HiRoad Communications

Copywriting that speaks to your target audience

  • Home
  • About HiRoad Communications
    • Copywriting Services
    • About Joe D’Eramo
  • Copywriting Portfolio
    • Website content
    • Newsletters and e-newsletters
    • Press releases and coverage
    • Bylined articles
    • Ads
    • Autoresponder e-mails
    • Blogs
    • Brochures
    • Direct mail
    • e-Books
    • Publishing
    • Radio spots
    • Sales sheets
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • HiRoad Newsroom
    • Press releases
    • Client News Coverage
    • Constant Contact Newsletter
    • Blog
You are here: Home / Blog / The card lady

June 20, 2014 by admin

The card lady

Barbara Schmitz, the Card Lady

My mother recently made a donation to my Pan Mass Challenge ride. Since she and Dad had already made a very generous donation, I asked why.  She said it was in honor of her recently deceased classmate, Barbara Schmitz of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Barbara passed away on May 8, 2014, another beautiful soul claimed by cancer.

Her obituary was a touching tribute to her life, her devotion to God, family and friends. Yet one thing jumped out at me. Barbara was affectionately known as The Card Lady.

Without knowing her or having it explained, I knew exactly what that meant. She was the type of person who never missed the opportunity to send a card to cheer a friend or family up. I’m guessing the Card Lady never missed sending a birthday card either.

I think every family has or should have a card person. We have one in our family. Aunt Peggy. At our house, your birthday celebration can’t begin until you receive your card from Aunt Peggy. There’s no money, gift card or anything of monetary value in the card. Just love. It’s always on time and it’s priceless.

Aunt Peggy lost both her husband and son to cancer.

Card ladies (gentlemen) are some of the sweetest, most beautiful people the Creator put on this earth.

Cancer doesn’t care.

If there’s somebody you lost to this insidious disease, there are few better ways to honor them than a donation to Pan Mass Challenge. One hundred percent of donations generated by riders go to Dana Farber/Jimmy Fund. That’s right, 100 percent!

Card ladies cannot be replaced. Yet their spirit inspires others to carry on that tradition.

We’re lucky in my family. My nephew is engaged to a girl who has that spirit, that caring. Though not officially in the family, she never misses a birthday. No one will ever replace my mother’s friend Barbara or Aunt Peggy (and we pray that’s a long time down the road). But life is so much nicer with a Card Lady in it.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Pan Mass Challenge

Joe Deramo

About Joe D’Eramo

As young children growing up, nobody ever says, “I want to be a copywriter.” It’s an avocation that chooses you. Somewhere between writing articles for the school newspaper and a term paper for advertising and marketing class in college, a light goes on and shouts, “this is what I should do, be a … [Read More...]

Download our FREE e-book!

Want more traffic? Take the HiRoad.

Call 617-848-0848 or send an e-mail to info@hiroadcommunications.com.com

Copyright © 2025 · HiRoad Communications · 111 Kathleen Drive Plymouth, MA 02360 · 617-848-0848