Connie's Corner

Gilda Radner

A few days ago I finished reading Gilda Radner's book, It's Always Something which turns out was a favorite expression of her father's. My mother would often say that too as I expect yours may have. Although it's a common expression, after reading her book, it certainly was appropriate. She details her battle with ovarian cancer, a battle she finally lost but not because of her failure to try to beat it. I cannot imagine going through all those surgeries, chemo, radiation, and tests she endured and still kept her sense of humor. I watched SNL and Roseanne Rosannadanna, not a lot but sometimes. It comes on a little late for me as an early riser. She was a strong person although she never saw herself that way. She was not quite 43 when she died on May 20th, 1989.

Gene Wilder, her husband, died last year at 83 from a complication of alzheimer's, and he always shared his opinion that Gilda's death from cancer was unnecessary. She had numerous symptoms but kept getting misdiagnosed until her cancer had progressed too far to be curable. But she never gave up and fought it till the very end. Here's a lot more photos and story   if you care to read. I just get a smile when I look at those happy pictures. So sad for her to go so young.