The following poems were written by Stephen's cousin, 

Julianne Alessi (Age 10)

You Are Not Forgotten

The Day you went away, I wanted you to stay.
I wanted you to get well and stand up when you fell.
You didn't, so I cried.
I didn't except that you had died.
I prayed and prayed for a sign or miracle, but everything was the same.
Then you gave me signs like on a truck it said Cousins and your name.
After this I smiled, it really made me go wild.
So you are really there,
Yes you, Stephen La Bruyere.
You are watching us from heaven above,
And your heart is full of love.
We are down on Earth,
Waiting to be given new birth.
When we are given it we will be with you,
And you will be with us too.
Stephen, we love you,
And you love us too,
So you wave to us
As we pray to you.
You tell us you're ok and not to worry.
We try not to as our feelings scurry.
But the point of this poem is to let you know you're not forgotten.
You are in our hearts and minds,
Like legs are attached to our behinds.
So Stephen you won't forget us,
And we won't forget you.
We'll stay in your heart,
And you'll stay in ours too.
I Love You!

Stephen

Although I love you so,
God said it was time for you to go.
He said he needed you in the heavens above,
To bring desire, hope, and love.
I pray every day and night
To catch a glimpse of your sight.
To see you so happy and glad,
And not scared and sad.
So even though I am sad,
I know your happy so I'm glad.
Sometimes I'm gloomy, sometimes I cry,
But then I remember you are close by.
You make me bright
Like a light
And fill my day with delight.
Once this happens I am free
Like a little flying bumble bee.
So Stephen, you can see you were always swell
Now you're not sick, but well.     

Stephen Did Not Die

Sometimes people weep and cry.
They do not realize that Stephen did not die.
Sometimes they question the Lord and wonder why.
They do not realize that Stephen did not die.
Sometimes people think Stephen isn't close by.
They do not realize that Stephen did not die.

Stephen's physical presence isn't here,
But his spirit is near.
We can not see Stephen, no,
But we can feel his soul.
We know he is around us.
We have trust.

So people shouldn't weep and cry.
Stephen is here, he did not die.
People shouldn't question the Lord and wonder why.
Stephen is here, he did not die.
People shouldn't think that Stephen isn't close by.
Stephen is here, he did not die!

A Better Place

You were one of the best things that happened to me
The way you were always happy and full of glee.
You had a beautiful face and cute little hands
That's why it was so hard for everyone to understand.
Why did God take you so soon?
Time went so fast like thunder, BOOM!
You were so young and had a horrible sickness.
Cancer. Just the word alone was sadness.
But what's also sad is that the doctors could not help you, so
They had to let you go.
Nobody can believe that this was so.
We all wanted so bad for you to get better, but you passed away instead,
But wait a second, YOU DID!
You're better now because you're in a better place so happy and warm
A place where there is no rain or thunderstorms.
A place where you'll never be hungry or sad.
A place that is good, not bad.
A place where things will never be too slow or too quick.
A place where you will never be sick!