Across my foundering deck shone
A beacon, an eternal beam. Flesh fade, and mortal trash
Fall to the residuary worm; world’s wildfire, leave but ash;
In a flash, at a trumpet crash,
I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, match, matchwood, immortal
diamond,
Is immortal diamond.
Gerard Manley Hopkins

We all gathered to remember Rosalie, at All Saint’s Catholic Church in Hayward, Rosalie, who loved to sing and dance, who loved family, who stood up for the rights of the downtrodden, who spoke her piece even when people did not want to hear it… Rosalie who loved water of all kinds, the ocean most of all, with her infectious smile and even more infectious laughter, a woman for all times… And a fierce defender of women and their causes, with the zeal of those who are called to serve and never look back.

Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra, and in her life and in her work and in her laughter and song, she praised the Maker of us all, and most of all she praised life. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.

… and still, God knows in what cabinet every seed-pearl lies, in what part of the world every grain of every man’s dust lies; (…) he whispers, he hisses, he beckons for the bodies of his saints, and in the twinkling of an eye, that body that was scattered over all the elements, is sat down at the right hand of God, in a glorious resurrection. John Donne

It occurred to me that, despite the tears and grief that weighs and will weigh heavily upon her loved ones, as I am still rent asunder with my own grief, she left a path of light and love that shines and will not die; her name was Rosalie, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Kind friend, sweet heart of love and brilliant light, still here to shine upon our every path.