Day 371: The passing of our sister Irene Bachelder

Dear Sisters and Brothers: It's a great sadness to write that our beloved sister Irene Bachelder passed yesterday, the first day of Spring, just after noon. Tom, Evan and Alexandra were with her and after a few moments Victoria, Alice and Pat O'Connor arrived to witness and to help.

Together they created a thoughtful space for Irene who looked so peaceful and beautiful, just as she was in life.

Her life complete, her pain from cancer over. A loving husband and four loving sons, daughters in law and grandchildren. Irene touched each one of us and we marvel at her talents, her strength and her humble acceptance.

Irene rests peacefully at their home and Tom would welcome those who would like to pay a visit Today, Monday March 22nd after noon. She will also remain at their home tomorrow Tuesday, March 23rd and visitors are welcome.

ON Wednesday the 24th, Tom and family will transport Irene's body to Conneely Family Cremation & Funeral Services. Tom invites anyone who would like, to accompany them to Windsor (or it may be Healdsburg - more later).

Irene means so much to all of us. It is hard to even think about our loss. This is a poem that expresses how we all feel about her.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,

Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,

When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? (Sonnet 18)

William Shakespeare - 1564-1616