It is with great sadness and countless remembered joys that I present this tribute today in celebration of Milette’s life – with thanks to my friend Lorna Cruz for delivering it on my behalf.

 

Milette and I shared a friendship that grew through many decades. She was a friend of my family. My husband and sister knew her. My brother and I knew her late brother Tommy.

 

She was an authentic spiritual voice in my life, strong and steady amid the cacophony of too much digital noise. She was a calm presence as I tried to carve out quiet spaces in my busy days to still my soul. She understood all this about me. She knew that I saw her as a woman of faith, and she gave of herself in this capacity as much as I could ask of her. And I tried to do the same for her. Our spiritual communication found a home in each other’s hearts.

 

It took some time after receiving the news of her death before I could think of what to write in this tribute. Only then could I welcome again, like old friends, the recollections that came as I began mourning Milette’s passing.

 

The last words we wrote

 

I found consolation in our final e-mail exchange in late 2014, excerpts of which I would like to share with you. The last words that she wrote to me, and I to her, can speak for themselves. We frequently exchanged Thanksgiving blessings before Advent. On November 28, 2014, the day after Thanksgiving, I wrote this to her in the early afternoon:

 

“Dear Milette, I hope that yesterday was a good day for you to pause and reflect on life's many blessings. I just wanted to take a moment today to thank you for the many blessings you have brought into my life in deeply personal ways. … In case you are traveling, may you have safe travels. Keep well and God bless you always. Lynne”

 

Milette wrote back within four hours:

         

“Dearest Lynne, Thank you for the very kind words. Of course you know that you've also been an instrument of God's blessings to me – first and foremost by simply being a dear friend. … Thanks for touching base. I'm glad all's well. The spiritual journey continues – what would earthly life mean if we didn't look up once in a while to our heavenly destiny.  … (And) last but not least, I will be professed as a Lay Order Norbertine on the 3rd week of December, just before Christmas. What a gift from the Lord. I'm so happy to belong to this religious community of talented, intelligent and faith-filled men and women. … May your Advent Season be blessed, till next, Milette”

 

I was thrilled to hear that she was at the threshold of being professed at last into the Norbertine Order. She had kept me updated during the previous two years of her formation period, and she fretted at times about the interruptions in her studies that delayed the big day.   

 

So I carefully counted the days and timed my next e-mail to reach her on the first day of the third week in December. On Monday, December 15, 2014, I wrote her late in the afternoon:

 

“Dear Milette, Thank you for your thoughtful e-mail (last Thanksgiving). … I have been thinking of you, and with prayerful joy, will be with you in spirit when you are professed as a Lay Order Norbertine. May countless blessings be yours as you deepen your faith in this life's journey. With my love and prayers, Lynne”

 

After that, I went back to my Christmas preparations, giving her the time she needed to prepare for her Profession Day. As the days passed, I wondered why no response came within hours; or why I didn’t just pick up the phone and call her. I’ll never know. I would like to believe that she was able to read my last well-wishes. Not knowing she would pass away in two days, I now find comfort in the thought that I had said goodbye to her in my own way.