Our sister Rowen has passed on to the Summerlands before she could ever write her story. Surrounded by family of a different religious faith, she took the limitations with incredible humor, never floundering in her believes. Rowen never quite could believe how important she was to her friends, and what a difference she made in our lives with her gentleness, her wit, her humor, and her quiet endurance, always seeing the sun no matter how many clouds were in the sky. And for her, there were many. Truly blessed, her faith couldn’t be shaken, when many a lesser person would have resigned. Many of us did not get the chance to meet her in person, as we would have loved to, but somehow, we all felt we had already met before, and surely would meet again, when we realized this life wasn’t likely to allow for seeing her..

The sky gained a bright star, and in our hearts she is always the proud warrior, always ready to catch a stumbling friend or take in a stray soul… Her heart was bigger than she knew, and had room for all of us.

To quote Madleine d’Engle: Many waters cannot drown love. Love is eternal. In that spirit, RunningWaters will always carry her memory.

Words don’t suffice to describe our Rowen, but inadequately, some of us have tried:



Sorcy SummerWind

Although Rowen was part of RW cybercircle while she still could, at the time she joined she was already struggling to keep up and couldn't be as active as she would have liked, so many of you haven't known her as long or as 'well' as some of us. Her wit, her priceless oneliners, her inner and outer beauty so often saved the day, even though she could never believe how much she was treasured and what a difference she made to so many of us. I will carry the potholders she knitted for me from her home dyed cotton wools with as much reverence as I carry Granny’s, using them daily, and smiling.

I wished I had had a chance to talk to her, but I just couldn't bring myself to 'bother' them these last few months when they obviously did not have the strength to answer mail... calling seemed .... insensitive. Now I wished I had. But I'm sure she knew our thoughts were with her constantly, and how much we love her. I purposely don't say 'loved', as I don't believe changing planes can touch love. Some things are forever, and time and place is irrelevant....

I can see her now, walking proud and straight again, her long and silky black hair flowing about her like a cloak. I see her like the warrior princess I portrayed her as with the chosen logo on her page..... she never did get around writing down her story to be loaded, but the page still will remain present at RWCC, if only to display the picture of her strong spirit.

I salute you dear sister, may you soar with your spirit eagle and may your laughter sound loud and clear. We left behind will always hear it when we think of you….
Lovingly,
Sorcy



Ahneke Graystone:

I will remember her always for her courage and strength in the face of the challenges of her life. Her buoyant spirit and positive outlook saw many of us through some rough times in our lives, and that while she struggled with her poor health.

A star has dimmed in the Midsummer sky tonight. But it flickers on in the memories we all have of a truly Gentle Woman and a friend to all of us.

Rarely have I seen the courage that our friend Rowen Ravenfeather showed. As she battled disease and learned to live with handicaps and limitations, her spirit was strong and sure. She was always there to give us advice and a shoulder to lean on, even as we were amazed at her grace when our troubles seemed so small in comparison to hers.

Rowen taught us a great deal about living.

We are honored to have known her.

For Rowen:

The gentle breeze of your friendship touched us all.
We were blessed to know you and are less without you.

Peace, dear friend.

Anni



LadyToad:

Rowen Ravenfeather was a gentle soul, a physician by trade, a lover of animals and beloved by her husband. In her lifetime she knew prejudice and pain, but she was never bitter. Her strength and wit carried us through our own hard times. She made us smile. She could say more in one line than many of us in twenty, and she gave generously of her heart and wit. Though we never met face to face, she was one of my most treasured friends. I will miss her immensely. May her spirit walk in peace.

toadie



Dor:

I'm sure that my cry of loss has joined many to echo about the universe. I, like many of you, wish I had spoken to Rowen more often of late, but I know that she will watch over us all until her time to return arrives. Rowen was our bracing spirit -- the one who took our reality checks for us. Loving, helpful and encouraging. Showing us with her grace, spirit and courage where we would like to be in our growth. It is hard to believe that her physical presence is gone but her spirit will always be with us. I'll miss her wit and humor but mostly her everyday courage and spirit. Her term here is over but we will meet again -- another day....and I will surely recognize her as the shining spirit that brought all of us so much hope and love.

Blessings, peace and love

Dor



Meridian

I opened my mail the other day, read the one message about our beautiful NA Princess promptly burst into tears and have been unable to come online ever since.

I know our Rowen is in the arms of our Goddess and at peace and pain free, probably frolicking with her beloved animals and feeding them without the threat of a fine!!! She has also probably happily re-joined with her recently departed mother and met her brother who passed some time ago. I'm imaging the most magnificent reunion between them, and I'm thinking that they are having the best party ever!!!

I will forever feel a hole in my heart that only Our Rowen, could fill. Her love, compassion, sense of humour, logic, intelligence, experience, excellent advise, strength, and perseverance are but a few of her many many attributes.

Never will I look at a glass of orange juice and forget that she shared hers every morning with her kitties. As I see deer, I will also see Rowen feeding them from her gentle fingers. As I laugh, recalling the Mormon and Tai Chi stories about the In-laws and her rescuing "goldfish" at a family wedding, as only Rowen would. Her abilities to advise all of us in times of troubles, her genuine offer of intelligent concrete alternative ideas and choice of paths, her great knowledge of health care issues and willingness to share those ideas privately and on the lists. Mostly I admire her for her strength to carry on and persevere during the most difficult times in her life, as she struggled with her illness, never giving up hope, never complaining just accepting her pain, her illness, and challenging every gloomy report Doctors gave her all of her life. She has the strength to fight and beat the odds every single time. Until the last, when our Goddess called her and she knew it was her time.

I'm very fortunate having received a special little gift, weaved by her own two beautiful hands, neatly packaged and sent off by mail. I still have the package, and when I opened it her little animals must have been close to her as she worked because little pieces of their fur were well worked into the weave. I shall always treasure this special gift of our Rowen.

I should like to finish with a poem that passed my desk at work, the author is Unknown, but it touched my heart as our Rowen will always touch my heart. I love you, dear Rowen.

THE BLESSING OF FRIENDSHIP
A blessed thing is for any man or woman to have a friend:
one human soul whom we can trust utterly:
who knows the best and the worst of us,
And who loves us in spite of all our faults;
who will speak the honest truth to us,
while the world flatters us to our face,
and laughs at us behind our back;
who will give us counsel and reproof in the
day of prosperity and self-conceit,
but who, again, will comfort and encourage
us in the day of difficulty and sorrow,
when the world leaves us alone to fight our
own battle as we can.
...author unknown.

Dedicated to our Dearly Departed Rowen,
In Loving Memory,
Meridian