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I was watching the coverage of Bernie Mac’s death on the news this morning.  What I realized as I watched it though, is that when a famous comedian or film star dies we see all kinds of clips of their work, and photos of them at the height of their career.

It would be nice to think we could do a living tribute for everyone. Everyone has a story. Everyone has a life. We need to save our memories online, then we can create online tributes for our friends and loved ones to allow them to live on. We can also share their lives in a meaningful way.

Respectance and Picalily let us do that. We can all share our stories the way we want to. With who we want to.

Bernie Mac was a funny man, he lived the American dream. Coming from nothing and becoming highly successful and wealthy. His death was untimely, his loss a significant one for comedy. You can leave your favourite memories of him here.

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When Tim McLean got on the Greyhound bus for the ride home from working at the Edmonton Capital Ex as a carnival worker I am pretty sure he didn’t expect that it would be his last ride. When Tim got on the bus, he was full of hope and eagerly looking forward to his next job…working at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition. He loved the PNE so much he was planning eventually to move to Vancouver. He was a 22 year old young man, full of love, hope and life.

He fell asleep on the bus, near the back. That’s when he became the victim of a completely random and extremely violent crime. With no warning, he was stabbed to death, beheaded, and cannibalized. A crime too horrific to be committed by sane person. A fate too awful to ever imagine.

“He was such a sweetheart. I cannot think of anybody who would not miss him,” said Mayme Martin, 19, who worked the carnival circuit with McLean. “To anybody who knew him, he was that bright, bubbly, happy guy. He was always out for fun. I already miss him.

You can join together to remember Tim and his life at his memorial on Respectance.

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Reaching for the top, climbing the ladder. Craig Jones loved competition. He was a very skilled motor racer. Every year he got better and was tasting success.

Last week he sadly fell off his motorcycle in the heat of the game. The images we have of that speak for itself. It was a horrible accident at the circuit of Kent.

Driving Parkalgar Honda, Craig suffered head injuries at the Kent circuit when, chasing leader Jonathan Rea on lap seven of a restarted race, he slid out at Clark Curve and was left exposed on the track. He was then hit by Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt, who tried desperately to avoid him but was left with nowhere to go.

Sadly, we just read that he was declared dead by the hospital. He went for the top, but sadly fell in his battle. We will never forget this British motor hero.

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Working at Respectance has brought many stories to our eyes. Of course, we are following what all these families are writing. At the same time we follow the world news to give a place to people that sadly made it there.

The story of Doujon is really heartbreaking. This young Australian got attacked in a club in Greece. He refused to give his passport. This eventually led to his death, after being taken to hospital from the club.
Before he died, this young Australian’s family agreed to give his heart to a fellow Aussie who was also in a hospital in Greece. In need of a heart.

He refused to give his passport under pressure. Though at free will he gave his heart to another person. What more can we say about this young man? If there is a heaven, he is on a throne there now.

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There was a very sad accident not long ago, in which a cyclist was killed. He had begun to cycle to work in order to save money. The recent increases in gas prices were beginning to cut into his young family’s budget.

He was riding his bike down a busy city street. As he passed by a line of parked cars, someone opened a car door. The cyclist caught the door full on, was thrown into the oncoming line of traffic and was run over by a truck. It was a horrific tragedy all around. The drivers of the vehicles were devastated; the man’s family was crushed with grief.

In a surprising comment to the press his wife explained that at least his children would have many good memories of their father. They had bought a digital video cam when their first child was born three years ago. She and her husband had compulsively filmed family activities since that time. She spoke of creating an online memory book of his life, and uploading the video. She hoped that other people would be able to add to the book, for the sake of her children. I hope to see her story on Respectance and Picalily.

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