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My mother always loved an old rose variety called Doctor van Fleet. She grew up smelling its sweet perfume and in her opinion, no other could match it. I remember it covering the side of my grandparents farmhouse….back then, I thought all roses smelled as sweet.

A few years ago, she found a Dr. van Fleet rosebush and planted it outside her front door. It has grown vigorously and bloomed profusely. She even buried the base of a few long shoots in order to root them for my brother and me.

Three days ago, the first bloom of this season opened…..and on that day, my mother left her body behind and reached out for my father’s hand. They are together now, embracing after years of separation.

She has waged war with ovarian carcinoma for the past year and a half. From the beginning, she made the brave decision to have chemotherapy and sailed through the first courses. Always very conscious of her appearance, she suspended all that thinking and considered the loss of her hair a badge of courage. She looked beautiful and serene….

She remained strong-willed and determined; and last fall, when Ruth (the friend who stayed with her through her 18 month ordeal) went to the store briefly, Mom (whom everyone had felt too weak to do any work) managed to get herself outside with the iris bulbs she had just received in the mail….and planted them. They have given her many exquisite blooms this spring and today a new one opened:

Her bright spirit left behind so much beauty….may she now rest in comfort and peace.