Goodbye to a Dear Friend

We met the first day, years ago, when I volunteered to teach a fitness class on Wednesdays to the Sisters in Health Care, part of the Monastery. 

Sister Sharon Schiller was one of three Sisters who took part in a fitness DVD each day before lunchtime. Her partners were Sisters Marie and Monica. Later, other Sisters joined the three. 

The group became very committed to the exercise class every Wednesday that replaced the daily DVD. Sister Sharon sat slightly in the back row, but I understood she was comfortable there, so I said nothing. 

Later, I discovered after talking with her, we found that we both loved to read; and she enjoyed light mysteries, especially Angela Lansberry’s, “Murder she Wrote.”

I had many paperbacks of those books, which I donated to the Monastery but, Sister and I had become good friends; and so, I lent my hardcovers only to her. When she finished one, I gave her another, marking her name inside the first page in light pencil. 

I taught the class for over four years, but as my disability progressed, I was unable to continue. I loved teaching those ladies, but knew they could always go back to the DVD on Wednesdays. 

When I learned of her leaving our world to be in the next, I was happy for her, and sad for myself. She committed her life to God and a friendship committed to me.