Existing comment:
2008 Feature: Record of a Life:
Carolynne St. Pierre was dying of cancer, and she wanted her children to remember her. During the final year of her life, she and her husband, Rich, allowed Concord Monitor photographer Preston Gannaway and reporter Chelsea Conaboy to create a documentary record of a family coping with everyday moments of illness, love and loss. "Photojournalism can be sort of a 'taking thing,' because you are asking someone to let you into their life," said Gannaway. "A story like this is so personal and intimate, it made me feel better that they were getting something in return. Every photo I took I gave to Rich to keep for the kids."
Throughout her illness, Carolynne wanted her children, Melissa, Brian and EJ, to live their lives as normally as possible. On the last day of her life, Carolynne was surrounded by her family in her bedroom. In that bathroom, 14-year-old Melissa got ready for her state championship gymnastics meet. Melissa later said she did not believe her mother would die that day. Her stepfather debated but let her attend the meet. |