02/20/2026
I've been going back and forth for days debating on posting this. This one hits hard! I don't post much personal stuff on this page but as I said, this is a tough one. Sometimes you get to pick members of your family. Friends who become so close they earn titles cousins, Aunts, Uncles. The list goes on forever. This is one of those. Growing up I was always around Renee and her daughter, Gina. I grew up moved away, came back had babies and didn't see her as much but as I got older I saw her more and being an adult now we had more serious conversations about kids, life what have you. I'm the photo lady it's well known. I get most of the cousins, their babies etc. One day I was chatting with Renee and she said, my brother is getting married do you remember my brother, Dino? Of course I did! (he didn't remember me lol) but I said, give him my info I'd love to do it! I met with Dino and Lourdes and we chatted about their day, what they wanted and Renee's cheesecake! I think we chatted for an hour or so at a table in Wegmans. It was going to be a beautiful day full of family.
Life is tricky and unfair and Dino ended up fighting cancer. He called me and said, we're postponing while I kick this thing. I said yup, you're gonig to kick it's ass. He said, YUP, I am! We chatted back and forth for a couple weeks and I heard about a very small, private ceremony they had planned. I said, tell me when I'll be there! Of course they refused but we're both stubborn and "no" wasn't an option.
It was beautiful, so sweet, so emotional you could feel the absolute love. He said, "Angela, don't post them we're still going to do the original plan just next year instead." FABULOUS!! I can't wait!!! In the meantime Dino fought his butt off and ended up in remission. THE BEST NEWS EVER! At his sons wedding in September (you'll see those beauties in the cover photo) he said, "Can you take a picture please?" As though I would EVER say no! He was so happy and healthy, he looked fabulous and you could tell he felt like himself. It was a great day. He yelled at me to eat, like he always did and we all said, see you in June. I said, I'm looking forward to it!
This week Dino lost his battle and I am heartbroken. I really can't wrap my head around it. We were just talking football and planning a cookout and a tour of his basement football shrine (Nick got one I hadn't seen it yet) I am absolutely crushed for his family who is my extended family.
As I said, I really debated on posting this but Nick and I have a saying in our house.... "Take the picture" I know damn well Dino didn't necessary "want" photos from that first day but he took them anyway. We were planning to have a redo. We were planning on having a drink together, we were planning more memories. We were planning, and life went and made other plans and like the rest of his family I'm broken over it!
Tonight, I was reminded of what drove me to start my photography business. It was love. It was remembering the love, the memories, the laughs.
Please, take the photos and hug your people. Hug them hard!
My love to ALL of that side of my crazy family. Dino, rest easy you fought damn hard and will be missed beyond measure!
