When I wrote about Heather Mains in the posting below (Another Library Gone), I did it from the sorrow of an exile. I had been hearing about gatherings of Heather’s friends in Toronto where stories about her had been shared. But I was in Boston, a candle burning of one. But the comments left by many of her friends on this blog, sharing thier own stories and impressions of her life, created a unique circle of Heather storytelling. Reading these words has been deeply comforting to me. Thank you to all of you who left your thoughts and have created this cyber-proximity with me.
Below is the text from one of the last emails several of us received from Heather. I read it over and over again. Written just four days before she died, it captures some essence of Heather that I want to keep with me for the rest of my life.
I got up a few times last night to view the beautiful eclipse of the full moon.
It was very strange to see, what looked like a moon lit from below, was actually a shadow coming down from the top. It set in a shadowy veil. Wow.
When I went back to bed at 6am, it was turning orange.
I finished the cycle of the eclipse in my dream.
Cheers,
Heather (the purple flower in the green field)
I read the last two posts about your friend Heather. She sounds like she was an amazing person, who left our world too soon. Very sad.
Thank you Christine. I wish all my friends had known Heather.
Mains, Heather Lee
February 1, 1957 – September 1, 2007
Heather has left us, but she leaves an
enduring legacy.
Heather’s advocacy in the not-for-profit sector
reflected her deep concern about how people
can interact compassionately with other people,
animals, and the environment. She was a dedicated
champion of women’s health and
well-being; a fun-loving mother to Curtis and
Mia; and a friend to society’s under-served.
“Helping to transform social cause into social
action” was both her mantra and that of the social
marketing company, Duegood, she founded
with her life partner, John.
In Heather’s various roles as mother, doula,
speaker, and educator, she thrived on connecting
people and ideas. Her interests were boundless
and her curiosity was endless. Whether curating
art shows, breaking new ground in quality
maternal care, exploring self healing through Jin
Shin Jyutsu, or carving down a ski hill, Heather
embraced life with energy, flair and compassion.
Nature – and especially, water – were fundamental
to Heather’s spiritual being. She died in
a kayaking accident on the Tay River in Perth,
Ontario.
Heather’s network of colleagues, friends and
family are invited to remember and celebrate
her fifty years of life in a memorial service at the
Metropolitan Community Church,
115 Simpson Ave., Toronto on Saturday,
September 22 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please support the causes that
were close to Heather’s heart. Consider donating
to your local hospice, or to the Association for
Research on Mothering (www.yorku.ca/arm/) or
to Doula – C.A.R.E.
Through water Heather lives and plays.
Through water she leaves us behind and
continues her journey.
Through water her spirit
will always remain with us.
that was from Heather’s husband John.