This morning I learned that an ex-coworker, Eileen P., had passed away.<\/p>\n
She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, and after a lengthy battle she succumbed this morning.<\/p>\n
Eileen worked as an admin assistant in our group (information Technology) at the Judicial Council.\u00a0 She always had a smile on her face.\u00a0 Once she volunteered to cut some cards that I had printed out for one of my desktop hockey games, even though it wasn’t work related.\u00a0 She simply had a desire to be helpful.<\/p>\n
She had left our office some years ago, but she had visited once, the last time I had seen her, before her diagnosis, and she was as sweet and happy as she was when she worked with us in IT.<\/p>\n
Eileen, I know you’re at peace now, which gives me and your many friends and family some comfort.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Moments after I found out about Eileen, another co-worker came to my cube to tell me that Michael Q. had passed away this morning as well.<\/p>\n
He was also diagnosed with cancer, and while he fought hard and even came back to work, he also lost his battle.<\/p>\n
Michael had a gruff exterior, but once you got to know him, you could see his heart of gold.\u00a0 After Mom passed away, he’d always ask me if I was okay.\u00a0 When the first Mother’s Day since Mom passed came around, on that Friday before, I bumped into Michael in the elevator.<\/p>\n
My mind was heavy with thought about Mom, and out of the blue, Michael said, “This first one’s going to be tough.”<\/p>\n
“What?” I asked.<\/p>\n
“Mother’s Day.\u00a0 It’ll be tough.”<\/p>\n
I felt some sense of relief in his words.<\/p>\n
“Thank you,” I said.\u00a0 He gave me a nod.<\/p>\n
Michael, I’ll miss lamenting about our Mets and talking shop with you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This morning I learned that an ex-coworker, Eileen P., had passed away. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, and after a lengthy battle she succumbed this morning. Eileen worked as an admin assistant in our group (information Technology) at the Judicial Council.\u00a0 She always had a smile on her face.\u00a0 Once she volunteered … <\/p>\n