[Dialogue] Completed Life of Mary Lou Peterson

[Jayandem2@aol.com]

Mary Lou Peterson completed her journey on this plain around three in the 
afternoon Sunday, November 28, 2004.  She died peacefully surrounded by the love 
of family and friends: her son Rob and his wife Nancy; her daughter, Michelle; 
Naomi Bailey, Bunny ___________ and her most faithful and gracious nurse, 
Elena. I, Margaret Aiseayew, was still traveling into Chicago at the time as were 
several others trying to get there from locations in Chicago.

Mary Lou's body was taken to Northwestern University where they are removing 
the brain and spinal cord to further studies of ALS. 

A memorial service is tentatively set for Saturday, December 18, at 10:00 
a.m. in Elliott Chapel of the Westminster Presbyterian Home in Evanston, Illinois.

I haven't a great deal of energy at the moment for a longer story, although I 
may write you more at a later time.  I found it significant that Mary Lou 
decided to leave on the first Sunday of Advent, the season of anticipation.  She 
was almost always ready to say, "Bring it on!"

In a conversation on Saturday afternoon (11/27) Mary Lou wanted me to know 
two things:  that Naomi was a saint and that she loved me.  How typical of her 
to be reaching out, even in extremity.  As we worked to sort and clear Mary 
Lou's things from her room on Monday, many of the staff and residents stopped by 
to share their grief, to report stories of how Mary Lou had reached out to 
every resident of the home from the time of her arrival and to recount how much 
she would be missed.  One of them commented that the word that had come to her 
that best described Mary Lou was fierce.  Fierce in her care, fierce in her 
fight, fierce in her intentions, friendships and loyalties.

In the first quiet moments after my initial storm of tears I heard a 
resounding chorus singing:
Stillness lingers in my soul,
Dark night seems so very long.
All hope is gone,
The restless march moves on.
Silence is my song.

I can only thank each and every one who may ever have participated in this 
circle for that gift. I also want to thank Judith for forwarding this to you 
all.  I was baffled by the complexity of figuring out how to get a message to 
everyone when I couldn't access my own email address book.  I'm sure my children 
aren't the only one's who doubt I will ever truly make it into the 21st 
century.  Mary Lou would simply admonish me to Journey On.

Blessings on the Journey,
Margaret Aiseayew

Judith, Mike and Meg