It’s 7:30 am on Monday 17th March. I am smiling through a tearful lens because I know her so well. If it was at all possible, she would dial my iPhone, and I would hear her bright and cheerful greeting: “Good Morning! Happy St Patrick’s Day!” She most likely would be wearing something green because that’s just June−so very aware of the day and always ready for a celebration.
The call did not come this Monday morning and of course I knew it would not. My dear friend is in heaven this Monday morning. I wonder, is she all decked out in green?
Let me start at the beginning. We met through our Shaklee business connections. June Ost and I had known each other for many years, at first only from a distance, exchanging glances through a sea of faces at Shaklee conferences. About 10 or 11 years ago we elevated our friendship to a more personal level. Actually, the four of us bonded as our spouses, Chuck and Rusty, hit it off too. Thus, a grand friendship was launched.
June suggested we become Monday morning accountability partners and dedicate 30 minutes to sharing our business goals, celebrating our wins, and generally cheering for each other. I was happy to partner up. Having an admired peer and cohort with whom to report goals and wins and share valuable strategies is always beneficial and we each brought our own strengths to the table. We enjoyed our allotted time and often the 30 minutes increased to an hour. Time flies when you’re having fun.
You can imagine that years of Monday chats cemented our relationship and spilled over into other areas of our lives. We visited each other, scheduled dinners together at conferences and on our accountability calls we shared not only our business hopes and dreams, but what was happening in our daily lives. A quick business review of the previous week started the conversation, but it morphed into many other areas. The only time we missed our Monday rendezvous was if we were traveling overseas, or our family visited.
We discovered our lives parallelled in a variety of ways, in experiences we each had growing up, our love for travel, for making a difference in the world, our devotion to our beloved husbands and family, the joy of grandchildren, our love for God, our belief and hope in the future, the wins and losses of our athletic grandchildren (lol), our crazy optimism and passion for life! And on it goes.
I treasure this friendship with June. It was one of unconditional love and mutual respect.
Oh, how I will miss our deep conversations and the trust we shared. How we lifted each other up. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders, encouraging my writing, my book-publishing, and my watercolor painting. In her life’s journey she demonstrated such strength of faith and courage. In the face of severe and unrelenting suffering, she carried on day by day running her Shaklee business with enthusiasm and determination, striving for goals, loving on all her leaders and inspiring them to success. She was generous to a fault!
At some point in our relationship she confided that she was battling a serious health problem. Because of her incredible attitude and positive outlook on life, I never would have guessed what she fought. She requested confidentiality and I have honored that promise. Suffice it to say she is one of the strongest and bravest women I have ever met. I do so admire her. At first the pain was sporadic but as it worsened, there were more frequent episodes and more doctor appointments, yet still she soldiered on, ever hopeful, always putting others first, never wanting to cause worry or anxiety to anyone. These last few months were especially hard, but she never wavered in her determination to conquer and her wish to carry on and rise above the struggle. A month ago, she was in dire pain. Yet still she committed to our occasional chats and almost daily texting. It’s who she was. Selfless. Lovingly tenacious.
June was a fun-loving friend with an enormous positive impact through her health and wellness business, in her community, her social contacts and other reach out activities. She and Rusty lived their lives to the fullest. She was devoted to Rusty, her family and friends. She knew how to love unconditionally and deeply. She adored living in her beautiful “paradise” home and took great delight in their little Schnauzer dog, Siggy. She constantly expressed gratitude for her life and for each day God gifted to her.
I am grateful for our years of friendship and love, and for all she meant to me. So thankful we visited her and Rusty for four beautiful days in November. I rejoice that she is free of pain and suffering and is now cradled in the loving arms of her faithful God, in heaven where we all will be reunited in God’s timing.
Love you June!
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3