Dear Phamily,
It is a task that I would rather not have to share that our Phoenix Phamily has lost a very cherishe sister. This morning at 11:00 our dear Dana Cavellero passed quietly into the next steps of her journey towards the One. She left two well-loved cats, who have been placed with close friends, and many of us who love and laugh at her ongoing antics and joy in life.
If you had the honor of knowing Dana, you will remember her silvery hair, her infectious laugh, her amazing intellect, and her Dragons. Through her art, she shared a wonder-filled life of dragons, fairies and other creatures that appeared from tubes of paint on everything from small boxes to canvases to chalices! She painted up until about four weeks ago.
She shared with me that two of the Phoenix Crones had saved her place at Hoggtown Fair this year by being her shoppe watchers, selling more of her work than she ever expected to sell. These two wonderful women where very cherished by Dana. They know who they are, but I don't know if they knew how she felt about them coming forward to help her in a very stressful time. Makes one even more proud to say they are part of the Phoenix Phamily.
Dana was diagnosed with metastic ovarian cancer last year after years of trying to find out what was causing her some very different symptoms. She was in remission after months of chemo, radiation and surgeries. She had live such a healthy life for so long the physicians apparently couldn't find the cause of her complaints over the years, until the cancer was very well advanced. In December, the cancer came back, angrier than ever...and although it took her body, it did not take her spirit, her sense of humor, her joy in a life well-lived. I had the joy of talking to her a week or so ago, when she had just been turned over to Hospice. She said during our conversation, "Now I am going to do it my way!" And of course, she did.
She had made arrangements for the adoption of her two cats, set aside some material things to be share with various people, and continue to live the way Dana always has. She was with a close friend, who shared that her passing was peaceful and that she was without pain. Her friend told me that as she approached her passing Dana had no fear. She had shared that feeling with me many times in coversation over the past year. Her ashes will be interred in the same crypt as her mother's, the woman who gave her birth, and taught her to paint, and to love art. She loved our Phamily. Please wish her a good journey, light a candle, laugh hard at a good joke, raise your fist to the almighty government, and bang on a drum. Dip your finger in some paint, and smear it on your face! Celebrate our dear sister, and remember what she leaves behind...each of us who now must play catch up!
Many Blessings and Much Laughter!
Tyla
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Festival Quote: Ohhh... the pain.... ---Rowan
