Sunday was the memorial for our friend. It was a nice event. Well over a hundred people attended from SGI, the Postal Service, friends and family. We did gongyo and chanted for a long time as people filed up to offer incense. Our friend’s daughters shared a gongyo book and chanted. She would have been so happy. The ceremony was scheduled for the exact time as our district’s Women’s Division General Meeting. Jean’s wish for a big turn out was accomplished.
Several people talked about her. They seemed to all be from different parts of her life. A college friend, the woman who introduced her to NSA (now SGI), postal workers from Oakland, Salinas and Aptos, people who knew her for decades and her newest friend, a new member of our district. They met right at the end of last year, but were fast friends. The SGI leaders did a great job, too. It seemed to take a weight off my shoulders. I decided not to speak at the memorial and was glad when her new friend got up to represent all of us in Salinas District.