Betty Rose Dudley, 1951-2011. Rest in Peace.

[serene]

This morning, with her family surrounding her, Betty Rose Dudley took her last breath.

Betty described herself as a fat, working-class dyke from Missouri. She had a true generosity of spirit, and she taught me more about class issues than I can express. In the eight years I knew her, she never so much as raised her voice at me; our one dust-up was the result of my own rudeness. I feel grateful for the opportunity I had to provide some practical help to her in her last weeks, and I'm humbled by the love and care that she and Carol shared for 16 years. Betty's last few years were hard ones, but she still radiated hopefulness, humor, and incisive social awareness. So many people loved her. I am one of them.

I said good-bye to Betty in person, and I'm glad I got the chance. I'm sorry she never won the lottery so that she could shower gifts on the people she loved, because that's all she ever wanted to do with the heaps of money. And I'm sorry that illness deprived her of the ease that she deserved to have in her retirement years.

Betty leaves behind a family (blood, chosen, and extended) that loves her, and that pulled out all the stops to support each other in supporting her. I'm so proud to have known Betty Rose.

Comments

[snippy]

I am so sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.

[eeyorerin]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[kalmn]

i'm so sorry.

[lady_myfanwy]

*tight hug*

[eveningstartwo]

RIP. *hugs*

[intenselaura]

My condolences to you and yours.

[tiger_spot]

::hugs::

[gramina]

I am so sorry for your loss. The world needs more people like her.

[supergee]

*sympathy*

[redbird]

My condolences.

[apis_mellifera]

I'm so sorry. *hug*

re: Betty Rose Dudley, 1951-2011. Rest in Peace.

[betonica]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm glad that you were there with her, and that you have such wonderful memories of her.

[ajnabieh]

I'm so sorry for your loss. That you got to care for her at the end is a blessing, as hard as it must have been. Holding you and her family, and her spirit, in the Light.

[jae]

Rest in peace, Betty. You were very loved.

-J

[trinker]

*hug*

[kake]

I'm so sorry for your loss (but glad you got those eight years).

[nitoda]

So sorry for your loss. ::hugs:: May you find comfort and know that you helped her when she needed you.

[wild_irises]

What a lovely summation of Betty! Thank you!

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your and your family's and the world's loss of Betty -- having read Marilyn Wann's piece she sounds like an amazing person, writer, activist, friend, community member.

[julian]

My (belated) sympathies to you and yours.