The Passing of a Wonderful Woman

[Elspode]

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.