I am saddened to share the news that one of my dear friends passed away unexpectedly this week. She was one of a group of mothers who I call Mama Bears. Over the years four of the mothers of our church joined forces in a network of support that I call the Mama Bear Club. As the name implies, we each have children (mostly adults now) and grandchildren that we enjoyed sharing moments of joy, concern, and wisdom with each other. We also were a force to be reckoned with concerning issues and challenges in our families. Our friend was always a source of inspiration and offered compassionate advice for us. She was a consistent advocate for children even after retiring as a classroom teacher and mentor to many students for decades. Our Mama Bear Club will not be the same without her. As for the rest of us Mama Bears, we will continue to shine our light and support each other through the joys and challenges of motherhood and parenting. I take this moment to say, “Thank you, dear friend, for being a guiding light for our children. We will miss you terribly and remember you always. May you rest in peace. Shalom.