Though Carysfort National School is maybe a 7min walk for most of us, I was concerned about her making it and seeing a dear customer approaching – John, we'll call him, as he may wish for anonymity - I quickly explained the situation and asked was he by any chance heading up Carysfort Ave. He was.

Not only did John walk Kathleen to the school, while she was voting he fetched his car so that he could drive her back home and save her, and Esmeralda, the trek.

She came in to thank me a few of days later and to ask that I pass on her gratitude to John which, of course, I was delighted to do.

The following week, two women came into the shop looking for me and one introduced herself as Kathleen's daughter. She'd heard all about John's kindness and wanted to extend the family's thanks, and to let us both know that her mother had unexpectedly and suddenly died a couple of days previously.

John came in later that day and I shared the sad news

This afternoon, Kathleen's son came in, again wishing to pass on his thanks – John had gone to the funeral home and had met the family, and the son in his eulogy had used John's story to illustrate the importance of friendship in Kathleen's life

Given the sparkle she radiated when I met Kathleen those two brief times, it's not hard for me to imagine people being drawn to her or that she would bring out the best in everyone. What a final gift for her family to know she was cared for and that she brought joy to others right up until the end.

Huh. How about that.

A pleasure😊

💙Amazing to be a part of it