Stricken with childhood rheumatic arthritis and
diagnosed with a form of Lou Gehrig's disease in her
last two years, Connie, was presented with far more
challenges than I have ever had to face in my
life, and she handled every one of them with quiet
grace and courage.

Never in the eight years I was blessed to have her in
my life did she speak an unkind word or stand in judgment
of anyone's efforts, especially mine, as I continue
struggling to get lofty ambitions realized, the most
common phrase to be heard in her presence,
after she lent a sympathetic ear was : "How can I
help?".

From day one, when I was proposed to by her son, and
shuddered to my core at the prospect of meeting the
in-laws, being a woman ten years older than my husband
to be, with a seven year old child from a previous
marriage in tow, I was immediately embraced without
reserve or hesitation.

David's parents helped us finance our first house
purchase ; they contributed to numerous trips I had to
make to Europe for business ventures I am pursuing, which
still haven't brought them any return; and above all,
whenever my son needed anything they would immediately
step in - it was in fact David's family that paid for the
entire school trip to France and Italy Richard will
undoubtedly remeber the rest of his life.

How do I express my gratitude? How do I pay homage to
a person far greater than myself in the face of
adversity? I embrace no religion, and empty ceremony
of any kind would do this brave soul a final
injustice.

I can only try to live my life as woman,wife, mother,
friend, the way she lived hers: content with the
simplest of pleasures and peaceful moments with family
on the farm watching red squirrels fight with
chickadees for sunflower seeds - she knew the value of
things in the deepest sense and I can truly say that
for the first time in a real way I understand what
living a saintly life means.

I will hold Connie in my heart always, and ask her for
guidance in the future as always, while i stumble
along this journey of life, even though i have been
more capable of walking straight and tall than ever
she was.

Never have I met a person who embodied the spirit of
the dove so completely - and finally this bird of
peace is free to fly, no longer imprisoned by a
twisted body. May she soar high above us and bless
those of us who remain in this reality .

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