The Passing of a Wonderful Woman
 

We just returned from my wife's youngest Aunt's home. Aunt Lela lost her five year battle with ovarian cancer early this evening, in the comfort of her own bed and surrounded by extended family, aged 64 years. There must have been forty people there, milling in and out of the bedroom where Lela's body lay clad in a pink dressing gown, clutching a gold pendant sent with her sister Jan who arrived from Florida only this afternoon, packed into a seven seat van with eight other people.

Selene's Aunt Lela was without a doubt the most upbeat, positive, sunny human being I've ever known. No one deserves to fight such a prolonged and decimating battle against their own body, but Lela surely deserved it less than anyone possibly could. I am going to miss her powerfully. She was one of those people who lit up a room when she entered it. She remembered everyone's names without fail - even those of nurses she hadn't seen for months when she was in her last hospitalization less than a week ago, always more concerned about whether she was being a burden than she was about her own pain.

While I am not a Christian, it is so abundantly clear to me that the solid Christian faith of Selene's family is the rock upon which they are standing right now, firmly holding on to each other in their love and grief, certain in the grace of their Lord Christ. It is a powerful and energetic thing to see and share, even if you don't follow that path yourself.

Please keep our family in your thoughts for the next couple of days as we lay Lela to rest.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Els.

Peace be to you and yours.

:(

A moment of silence.

Condolences to you all.

I'm sorry, Els. Please pass my condolences on to Selene as well.

My sincere condolences.

Sorry to hear that Els.
Cancer is such a cruel way to die (as opposed to quietly in your sleep) but at least she left surrounded by love and with the faith that she was going to a better place. It must have eased her mind and those around her who believe the same thing.

My thoughts are with you and Selene.

When my sister-in-laws grandpa passed away, she said he was surrounded by family, and when he passed they were all standing around him, holding hands. She said as sad as it was, it was beautiful.

All we can really hope for in life is that we have touched someone, we have been loved, we have cared and been cared for. It sounds like Selene's aunt had all that, tenfold.

Please accept my sincere condolences, and know that you and Selene and your family are in my thoughts.

Peace be with you and your family during this difficult time. Remember the love and guidance she shared with all of you remains eternal.

:(
I am still wearing the turquoise colored bracelet with "It whispers - so listen", a reference to ovarian cancer's typical way of progressing beyond treatment level, in memory of my SIL lost to the disease. Peace and condolences to you and your family.

My condolences, Els. You and your family are in my thoughts.

Death is not a period but merely a comma...

Warmest thoughts to you and yours, els.

My thoughts are with you and Selene, and the family.

Thanks, all my Cellar fambly. We're still awaiting word on when the funeral will be held, although it happens that it is to be at the cemetery nearest to us...where numbers of both Selene and my family are buried.

We're also still awaiting word on whether or not the eight Florida relatives will be descending on us to crash. I've just finished a furious cleaning of the most critical and hard to hide areas of the house just in case.

You know we're here.
Electronically, although I'm sure we all want to hug you.
But we're here.