A truly holy woman

 

I lost a dear friend yesterday and I am torn between feelings of sadness and wonder.

We met when our children were barely toddlers and we camped together as families for a while when they were growing up. She was an elementary school teacher at their school and so we were involved in many things throughout our lives. We even both volunteered at an aviation museum for a while, giving tours and doing birthday parties for children.

Many of my friends are wonderful people who are constantly giving back to the community, but she went above and beyond. I remember her going through the stacks of trash that lined the middle of the halls of our junior high at the end of the year. All the lockers were cleaned out and their contents dumped in long piles waiting to be scooped up and disposed of. She carefully went through it all, taking out anything that was salvageable to be given to students who were needy. That was just one of her unknown selfless deeds.

She was sweet, funny and always upbeat, but honest. You could count on her for the right words at the right time. One example was when we were talking about Jehovah witnesses who come door to door. She answered her door with a bright and cheery smile and said, "Quick, you have thirty seconds to tell me your favorite Bible verse, then I have to go!"

I didn't go to her church, but I know she was a devout Catholic who was once a postulate intending to become a nun before she met her husband of 56 years. He died last year. They say she sometimes spoke in tongues while praying.

She married, had two children, became a teacher and lived a life of love and service until the day she died.

That was yesterday. It was quick, unexpected and I know she expected to be reunited with Jesus and her husband. She was at peace with herself and her life and she was an inspiration to everyone who knew her.