorrow that she was never contacted by the Red Cross or United Way to help with the finances her husband always took care of?
...and the Palestinians were dancing in the streets...
This added tragedy only brings it all back to light. I just feel so helpless when someone destroys themselves like this. I imagine her friends and family feel so lost and can't help but wonder if there was only something they could have said or done to have prevented it.
They could not have. We know from personal experience the pain of a loved ones suicide. I can tell you now.. her death will haunt her loved ones for a long time. Suicide is so hard to understand, so hard to go on after a loved one does that. We reached "forgiveness" in our loved ones suicide. We had to forgive,.. because it had turned into anger for a while. Then such horrendous sadness. Even today, there are times I wish that person had lived on. Lived to see the grandchildren we would have shared. Laughed when we laughed. I know that had they just reached out more.. somehow we could have gotten through whatever they were going through together. We would have been there. Even if it meant holding that person TIGHT every night. We would have been there.
I just pray if anyone else is feeling this way.. they will let someone know they are considering destroying themselves. There really can be life after a terrible tragedy like what this poor woman endured. It just takes time.. sometimes a long time. But then eventually life improves. You smile again.. laugh again.
I'm so sorry for her.. for her loss of her husband,.. and now of her own life. I pray for her family and friends. I also pray with all my heart and soul, that if anyone is depressed, that if they are considering suicide,.. to reach out to someone. Even if it's a stranger on a suicide hotline. Even if it means going to an Emergency Room and saying you're going to destroy yourself. Please.. Please know there is a better way.
I second this!
How very sad.
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