Mary Etienne, 1926 - 2026
​Legacy of Family, Love, Humor, and Books

Our matriarch, my grandmother, Mary Etienne, passed away on January 21, 2026, less than two months shy of her 100th birthday on March 14. She was the mother of eight children, grandmother of eleven grandchildren, and great-grandmother of seven great-grandchildren. She lived every day of her 99+ years to the fullest. She was an avid reader of books, especially mystery stories set in England. She read so many large-print novels from the local library that she had to start leaving a small pencil mark on the inside cover so she would know if she had already read it on her next visit.

It’s my honor to dedicate the Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke: A Treasury of Four Royal Tales book to her, which combines my first four published stories about the creative chaos of family love, as a celebration of her life and legacy of family, faith, love, humor, and, of course, books.

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Robert George Etienne, 1926 - 2024
​Legacy of Art Exploration and Creativity

What kind of world do you want to live in? For me, it's one painted by my grandfather, Robert George Etienne, who passed away at 98 years old on March 25, 2024. "George", as he was known to friends, explored Europe by train, with a canvas, his oils, his imagination, and not much more. He painted landscapes he saw or imagined, and things that inspired him. Even later in life, he painted a series of plastic plates - yes, acrylic paint on plastic dining plates - that featured the beauty of nature, which only his beautiful, creative mind could concoct. I thank him for the legacy of visual art and my grandmother, Mary Etienne, for gifting me his art supplies and series of plastic plates from his collection (my favorites are shown below) that was displayed in their house for as long as I can remember growing up. My only goal is to create something beautiful with them, and let the legacy of artistic creation live on.

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​Recreating Grandpa's Paintings in Soft Pastels

July 23, 2026: Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandpa!

To honor my grandfather, Robert George Etienne, on what would have been his heavenly 100th birthday, I recreated four of his original acrylic paintings on decorative plates using soft pastels on paper.

These drawings are not exact copies. They are my way of celebrating the artist Grandpa was and the lasting impact he had on my life. Along the way, each painting brought back memories—from Long Island summers surrounded by blue hydrangeas to heirloom tomatoes from his backyard garden, and the simple joy of fresh-picked peaches.

I hope this tribute inspires you to pause, notice the beauty in everyday moments, and remember someone whose creativity continues to live on through you.

Places painted by Robert George Etienne:

People and Things painted by Robert George Etienne:

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Kenneth Pribil Sr., 1950 - 2022
Legacy of Music and Charisma, Sports and Travel

My dad, Kenneth Pribil Sr., lived life to the fullest. Motorcycles, skiing and SCUBA diving around the world. He liked to make people laugh, and had the energy and confidence of 100 people. If there was a microphone or a piano around, he was behind it. He was a people person, an entrepreneur, a thrill seeker.

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Kenneth Pribil Jr., 1986 - 2006
Forever In Our Hearts

We are all fortunate for the angels that watch over us, by way of friends and family whose memory is eternal in our hearts. My brother, Ken Pribil, Jr. is one of these angels. He was a kind and intelligent young man that was taken too soon, due to an aggressive rare cancer.

​We strive to keep his spirit alive by carrying on the life values he demonstrated with the Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation, a 501c3 charity dedicated to supporting sarcoma cancer research and awareness.

Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation benefits research for sarcoma cancer, which is represented by yellow ribbons and sunflowers.

Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation is a 501c3 Charity that benefits sarcoma cancer research and awareness.

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To the many other Angels of Inspiration that we have had the pleasure of knowing in life, and forever in our hearts.
​Thank you! You are remembered with a smile.