Only the Certain Spring - 1258003

catdander
Posts:

Earth cares for her own ruins, naught for ours. Nothing is certain, only the certain spring. http://allpoetry.com/poem/8528567-The_Burning_Of_The_Leaves-by-Robert_L…

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I deliver the sad news that our Certain Spring is gone.

She was a friend and I will miss her terribly.

Peace to you dear girl.

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Reply # - July 17, 2013, 04:33 PM

dbrock
Posts: 161

Operations Director, GRACE

 

Thank you Janine. A fitting goodbye and lovely poem. We will miss her terribly. Tears for her, hugs to all.

Operations Director for GRACE. Have worked with cancerGRACE.org since July 2009.  Became involved as a caregiver to my best friend, and quickly came to see that GRACE is filling a need in the area of cancer education. 

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 05:15 PM

laya d.
Posts: 714

I'm soooo darn sad and angry and upset and everything else right now. What a tragedy. . .What a loss. . .This is just madness. . .

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 05:51 PM

chebird
Posts: 104

This was not unexpected, but I am so, so sorry. What a lovely courageous lady. I'm praying for her dear husband. :(

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 07:49 PM

njliu
Posts: 142

This is very saddening and a big loss to GRACE where she had had touched so many with her care and generosity. I and my wife would always remember her fondly. My deepest condolences to her husband and family.
NJ

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 08:54 PM

bobradinsky
Posts: 144

I am so sorry to learn of the passing of Certain Spring. Since I am fairly new to Grace I only know her from recent posts. She showed me how one can have a positive attitude even in the shadow of impossible odds. I will miss her. Bob

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 09:18 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

As Holly said, this was not unexpected news, but no less painful. Certain spring was incredibly knowledgeable and amazingly generous in sharing that knowledge with everyone here at GRACE. She faced her own illness with admirable courage and good humor, and it was always clear that her greatest concern was not for herself but for her husband, whom she loved dearly. I hope the knowledge that she had friends all over the world who cared deeply about her will be of some comfort to him in these difficult days ahead.

Rest easy certain spring, and thank you for everything you did for GRACE and its members, by contributions of information and perhaps more importantly, the example you set for all of us. My thoughts are with your husband and your family for peace and comfort.

JimC
Forum moderator

Reply # - July 17, 2013, 10:29 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Certain spring was poetic in her words and wisdom here, while also remarkably knowledgeable. She was one of the leading examples of what makes GRACE a very special community. I'm personally very saddened but know that she both learned and felt valued here. A lovely spirit who will be desperately missed.

-Dr. West

Reply # - July 18, 2013, 07:01 AM

luke
Posts: 101

Why does it always end like this? Why are we so powerless against this disease?

Good people like her don't deserve this.

Reply # - July 18, 2013, 07:33 AM

sherrys
Posts: 212

There are truly no words to describe the impact she had on all of our lives, or to describe how sorely she will be missed. Now she has no pain and no more fear of this monster. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

Reply # - July 18, 2013, 09:14 AM

christineleeds
Posts: 25

Dreading this news .She was so supportive to me when I needed it.she leaves a gap here that will be hard to fill.There was always something unique about her way of expressing things.

Reply # - July 18, 2013, 12:22 PM

double trouble
Posts: 573

"The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity." Seneca

Oh, certain spring. How I envy the company you are surely keeping now! And I await the day when I can see your face among the others, free from the twist of pain and the wrench of fear, celebrating the victory of passage and the wonder of it all.

Debra

Reply # - July 18, 2013, 09:26 PM

btlaw123
Posts: 45

I am so very sad! What a tragic loss! Its totally beyond words. My very best regards to the family of Certain Spring. She was always so generous with her time and attention in responding to questions posted on GRACE.

Reply # - July 20, 2013, 07:02 AM

cards7up
Posts: 635

I am also saddened to hear of her passing. She was such an inspiration and helped me more than she'll ever know. My condolences to her husband and family. She'll always be in your heart and memories. RIP CS!
Take care, Judy

Reply # - July 23, 2013, 06:30 PM

marisa93
Posts: 215

I was dreading the day this news would be shared. I am very saddened by CS's passing. She was a wonderful lady and an important part of the GRACE community, her lack of presence here will be deeply felt.

RIP dear CS and may your husband find comfort in his memories of you.

Lisa

Reply # - July 24, 2013, 04:46 PM

catdander
Posts:

I just wanted to say that my heart and mind are catching up with the reality that CS is gone. I look for her in the threads to add the support we left out, whether a perspective, a misprint, personal experience, knowledge, or emotional support she was always there with a useful angle for anyone who posted.

It's hard to realize the closeness we feel for one another since we've never met; not until we lose someone.
Some people are sure I shouldn't be on the boards everyday but they don't realize it's part of my coping. CS assured me it was one of her coping mechanisms too.

I'm so glad to have all you in my life. Take care,
Janine

Reply # - July 25, 2013, 03:19 PM

Jazz
Posts: 279

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

~Christina Georgina Rossetti

Reply # - July 25, 2013, 04:33 PM

forherbie
Posts: 50

Certain Spring was always here sharing info. Her passing leaves a void at Grace. I hope her family knows how valuable and loved she was.
Anne

Reply # - July 25, 2013, 11:22 PM

laya d.
Posts: 714

I think about her every day and I miss her so much! This place feels so different without her. . .so much less :O( . . .Just like when Stephanie passed, and Ned before her, and Simon before him, and Catherine, and Myrtle, and Jing, and Blueskies, and Regina and Judy (in Key West), etc., etc.

Terribly Heartbroken. . .

Laya

Reply # - August 3, 2013, 07:00 PM

judys
Posts: 74

I'm with everyone else in missing certain spring like crazy.

Laya, your list of some of the many who have made huge contributions to GRACE is hard to read. ........Warrior Princess is another person I miss. What a perfect name for her.........There have been some amazing people on this site. How lucky we were to have had them around.

Reply # - August 5, 2013, 05:08 AM

heartspy
Posts: 37

My heart is heavy to hear of Certain Spring leaving her body and her family - including the one here at GRACE. Heartfelt hugs filled with sympathy to all of you. - Megan

Reply # - August 5, 2013, 06:45 PM

cpmcg
Posts: 4

I've been off the site for several months now, and dreaded coming back after so long - and am heartbroken to learn that CS is gone. I hate cancer SO MUCH! Not so much for myself, but for those we care about (even if we've never met in the flesh) who are taken away from us.
And I know a temper tantrum won't help, but that's what I feel like right now. I want to yell and scream and kick and say, "Bring her back RIGHT NOW!!!"
I will miss CS for as long as I live.
Candy

Reply # - August 5, 2013, 11:50 PM

laya d.
Posts: 714

Candy - - this is probably not the right venue, but I'm so happy to hear from you. I've been wondering how you've been doing all these months. . .

xoxo,
Laya

Reply # - August 11, 2013, 12:49 PM

rory
Posts: 1

As one of Certain Spring’s two brothers, I wanted to write to all of you at GRACE following the death of my sister and specially to those who've written such kind and beautiful words about her. Thank you all.

GRACE meant so much to Certain Spring over the last 3 years. (I'm sure you know this already but it’s worth repeating.) For her it was a place of friendship and inspiration and support – and much more. She often talked to me about what she had learned here and about the people she got to know through spending time here. You became a hugely important part of her life.

Her husband, her other brother and I, together with family and friends, have said our sad farewells over the last few weeks. She was buried on the west coast of Scotland. And there was a inspiring memorial event in Oxford, where she worked as an academic studying English literature.

When we gathered in Oxford last weekend, one part of the programme was directly inspired by GRACE. We read out many of the tributes to Certain Spring on these pages, as well as a few – a very few! – of the posts that she herself had written. So you and the wider GRACE community were in a real way there and part of the occasion.

We will miss her enormously and so, judging from these pages, will many of you on GRACE. Thank you again for all you gave her.

Reply # - August 11, 2013, 02:03 PM

double trouble
Posts: 573

Rory I can't thank you enough for letting us know. I know I have wondered if our words were reaching anyone. It is so good to know that we were there in spirit if not in person. I wish you only fond memories and little sadness as the days wear on. She was indeed one extraordinary woman.
Debra

Reply # - August 11, 2013, 02:34 PM

dbrock
Posts: 161

Operations Director, GRACE

 

Yes, Rory, thank you so much for reaching out. It feels somewhat empty when someone leaves us, and to have a family member say something really touches us all, if I may speak for us all.

We have talked offline about putting up a tribute in her honor on our tributes page -- this would mean hopefully a picture and perhaps releasing her name. This would only be of course with you and your families blessing. Please let me know if this is something you would be ok with. Feel free to email me at dbrock@cancergrace.org if you would like to talk.

Thanks again, and my sincere condolences to you and yours. We miss her terribly.

A small question - I often wonder about where 'Certain Spring' came from.... and what it meant to her... :)

Operations Director for GRACE. Have worked with cancerGRACE.org since July 2009.  Became involved as a caregiver to my best friend, and quickly came to see that GRACE is filling a need in the area of cancer education. 

Reply # - August 12, 2013, 09:52 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Rory,

Thank you for sharing this with GRACE, and for sharing the words of certain spring's GRACE friends with those present at the Oxford gathering. We will always remember her fondly.

As far as her GRACE name, in certain spring's own words:

"The name is from a poem by an English poet, Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), called The Burning of the Leaves. For my parents' generation it had associations with the Second World War. I'm not wild about the poem but I find the last line inspirational: 'Nothing is certain, only the certain spring'."

JimC
Forum moderator

Reply # - August 12, 2013, 12:32 PM

mikem
Posts: 69

Rory,

Thank you for coming back to tell us of the importance she placed on GRACE and its family. I hadn't responded to her passing yet because frankly, I was at a loss for what to say. GRACE has lost so many good people and I don't think there is anyone here that didn't consider CS special. Her contributions were immeasurable. Thanks to you, I found my voice and I send my deepest condolences to you for your loss. I am very happy that she was a part of GRACE. --mikem

Reply # - August 12, 2013, 11:24 PM

laya d.
Posts: 714

Dearest Rory. . .

Thank you so so so very much for coming here and sharing a bit more of cs with us. It seems like we all can never have (or get) quite enough of her...She was so smart, so sensible, so grounded, so kind, so wise...She is so missed. It's really beyond words. You know. . .

I continue to hold her and the rest of you (her loved ones) very close...I wish you all peace.

Laya

Reply # - August 13, 2013, 12:37 PM

catdander
Posts:

Rory,
I'm very sorry you've lost your wonderful sister, I know how much she loved the men in her life.

Thank you for sharing family and friends' final goodbyes. I can't say how much it means to know you understood her connection to us and we were a part of her memorial service, truly overwhelming. I know it doesn't come as a surprise that she left this forum with much more understanding of life, love, caring, and of course lc. I wish we had more.

Keeping all of you in my thoughts with hopes of peace,
Janine

Reply # - August 15, 2013, 02:33 PM

b-1 83
Posts: 19

I haven't been here in a while. I signed in, saw the title of thid thread, and my heart sank. I didn't know Certain Spring in person, but I feel like she was a friend. Peace be with you, dear lady.

Bruce

Reply # - August 17, 2013, 10:33 AM

marisa93
Posts: 215

Rory,

Thank you so much for coming back to share with us. CS was a very special lady and her presence here will be deeply missed. I wish you and your family comfort in your memories of such a special mom, wife, loved one, friend...

My best to you all,
Lisa

Reply # - August 23, 2013, 09:19 AM

aunttootsie001
Posts: 324

Am also very Sad to hear that Sad News! I did know things had not been going well for her and even thou I knew that it still is hard News to hear! I am upset that this darn Monster keeps taking away the people who contribute to this site! She was a wonderful lady who even in some hard times for herself was still avalible to give me and others advise or even just some very comforting words! She will be sadly missed! And thoughts and prayer for her Husband and family! Lorrie from Ohio

Reply # - October 22, 2013, 05:18 PM

dbrock
Posts: 161

Operations Director, GRACE

 

Just this weekend I received a lovely email from CS's brother. Kirsty's brothers and husband have written a lovely piece and offered a wonderful photo that we have posted on the Tributes page. If I may quote him -

"Looking again at the page (referencing this string) where people were told that she had died has brought tears again to my eyes. It's also reminded me once more how much everybody at GRACE did for her and meant to her."

So in her honor, and in everyone else's honor also, I invite you to read the tribute to her posted here: http://cancergrace.org/tributes.

Fitting, for our hugely missed Certain Spring. And all our best to her family.

Operations Director for GRACE. Have worked with cancerGRACE.org since July 2009.  Became involved as a caregiver to my best friend, and quickly came to see that GRACE is filling a need in the area of cancer education. 

Reply # - October 22, 2013, 06:40 PM

aunttootsie001
Posts: 324

Thanks for passing on the word! It is very upsetting as She was a big support when I first came to the Grace site. She was very inspirational! She gave great advise! I wish I could extend my condolences to her Family! God Bless her Sole! Aunt tootsie (Lorrie from Ohio)

Reply # - October 24, 2013, 05:17 AM

sherrys
Posts: 212

I was just trying to explain to someone the other day the impact of losing friends from GRACE has on me and was talking about CS, Simon and Ned. They didn't understand, but we all do.

Reply # - October 24, 2013, 07:43 AM

bh
Posts: 66

Was so saddened to hear of her passing. She was like a breath of fresh air with her optimism and strength and words of comfort.

Reply # - October 24, 2013, 08:40 AM

aunttootsie001
Posts: 324

Sherry, I bawl like a Baby every time. My Husband doesn't understand. We are like a Family on here and Inspire too! Each time we loose someone it is like loosing a Family member! I fear when my time comes there won't be anyone to let my Grace Family know! You all mean so much to me! Lorrie (Aunttootsie).

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