Saturday, June 7, 2008
Catherine’s life was like a song, each note pure and true. So many of us were privileged to hear the music, and we are all the richer for the experience.
I am deeply grateful that Catherine came into my life four decades ago and that she has had such a profound and long-lasting impact. I mourn her loss because I recognize—and celebrate—the gifts I never would have known if she had not been such a vital part of my early years.
She made such a difference in so many lives and we grieve that she has left us. We will sorely miss her laughter and warmth and the joy, kindness, and love of life that she spread throughout her life. Although she is no longer among us, her spirit will live on in the hearts of everyone whose lives she touched so deeply.
So it is fitting that I should shed tears for Catherine’s passing. There is beauty in those tears, for they show how much we all have loved and lost. Indeed, the soul could have no rainbows if our eyes could have no tears. I take comfort in knowing that when our grief subsides, bright and happy memories will come to take away the tears.
I’d like to add a reminder to all the members of that remarkable clan that she and Steve brought into this world: You are their legacy and an extraordinary tribute to their lives, and you carry on their spirit of selfless love. Thank you for allowing me into a tiny corner of your circle of love. When you gaze out at the night sky it may be helpful to think that maybe you are not looking at stars in the sky, but openings through which Catherine and Steve shine down to let you know that they are together again and that they are happy, at peace, and watching over all of you—as they did for so many years filled with joy, love, and laughter.
