Sad News

I'm so sorry to report that we've lost a member who was active both years. Lillian de la Cruz, a beader, stitcher and lover of traveling, died on Oct. 7, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. By the time her disease was discovered, it was already too late for treatments. She sent an email to me while in hospice and I posted parts of it on the 07 BJP blog, here. One of our other members, Grace D, kept in touch with her and notified me of her passing. Grace wrote:

We corresponded (when she was feeling well enough) from time to time. She really wanted to make dolls, so I sent her a care package last spring with a kit to make a beaded doll and an already made Dotee doll (she seemed to really love those little dolls), but that was about it. I didn't want to be too intrusive. She seemed to have such a good attitude about dying and living - I wish I would have known her better.

Thank you, Grace, for letting us know and for your support of Lillian during her last months with us. I am greatful for the way we BJPers take care of each other, quietly, behind the scenes... It seems to work well that we don't write a lot of posts about personal crisis, yet through our blog network, we sense where we are needed and respond. This is good!

Robin A.