[cinderella]

Today my heart is saddened by the news of the passing of a dear friend and former co-worker...Deborah. Tho Deborah was Jewish, and not terribly religious - and I don't know if people of that faith light candles - I light a spiritual candle for her.

Tho we were no longer in touch, we had been close for the 7 years I worked in the department. Deborah was the fabric coordinator in the Textile Surface Design department at The Fashion Institute of Technology - a design college in NYC where I worked for 15 years before I retired 1 and a half years ago.

Deborah and I shared many interests which included our great love of classic movies. We had a daily morning routine before either of us started our day. Deborah would come into the front office where I worked, and we'd chit-chat, gossip, talk movies, share our toubles...I thought of her often, and this news I received just a few minutes ago, has devastated my heart.

Deborah was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and had a double mastectomy. She had been in remission, and was doing very well. I am not sure if the cancer was the cause of her death (it probably was), because I was too numb to discuss it with my former boss when I called her about it.

I know she will be greatly missed because she was loved dearly. Deborah lived alone, and I feared she'd passed all alone, but thankfully her daughter, and a good friend - a faculty member in the department were with her when she passed. May she rest in peace.