This is the announcement from FamilyMedMD this evening:
Hello to all,
It is with great sadness that I am writing to let you all know that our dear, mutual friend, Leni Friedman (screen name Kestrel923) passed away today, just after noon, after a long battle with metastatic lung cancer.
Many of you are on this e-mail list for the first time, so I apologize for the sudden bad news. Leni touched so many, and as we were talking in birding chat this weekend, we tried to add anyone that was known to be close to her.
She was in hospice care, in her own home in the mountains of Virginia, surrounded by her family at her bedside, when she passed away. I should also mention that she was attended by one of our own birding chat roommates, "KingletVA," who has been a tremendously faithful friend to Leni for many years, but particularly during this past few months of her decline.
Kinglet has been a home nurse aid for many years, and provided great comfort to Leni and her family, staying nearly round the clock for the past several weeks, and was with her when she passed from this life.
There should be more information to come, regarding services, and will try to give you a link to the obituary when it is published (you can watch for it in the Washington Post). The funeral is to be Wednesday at 1:00 PM. Anyone who would like information can look for the obituary online, should be there soon.
It is with great sadness that I am writing to let you all know that our dear, mutual friend, Leni Friedman (screen name Kestrel923) passed away today, just after noon, after a long battle with metastatic lung cancer.
Many of you are on this e-mail list for the first time, so I apologize for the sudden bad news. Leni touched so many, and as we were talking in birding chat this weekend, we tried to add anyone that was known to be close to her.
She was in hospice care, in her own home in the mountains of Virginia, surrounded by her family at her bedside, when she passed away. I should also mention that she was attended by one of our own birding chat roommates, "KingletVA," who has been a tremendously faithful friend to Leni for many years, but particularly during this past few months of her decline.
Kinglet has been a home nurse aid for many years, and provided great comfort to Leni and her family, staying nearly round the clock for the past several weeks, and was with her when she passed from this life.
There should be more information to come, regarding services, and will try to give you a link to the obituary when it is published (you can watch for it in the Washington Post). The funeral is to be Wednesday at 1:00 PM. Anyone who would like information can look for the obituary online, should be there soon.
Kinglet tells me they would like to plan to have donations in lieu of flowers be used to provide something to memorialize her at one of her favorite birding spots, Huntley Meadows. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE CAN SEND A CHECK DIRECTLY TO HUNTLEY MEADOWS, IN ARLINGTON VA, AND PUT ON THE MEMO LINE "LENORE FRIEDMAN MEMORIAL FUND." When they receive a total of 500 dollars, they will commission a bench there as a memorial, which seems very fitting.
3 comments:
My dear friend, Leni.
You are the most wonderful Spirit. Earth has lost one of its best angels to heaven, and I can't blame Heaven for wanting to add you there. The birdsong there must be boggling your mind. I'm sure it happens more than just in May.
Leni, you brought so many people together in your lifetime and created so many friendships. You had a gentle wisdom about you that was always beyond your years. And I always found a little of myself in you...except you were the only person I've met who could out-birdsong me. I humbly bowed to your skills, lol. I learned so much from you, and not just about birds.
You always had that wonderful smile on your face, and forever smiled "below the wrists" online. You always had kind words to say about everyone. Though I can't imagine Earth without your remarkable presence, I certainly can see what you add to the Other Side....you have so much to offer, my friend. Heaven now shines a lot brighter, lucky them.
I pray more for your friends and family now, because we are all at such a loss without you, while I know you are now at a banquet like you've never seen before, full of sights, sounds, and wonderful sensations like we've not yet known.
I miss you dearly, and you are forever wrapped around my heart.
Some friends come
Some friends go
And some leave footprints on our heart and we are never again the same.
Thank you for leaving your footprints on my heart. You are truly one of the most remarkable women I've ever had the privelege of knowing.
I love you, my sister friend. Enjoy your journey, and until we can meet again, may you shine down on us with your memories and the wonderful things you left behind for us in lessons in kindness. "You done good." I can only hope to emulate what you've taught me in the years I was priveleged to know you.
With deep friendship and love,
Donna Blain
Woodstock, CT
Birdsong123@aol.com
The first time I met Leni was when I was attending a Community Leader training class in "Creative Problem Solving", I fell in love with her. As the class progressed, I could feel how strongly we were "kindred spirits". Her sense of humor, her spirituality and her essence were so evident to me.
Over the years we formed an onl-line friendship with a few real life phone calls now and then. Her friendship and her advice will always be special to me, and remembered forever. Once anyone that I knew met her, she was immediately imprinted on their hearts.
Soar high in the sky sweet Kestrel! That is where your spirit will be, amongst the mountains, in the blue sky above, and swooping down to linger in the cold clear water of the mountain streams.
Namasta!
Jo
Formerly: HOST PETS Miou
Kes,
I will always remember you. You were my mentor, for my accomplishments, since I came into your birding room about 3 years ago. You taught me to host, be a better person, gave suggestions on how to improve the monthly nature journal.
You said you chose the name Kestrel because of this bird's character and activities. You lived up to this name. I believe to the end.
You will be sadly missed by the whole birding community.
Rest in peace, my love
Your friend
Shirley Flanagan
Ontario, Canada
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