Shwea has joined the family

Ann's dear dog Shwea became very ill and had to be put to sleep on Friday, July 30th. She was with her dear Aunt Mary, Deb and Barb, in her own home. She went very peacefully, she was so weak and tired. She is now with Ann, Linda, Linus and the rest.

'Courage when years become days'

The Rev. Andrea Ayvazian penned a column about Ann's last days, which ran in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on Tues., July 27, 2010.

1559 Pierce Avenue

Ann painted this watercolor of her childhood home, 1559 Pierce Avenue, after which she named this blog.

Remembering Ann Podolske

Here's a seven-minute video of Ann Podolske performing at the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. Ann started performing at the Studio in 2005. This clip is from Nov. 15, 2008.

Ann Podolske, We Hardly Knew Ye (1959-2010)

Ann passed away today, June 5, 2010 at noon. She was at peace, surrounded by family and friends.

The visitation will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Road, Northampton, Mass.

A celebration of Ann's life will take place on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Haydenville Congregational Church, 143 Main Street, Haydenville, Mass. All are welcome (the Bombshell will be there too!). Refreshments will be served immediately following.

Ann wrote her own obituary, which will appear in the Hampshire Gazette and Springfield Republican at some point in the next few days.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann's name can be made to one or more of her favorite organizations: PFLAG or Haydenville Congregational Church.

Jennifer Myszkowski will be posting some of her comedy on YouTube and will post a link here.

xx00,

Ann's family, friends and the Bombshell

she's still hanging on

Friends-

Ann is still hanging on, visiting with friends, but declining. When possible, we read your posts to her and she appreciates them. She is surrounded by friends and family, full of love and support.

When you post a reply, please include your name, since not all have been showing up!

Val

Love to you all: June 1, 2010

It looks as though my kidneys have taken a major turn for the worse, and what looked liked weeks may now be days. Maybe a day.

Yesterday offered such an array of bad news, I don't know where to begin, but the details don't really matter--I'm dying far sooner than I thought. Yesterday the doctors gave me 1-3 days, and I will likely be slowly dying. From kidney disease caused by the multiple myeloma.

Please know I am not afraid of dying. What I am is is sad that I am going to be missing a big chunk of this wonderful, messy, loving and beautiful thing we call life.

To those of you who are friends reading this for the first time after I died, I'm sorry. I've been working on it, but I couldn't help it. Sorry!

Put my obituary today today, so look for it in the Daily Hampshire Gazette in early June, friends.

My friend Val will be updating this re regarding this regarding the funeral and such.

Thank you so much for your support and love over the course of my illness. Love to the nth to you all, Ann and the Bombshell