Wendy was more than a sister-in-law to me. She was also my friend. And she loved becoming part of a friend’s life. I remember a spring day when Wendy and Bob were visiting Toronto several years ago. Wendy and I had the early part of the day to ourselves. I had arranged a lunch for Wendy, one of my best friends and myself at a trendy little bistro in Yorkville. My friend at the time was in the first months of a difficult pregnancy and that became the topic of our lunch conversation. Wendy listened attentively and offered advice. If there was one thing Wendy could offer advice on it was pregnancies and raising babies. But what was so special about that lunch, and why it stays in my mind even now, is that Wendy always asked me about my friend after that. During our many long distance conversations, Wendy would never forget to offer some kind words about someone she had met only a few times previously.

Wendy had a creative and caring spirit. She believed so totally in the value of alternative practices. As many of you may be aware, she studied herbalogy, and aromatherapy. Wendy was always my first source for herbal or vitamin applications. The precision and dedication she gave to her Prairie Touch aromatherapy mixtures reflected her desire to share her wealth of knowledge with others. I’m sure many of you have sampled her work. And how many of us here use tea tree oil products or have a bottle of “Rescue Remedy” in our medicine cabinets because of the enthusiasm and conviction she displayed when discussing the merits of these natural products.

When Wendy asked me to speak at this occasion she prefaced it by saying that she always felt that she had two families, the Wilsons and the Lucas’. And to be honest, I don’t quite remember my family without her. There are 8 years difference between Bob and I. From my childhood I have two memories of Bob: Bob, known as Groovy, giving me a ride on his blue Honda, and Bob with this beautiful, long-haired girl named Wendy Wilson. From high school on, Wendy was always there by his side, at family weddings, Christmas Days, birthdays. She became as much a sister as a sister-in-law, to all of us in the family.

And family was precious to Wendy. Even with five children of her own, four siblings in the Wilson family and four in the Lucas family, Wendy always managed to remember birthdays and holidays. In the Lucas family you always knew there would be a Happy Birthday card coming in the mail from Little Current, or later from Calgary because Wendy would never forget. It might not have been on time, but it would never have been missed. And this past spring, despite her illness, Wendy made sure that Bob’s mom was not forgotten on Mother’s Day.

If I were to ask you to remember Wendy, I’d say that many of you would immediately picture her sitting with a cup of herbal tea in one hand and her legs crossed beneath her. She would be snuggled comfortably with either a Black Lab, or fluffy cat nearby. Her focus and attention would be directed completely at you and her eyes would be bright with anticipation at what you were about to share with her. Wendy had a special gift in that she knew how to listen and did it willingly and with all her heart. How precious that is. How wonderful it was to spend time talking to her, knowing you had her full attention, and would be given thoughtful, caring words in return.

And I’d like to add, that this caring, attentive part of Wendy never diminished. I called her during her last visit to the St. Georges Clinic in Germany to see how her treatment was progressing, and she spent 15 minutes asking me about my life’s latest adventures.

With whatever memory you choose to remember Wendy by, I know it will be one that fondly touches your heart.

Wendy and Bob shared an incredible love,. When describing their relationship to friends I always referred to them as “soul mates”. What an extraordinarily rare thing they have shared. And that love will continue to fill the lives of their five children. And it will help us all to keep that wonderful memory of Wendy in a special place in our own hearts.

Saying good-bye is never an easy thing to do and somehow doesn’t feel like the right thing to do today. Instead, I’d like you to: remember her laugh; remember her smile; think about the special way she touched your life; and the many precious gifts of friendship she has given us.