Update On Joanne

Thank You Joanne

My visit to Joanne Sunday August 27th.

I had spent the morning being the best Aunt I could be to my now 10 year-old niece Katrina who lost her father, my brother, January 2005. It was Katrina's birthday and I was the master organizer hanging the piñata, pin the tail on the donkey and bobbing for pears fresh from Katrina's Grandma's tree! All I could think about was how I wanted to teach Katrina about life and love.

From there I went to visit Joanne. I walked into a busy room with Joanne in the centre, sat for a minute and Mike's Mom suggested I visit quickly before Joanne fell asleep. I went over to Joanne's bedside and the light coming from her bright eyes filled me with an absolute joy that is impossible to truly describe. Even though I was only in Joanne's life for a short time while we worked on the documentary together and I hadn't seen her for some time, Joanne knew me and filled my heart absolutely full, now brimming with love.

I thought I would react with great sadness to this visit, but rather Joanne taught me in this brief moment of intensely valuable time, to return the light she was emanating, it was an intensely insightful experience for me. Thank you Joanne.

I spent time with Mike and his family who accepted me so fully, and made me feel that I was part of their extended family. I witnessed the absolute love that surrounds this amazing woman Joanne, and can see how graceful, beautiful and dignified this experience can be.

Thank you Joanne, for showing me a glimpse of this love and light, I will forever pass this on with love, and thank you for giving me this gift I can teach to my niece Katrina.

Mike, Darcy, Dylan, Dean and Kay,
my heart goes out to you all.
Mary M. Frymire

[Note: - Mary is the director of the documentary 'Don't Stand Still' that Joanne was in]

Selected Quotes from
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

If you live each day of your life right, then you have nothing to fear. Throughout life, we get clues that remind us of the direction we are supposed to be headed, if you stay focused, then you learn your lessons.

Those who learned to know death, rather than to fear and fight it, become our teachers about life.

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose ....

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.

The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.

We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind's greatest gift, also its greatest curse, is that we have free choice. We can make our choices built from love or from fear.

Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their carvings.

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.