We are all so lucky to have known her

A speech by Jessica Dowling Hammer given at Rebecca’s Celebration of Life

Exactly 7 weeks ago, some of us here were standing in Sheila and John's kitchen in Malahide, as Rebecca gave a short speech. It was her going away party - the last time she would see so many friends and loved ones in Ireland. We disguised it as an anniversary party to mask the gravity and finality of it all. Rebecca willingly chose to come back here to Florida, and we are so grateful for the people who let her go, and for the time we had here as a family

Today, it might appear that we are trying to disguise this party as a luau, but Hannah just had some napkins she wanted to get ride of....so that was just a coincidence

Throughout this process, we stared death in the face, but we didn’t hide from it. We chose to focus on life instead. From parties, to concerts and expensive beach hotels, Rebecca chose to live as she died.

I find it so fitting that Rebecca has brought so many people together today to celebrate. Also so fitting that she left me to organize it.
It means so much to our family to be left with such a rich network of friends to help us remember her

Atlanta, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, Dublin and London in attendance

Rebecca should be remembered, not because she died at 30...but because she lived for 30 years. No matter what emotions you cycle through in the coming months and weeks, I hope you always land on gratitude. We are all so lucky to have known her