Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Joani (Blank) update - Sad news

[Mary Vallier-Kaplan (marycvk]

Joani lives on in almost every cohousing community .  A true cohousing crone!

Mary Kaplan
Nubanusit Neighborhood & Farm

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 9, 2016, at 2:14 AM, Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> Godspeed, Joani. 
> 
> Ann zabaldo
> Takomavillage Cohousing
> Washington DC
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 8, 2016, at 5:41 PM, Neil Planchon <neil [at] swansway.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Hello everyone in Cohousing-l land…
>> 
>> I am attaching two recent messages about Joani - my longtime personal 
>> friend, neighbor and Cohousing ambassadress. One of mine and the other 
>> Amika’s (Joani’s daughter) are below….
>> =-=-=-
>> 
>> Hello neighbors
>> 
>> I am saddened as I share with you that Joani passed away Saturday (8/6) 
>> around 5:30PM.  She had loving family by her side who shepherded her through 
>> the last stage of this life.
>> 
>> Rest in peace, Joani (my sweet)
>> 
>> Neil
>> (Swan's Market Cohousing - http://www.swansway.com 
>> <http://www.swansway.com/>)
>> 
>> -=-=-
>> 
>> 
>> And here is the message which Amika posted on Facebook on August 7th…
>> 
>> "My mama passed yesterday, at home, Blossom and me and Bapu by her side...My 
>> family was blessed to have spent this sacred time with this lovely woman who 
>> raised me as her own.
>> 
>> "She was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in June, took the news like a 
>> champ and did like she always does...got down to business and handled 
>> logistics and preparations. She chose to have a Celebration of Life rather 
>> than a funeral, and at celebration last week, she was able to say her 
>> goodbyes and feel the love of her community. 
>> "She opened her celebration addressing police brutality and honoring the 
>> Black Lives Matter movement. Her life was based on advancing social justice 
>> issues, and the bigger picture always took precedence over her personal 
>> struggles. The celebration was another platform for her to acknowledge what 
>> was really important to her. She had a rapid decline after the celebration, 
>> and I think she felt she had completed what she needed to. 
>> 
>> "This fierce revolutionary woman has taught us all so much. She has done so 
>> many things in her full days here on earth and I know you all have 
>> stories...share them if you feel like it. If I made this post about all 
>> she's done it would take days.
>> 
>> "Instead, we are honoring the graceful way she passed. She relaxed into the 
>> process and let go of trying to control anything...she was able to receive 
>> love and care, and transformed into this gentle and vulnerable Queen. She 
>> spoke with each one of my kids and my Papa in the last days of her 
>> consciousness. She passed me the "boss torch", and gave her blessings to my 
>> incarcerated other half as he led us in family prayer on the phone. We laid 
>> with her and watched her take her last breath. She had a sweet smile on her 
>> face and was comfortable. Milo joined us and we covered her body in henna 
>> tattoos, flowers from the garden, frankincense and lavender oils, and filled 
>> her space with candlelight, sage, copal, and Palos Santos. Bapu stayed 
>> curled up with her in bed...we played music and looked at pictures and 
>> laughed and cried. It was exactly what she wanted, and it was beautiful to 
>> hold space for her at the gates…”
>> 
>> -=-=-
>> 
>> 
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