CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Recently I had the privilege to attend the celebration of life for a mutual friend of many people I know.  Her name was Catherine Paul, she died from breast cancer at the age of 73.   In her final month, while in hospice care she planned her own end of life ceremony, including the music, the eulogy and the closing benediction.   Her son Nathan helped her while being her principle care giver.   She asked her son to have all her books available to the people that attended the ceremony and to take whatever they wanted.  Catherine had been a nurse, midwife and helped start the WIC program in Douglas County.   She is survived by a brother, sister and her son.   According to her brother she was a nature enthusiast, enjoying backpacking and outdoor activities in her younger years.   Celia and I first met her at a July 4th potluck at some friends house, I think in 2012.   She was also with many of  us at the annual Thanksgiving dinner at some other friends.   I had the impression she was a quiet and reserved person.  What conversations I had with her I learned she was a good listener and took great interest in what others had to say.   I learned more about Catherine at her celebration of life wishing I had known her more while she was alive.    Life is uncertain and none of us know when we might depart this world, it could be sudden or we might be given a period of time to prepare for the end of life.   We should all be better at learning more about those around us while we are still alive.