In Loving Memory ofThis page is in Honor of Wind River alumni that we have lost, but who will never be forgotten.
Our hearts go out to their Family and Friends and we only hope that we helped them in some small way along their path.
Dave & Shannon
Wind River Co-Founders
Mischa Sell, Winston-Salem, NC (January 2012)
Mischa, there are no good word to describe your courage and strength in your fight against cancer. We have been friends since 2008 and it is hard to say good-bye. Strong mother, wife, friend, and woman of faith, I know you are at peace and with several other amazing Wind River friends. Please give them our love and celebrate with the other Musketeers! My heart is with you.
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Tawanna Padgett, Shelby, NC (October 2011)
Beautiful artist, beautiful woman. Tawanna, I miss our sharing and love of music. The night on the patio with live acoustic music was very powerful to me as I looked over at your smiling face -- few people are willing to show how deeply music can touch the soul. I know there are many windows in Heaven that you are designing another beautiful stain glass window for. Your color and vibrant energy is missed by many! Peace my friend, Shannon
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Diana Layfield, Greenville, SC (October 2011)
Diana, I know you are drumming your heart away above us right now and sending us smiles and laughs, and reminding us to not take things too serious. My heart beats with you today and always!
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Lisa Meloni, Charlotte, NC (September 13, 2011)
Too often I just want to say BUGGER .... Lisa was part of a special Wind River group called the Blue Heron Group. They have all remained close and are further supporting each other during this difficult loss. I especially appreciate the love and support of this group as Lisa and I were friends for over 15 years. She was an incredible woman and while her parents and friends will miss her terribly, I know she is walking in a better place. I am thankful for the opportunity to have seen her in her final days and to have received a huge hug from her with a big I LOVE YOU. Right back at ya my friend!!!!
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Anabel Nunez, Raleigh, NC (September 2011)
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So full of life and love and generosity! In the words of her fellow Retreat alum, "... And while the tears are still streaming down my face, in the end I am happy for the time I had with Laura. She brought lots of light into my Life." Survived by two young children, she will forever be cherished by many of us!
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Billy Bailey, Ocean City, NJ (and Boone NC) July 13, 2011
When I think of someone who fills a room with an inner brightness, a special sparkle, that was Billy. A five star chef who even cooked for Julia Childs' birthday one year, he brought a rich flavor to everything he touched. We were blessed last fall to numerous meals touched by Billy's culinary gifts. But even more special were the times we just sat quietly together, rocking in our red rocking chairs on the deck, and talking quietly about his passion --- giving a helping hand to the next person in need of a little hope. Billy, you are missed already! Your friend, Shannon
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Thea Laydon, Winston-Salem, NC (July 2, 2011)
Thea was a true Advocate of Others. I love this shirt on her, it says Free to Breathe. I learned a lot about the judgment people have towards those with lung cancer - always blaming them. Not that it matters how one gets cancer, but did you know 20% of those with lung cancer never smoked!?! In Thea's honor, I try to educate others that cancer is not about fault, it is about compassion and being there for others. Thank you Thea for teaching me. Peace. Shannon
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Clark Wang, Durham NC and Seattle Washington (March 29, 2011)
Music. Cello. Teacher. Student. Scientist. Fighter. Friend. and so much more. Clark was a man of many gifts and he shared those with all that were around him. For me, he helped bring my cello back into my life. Playing it on our deck each day brought tears to everyone at the retreat. I'll always remember and cherish listening to 'Some Where Over the Rainbow' as it filled the air around us and reached every nook of the property!
In honor of your passion for green burials, I post here your news story on what one is and what it meant to you. Hope it helps! Geeen Burial Story with Clark Wang, Sept. 2010
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Eric Hansen, Missouri (January, 2011)
Free Spirit! This is the phrase that comes to mind when I picture Eric. His ability to stretch and grow over the 3 years I knew him was a gift to witness.
An engineer by background, he learned and embraced the beauty that comes with less structure. He focused on being present every day by expressing Gratitude for thirty minutes each morning (that and his favorite coffee made a great start to the day according to Eric!)
No more words, just sending you love Eric!
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Team player. That is the Joe we so enjoyed! Whether gardening with Regina, doing Tai Chi with Mike or painting with the whole group, Joe was always present and always with a smile. It was Joe that first offered that others could paint (watercolors) on his stylish bald head, including a bicycle, a butterfly, sunflo
wer, and more! Then we move on to others. On a more serious note, his family was of the utmost importance to him. Thank you Joe for your love of everything!
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Marty was a strong willed fighter (in the black t-shirt). A 34 year old single mom from Alaska, she traveled over 15 hours to get to Wind River. But is was not the travel time that was so incredible to me. It was her willingness to explore her feelings about her disease (six years) and to truly look at what was most important to her and why. He fellow retreat participants were all right there to help her climb a set of stairs, but it was Marty too who was right thereto help them and listen to their stories.
Her body had been through so much, but her passion for her son, family, and the beauty of their family homestead in Alaska meant the world to her. Too short on this earth, I know she is at peace.
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Cinda Cleckley-Parker, Charlotte, NC (August 27, 2010) (Cinda here with Shannon)
Cinda was a gifted woman in the art of helping others see their potential for goodness, and also embrace their imperfections. At least this is what I learned from this woman over our two year friendship.
Close to God, she walked a path of commitment, even during the most trying of circumstances. She will be missed by many friends and family members, including her Wind River family!!!
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Nancy Capps, Raleigh, NC (August 11, 2010)
A thoughtful woman, I remember Nancy so enjoyed our Qi Gong and Tai Chi movement classes. Having had several years of chemo already, she found wonder and joy in being able to move her body in simple and restorative ways. She went home and continued this movement long after her Retreat experience.
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An extraordinary woman that shared her commitment to finding inner peace and truly living "in the moment" with all that cam in contact with her. Her ability to teach others through leading by example was a true gift. Karen had a wonderful impact on others at the retreat, as they stayed in touch with one another and helped ground each other during difficult as well as good times.
One Retreat friend said this of Karen, “The little time we spent at the retreat surpassed the normal years it takes to develop a strong friendship & what I got was time with a dear, dear soul. You inspire me.” You will not be forgotten my friend...
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Yaufung Olivia Chang, Planto, Texas (July 2, 2010)
Olivia was a bright, light-hearted woman who made EVERYONE laugh! Cooking one night, her timing was perfect when she exclaimed, "don't let (cancer) rip off your happiness!" Everyone got it immediately and nobody could stop laughing.
Olivia was too young at 47 --- but I know she made every moment count for her daughters, husband and friends!!!
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Leslie Dauphine Brown, Charlotte, NC (African American woman on the left)
Pure JOY! If we could have bottled Leslie's infectious laugh and ability to make people smile it would sell for a million dollars a jar. But most of all, Leslie was a woman of Faith. She was about helping others and doing what was right. Last summer she had the opportunity to perform mission work in Eqypt - her first time out of the country, and it was again, to help others.
I know Leslie is greatly missed by her Wind River friends as well as all the people she has touched with her smile and big heart. Leslie returned to God June, 17 2010.
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January 7, 2010 is when Lisa returned Home. A wife, mother and grandmother who faced cancer head on for over 14 years, she is someone who gave everything she had to give to her friends and family.
Last summer she wrote a beautiful poem called The Merry Go Round of Life. Here is a quote from that piece:
"That is what our life is...being who we are called to be, caring for others, reaching out to those we hardly know, being MINDFUL of the present moment." (Lisa, Summer 2009)
Much love goes out to her family and loved ones.
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Susan Porter,Charlotte, NC, (on the left)
In late August 2009 Susan lost her two year battle to a brain tumor. She was artistic and creative ... definitely a free spirit of the 70's. We will miss her humor and curiosity!
Sonia Santos, Charlotte, NC (on the right)
On March 27, 2009, we lost one of our three musketeers ... A loving mother, a good friend and a US Army Veteran, Sonia had this rye smile that made you feel she was mischievously up to something (and usually was). She and Samantha would stay up late every night in their PJs and talk the night away!!! Quoting Sonia, 'May God Bless you in a million ways ....' con amor, Sonia
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Susan Jones Mize, Fort Mill, SC (Susan is on the left)
What a burst of energy and adventure! Give her a pair of sneakers and Susan would leap into action, exploring our back trails and wooded areas. Susan lost her battle to small intestine cancer in July 2009 (Susan is on the left). Susan's love of the outdoors and her family will be missed by many.
Yvonne Jackson, Covington, GA (Yvonne is in Red on the Right)
Yvonne fought a long and feisty battle with Breast Cancer until May 2009. I remember her reflection after the retreat ... "I came in and felt the warmth of you and Dave and heard the wind chimes and KNEW God was in this place." Her exuberance will be missed my many but she is in Heaven for sure!
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I would like to share a beautiful story with a difficult ending. This summer we were honored to be called to Bowling Green,
Kentucky to the side of our friend (and alum) Echo Moore, and become part of this woman’s beautiful approach to her transition from this earth. Echo fought metastatic breast cancer for 9 years and passed away a week after her 38th birthday.
It was a Sunday when we received the call from her brother Devon that time was very short and Echo wanted to see the people who had been important to her to share in this part of her journey. We quickly packed and made the seven hour drive to arrive at her bedside that evening. When we arrived she was smiling…
It would have been easy for her to have withdrawn. The pain was, at times, intense, but instead she chose to minimized her use of pain medication so that she could remain “present” and share the love and appreciation in her heart with those that had been important in her life. As she put it, “I am just so thankful for all that others have given me in this life … and I want to thank them each personally”.
Each day she had me walk her through several guided meditations to help relieve the physical pain. Her courage was incredible, but not surprising. Echo’s life profession was as a psychiatrist. In her dedication to help others find “peace of mind”, it seemed fitting that before we left, she smiled and said, “Shannon, I have found my Joy … I am at Peace.”
Thank you Echo for showing us what a heart overflowing with Love looks like … Shannon
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Maria Alvarez - una mujer hermosa con un gran corazón (Raleigh, NC)
Maria shared with us her heart through her smile. In a note to us, she thanked us for "the beautiful god-like weekend and said she was going to that this experience and keep it in her heart forever. "
In March 2009 we lost Maria to breast cancer BUT she is in our heart forever!!!
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It is always devastating to lose a friend or loved one to cancer, but to experience it through the eyes of a young, gentle giant like Devon Currie is even harder.Devon returned to the Kingdom above on December 13, 2008 at the age of 20.
As seen in the picture here with another resilient participant (Annabelle is doing well with her family in Michigan last we spoke), you can almost feel his passion and huge heart leap off the page. Missed by many, but none more than his loving parents David and Mary, our hearts are with you.
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On November 13, 2008 a beautiful angel from our first retreat passed from this earth to a finer place above. She was in incredible teacher of how to live each day to the fullest! Her grace and joy were truly infectious and she is already missed by many. But she is also still here, in all the good deeds and moments of laughter she gave to all of us!!!
"Your beautiful and inspirational setting is second only to your gracious friendship and hospitality.Your retreat facilitates immense feelings of joy, love and connection.I connected with ‘like-others’, an invaluable gift, and I connected with myself, the ultimate spiritual experience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” - Love always, Kelly Kilpatrick, September 2007
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Sam I AM - Samantha Gray Steffen, Winston-Salem, NC
(Sam is on the far right with her two wonderful musketeers, Misha is still fighting their battle with cancer). Samantha, who passed on September 21, 2008, was and IS a shining star... we are privileged to have known her and to have enjoyed her wonderful English sense of humor. When we visited her we were told "Elvis" had been in the building to see her! Her comment when asked if she liked Elvis: "do you know any Elton John?"
"Mustn't grumble" Sam would say... we promise you Sam, we won't. We would like to offer a special thank you to those visiting our site on behalf of Samantha Gray Steffen. "From the moment I walked into your home, I was met with hugs, big smiles, and caring support. I am SO glad I came to Wind River. You helped me focus on the things to be thankful for and enjoy life to the fullest. Thank you for being my two Angels."
- Samantha Gray Steffen, June 2008
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" My name is Carla and I was a good friend of Susan Bello. The last time I saw her on June 29th, she had just returned from your Retreat and was glowing with enthusiasm and joy. The sad news is that she died VERY UNEXPECTEDLY on Saturday, July 5th, 2008. The cause was given as acute leukemia. I wanted to share what an amazing impact your Retreat had on her ...
On June 29th we met for lunch and when I arrived, Susan looked more radiant and glowing and healthy than I had ever seen her. She was just beaming. She was full of stories and enthusiasm about her experience at the Wind River Retreat, the people she met there, and the intimacy and kindness that they shared. I looked at her and realized that she had changed in some way. She was not struggling so hard, she had a softened look about her, and she exuded an air of hopeful acceptance. Her last words to me were, "Carla, I realize now how lucky I am. I am so very, very lucky."
... Each of us has our own speculation as to why the universe saw fit for Susan to have this opportunity just days before her untimely death. But what all of us can know is that her retreat experience was a wonderful gift, and one that she would keep." -- Carla
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From you we have learned many things...
With love and respect we say "thank you" to these beautiful souls for sharing themselves with us and each other.
