The Passing of a Wonderful Woman

Elspode · 10-13-2008, 10:12 PM

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.

dar512 · 10-13-2008, 10:42 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss, Els.

Peace be to you and yours.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-13-2008, 10:51 PM

ZenGum · 10-13-2008, 11:21 PM

A moment of silence.

Condolences to you all.

Clodfobble · 10-14-2008, 12:17 AM

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

Radar · 10-14-2008, 01:12 AM

My sincere condolences.

Sundae · 10-14-2008, 05:52 AM

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.

Shawnee123 · 10-14-2008, 07:40 AM

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.

classicman · 10-14-2008, 08:55 AM

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

sweetwater · 10-14-2008, 12:42 PM

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.

Treasenuak · 10-14-2008, 01:01 PM

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

Trilby · 10-14-2008, 01:14 PM

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

Warmest thoughts to you and yours, els.

limey · 10-14-2008, 01:30 PM

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

Elspode · 10-14-2008, 06:23 PM

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.

Sundae · 10-14-2008, 06:29 PM

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

10-13-2008, 10:12 PM	#1
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	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. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-13-2008, 10:42 PM	#2
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I'm so sorry for your loss, Els. Peace be to you and yours. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

10-13-2008, 10:51 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	__________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-13-2008, 11:21 PM	#4
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	A moment of silence. Condolences to you all. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

10-14-2008, 12:17 AM	#5
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I'm sorry, Els. Please pass my condolences on to Selene as well. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-14-2008, 01:12 AM	#6
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	My sincere condolences. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

10-14-2008, 05:52 AM	#7
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	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. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-14-2008, 07:40 AM	#8
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	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. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-14-2008, 08:55 AM	#9
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Peace be with you and your family during this difficult time. Remember the love and guidance she shared with all of you remains eternal. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

10-14-2008, 12:42 PM	#10
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	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. __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

10-14-2008, 01:01 PM	#11
Treasenuak Multiorgasmic and wrapped in plastic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Tennessee Posts: 483	My condolences, Els. You and your family are in my thoughts.

10-14-2008, 01:14 PM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Death is not a period but merely a comma... Warmest thoughts to you and yours, els. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

10-14-2008, 01:30 PM	#13
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	My thoughts are with you and Selene, and the family. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-14-2008, 06:23 PM	#14
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	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. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-14-2008, 06:29 PM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	You know we're here. Electronically, although I'm sure we all want to hug you. But we're here. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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