From Charles, Catherine, and Rebecca:

Joan passed away peacefully this afternoon, Thursday, September 22, 2011, here in her home on her beloved Bowen Island, BC, Canada, after a courageous and inspiring five-year “cancer adventure”.

Thank you for all of your generosity toward Joan and all of us throughout this voyage.

Please feel free to post any messages in memory of Joan here on her blog.

This poem is by one of Joan’s favorite poets, John O’Donohue, and captures who she has been, is, and will be for us.

On The Death Of The Beloved

— John O’Donohue

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

September 23, 2011: Brilliant rainbow that miraculously appeared in front of us today just as our chanting of Om Namah Shivaya in honor of Joan ended!

September 23, 2011: Sunset on Bowen the day after Joan passed away

September 22, 2011: Tonight's Sky

September 21, 2011: Harry McNeill, Rebecca Kline, Colleen O'Neil (nurse extraordinaire), Joan, Dr. Paul Sugar (doctor extraordinaire)

September 21, 2011: Joan and Dr. Sugar

September 21, 2011: Yesterday's View from Joan's Bed