This was my Eulogy that I read at Rob's funeral on May 12th, 2008. If you were unable to attend Robbie's services, and would like to include a Eulogy of your own, feel free to email me and I will add it here.
Hello my name is Kyle Lauro, I was, am…Rob’s cousin. This is indeed a sad day for all of us. We have lost such a great person. I think sharing our grief would help us ease our burdens.
Im not really sure how to go about this so, I guess I will start off with a quick story. I remember when we were kids our family would make yearly trips to Disneyland. Usually, if I remember, it was over spring break or the summer, and Robbie would always come along with us. Well this one time we were in the park, and my parents let us go off on our own for half of the day or so to explore the park, but with very specific instructions of when and where to meet them. So I remember on this specific occasion we were on Tom Sawyer’s island. If you haven’t been there, you would take a little ferry to this island, and there were a bunch of caves you could run around in and explore.
Anyway, on this one occasion, Rob decided he was going to be funny and play this game where he would walk behind me, and then as I turned a corner, he would run off and hide in some little offshoot of the tunnel and I would be left standing there alone looking silly and wondering where the heck he went. Just as I would backtrack to find him, he would jump out and scare the living daylights out of me, and laugh and laugh. I specifically remember punching him a few times for it.
Anyway, this one time he did that, but I couldn’t find him. So I walked and walked through the tunnels yelling Robbie, Robbie! But nothing, no sign of him…So I rode the ferry back and forth what seemed like 20 times, still, no sign of him
So finally I just said “heck with it” and went over to the arcade and proceeded to play video games. Well I guess I lost track of time, because the next thing I remember is playing some game, and all of a sudden someone yanking on the back of my shirt. Well it was my dad, and he started dragging me out of there telling me that half the park was looking for me and they were so worried. So needless to say he wasn’t exactly happy with me. So we made our way over to the restaurant to meet the rest of the family, and here I am thinking, well if Im in trouble, Robbie must REALLY be in hot water. So we walk into where everyone is sitting and what’s the first thing I see, Robbie sitting at the table with a big smile on his face haha, looking all innocent. He said, “Why did you ditch me? Where have you been? You know we were supposed to be here for dinner?” And then told the family that I was the one playing games with him. I remember scowling at him as I sat down.
That’s one thing I will always remember about him, was his sense of humor. He always made me laugh no matter what was going on. He always told me I was too serious and that laughter would cure anything…
When I heard that he sick, I was having trouble understanding. I was having trouble understanding why this happens? My younger, cousin, with the great heart and the big smile was dying. I was angry. Why is it that a good and loving person like Robbie had to be taken? I don’t know, I guess there is a plan for us all in life, and we have to just live it out. The last time I talked to him, when he was able to speak, I asked him if he was scared or anything like that, and he said “No not really.” He said he had dealt with his mortality, and that whatever happens, happens. He said that he had made his peace with God and that he was looking forward to seeing Grandpa again.
Well Rob, I know you’re in a better place now and one day we will all see you again. Thanks for being my cousin and making us laugh. You will be missed. You are well-loved and had done so many things on earth, I’m sure you’ll do much more in heaven.
I will always think of you cuz. You will always be in our hearts. The world works in strange ways and I just hope there is a reason why you were taken from us so soon. Life is such a precious thing and you made each and everyone else's life that much more beautiful.
-Kyle
