Hi all. My name is Bill VanSickle, and for 22 years I’ve been married to my precious bride April. I think her handle on this forum was Bluebird. She passed away a few weeks ago.
For quite a long time, as her illness progressed, April’s world has been getting smaller. LettuceCraft has been a lifeline for her. She really enjoyed making art for you, doing swaps with you, and swapping HappyMail with you.
If you’d like to find out more about her, I’ve attached her obit below. Scroll down in the obit to read more: there’s a picture of us together on our wedding day at the bottom.
If you have any kind words to share about your experience with her, it would encourage me to hear them. I don’t know if she can read it from where she is now, but if she can, I know she’d appreciate it too. If you have any questions for me, I’ll do my best to answer them.
Also, special thanks to Jen and Mary, Bea and Mariane for their recent cards. I’ve attached a photo of them (I think).
Thank you for your community, your creativity, and your caring.
So much love to you. She will be remembered well and we are all better for having crossed paths with her in this life.
5 Likes
AIMR
(Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)
6
I was just thinking of April this week. I noted that she had not posted in quite some time. I am devastated to hear of her passing and I am so sorry for you and your family and friends.
April had a user name, Bluebird, that always meant happiness to me. I would think of her whenever I found images or projects that had a bluebird in it. It was a joy to share my projects with her. She was always so appreciate and encouraging. Her happy mail was indeed happy.
I, like many here, never met April in real life, but she was real. She will be missed and remembered always by this community. Go in peace and love, sweet April.
I’m so sorry to hear this and so sorry for your loss. April was a big part of a lot of crafters experience here and she will be so missed. Thank you for taking the time to let our community know, Bill. We are a real community here, but one where we don’t always know what’s happening with our members and it’s a kindness that you shared this sorrow with us.
Oh, how sad! She was always a ray of light in the Nerd Games. It’s because of her that we started doing an advent feature every fall season of the Nerd Games, and have kept it going every year since. I’m glad that she was part of this community, and she will be missed.
She will be dearly missed in our community. I’m so sorry for your loss. And like @TheMistressT I thank you for letting us know, so that we can join in celebrating her life and the indelible mark she’s left in ours. Peace and prayers for you and those who are mourning her loss.
This is so sad. I am sorry for your loss, Bill. April was a ray of light here. I was always excited when she joined the ATC swap because her art was so beautiful. She was kind and talented and will be deeply missed.
I am so sorry for your loss, Bill!
I don’t do swaps, but over the years I received a lot of precious Happy Mail from April.
All the way from over the ocean, since I’m Dutch and living in Belgium.
April was very kind and talented. She will be missed here too.
Wishing you strength and support from those around you!
May the happy memories stay forever in your heart.
Thank you for sharing with us, and I am deeply sorry for your loss.
April sent me many lovely “happy mail” cards and postcards, which I cherish in my memory book.
I also have some of her Artist Trading Cards and I love every one of them.
This happy little whale that she drew is one of my favourites, and I also love the sunflower. These are just a couple of the ones I received from her. I thought you might like to see some of the things that she created that we love
Oh, Bill. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know of her passing. She was truly a gem and will be ever-so-greatly missed here in our community.
Thank you for posting, and for sharing the link; I’m really glad I got to find out a bit more about April.
As others have said, she was such an encouraging presence here. Her happy mail always brightened my mailbox, and I truly appreciated that she continued to send it even when I was much less consistent about mailing back. I loved swapping with her and always looked forward to seeing what she’d made.
My deepest condolences to you and all of April’s loved ones. Know that she was valued here and will be incredibly missed.
