RT @brent_bellamy: Without fanfare, the City of Winnipeg has been on an absolute tree planting blitz over the last few weeks. Almost every….

Apologies, spelling is Kati.

Dee Dee, I love you. I'll see you soon. When you are gone, a part of you will live in me, and in those parts of you whose story I tell, either explicitly or by living by the virtues you so powerfully embody.

I will remember the sound of your voice—and the playful scolding you give when I may or may not have said something outrageous.

You will keep living in us through the memory of you, and how that memory will remind us of how you married virtue to morals to action. You will continue to live on in the minds of all those who love you, those who have had to face you, and even those who knew you only briefly.

You are always a loyal friend, embodying an excellent moral fabric, woven like an unbreakable Gordian knot.

I think of you every time I give someone new a basket with three things: bread, so they'll never go hungry; salt, so they'll always have spice in their life; and joy, to bring happiness into their lives.

I will remember the important things: the sound of your voice, your love of hosting friends and neighbors, sharing food and fellowship.

Your time on this Earth makes us all better. You are on an incredibly difficult journey, and we are here with you to accompany you.

Dee Dee, I love you. As I write this, tears fall, and I know you don't want to leave us, but I also know your departure will end your suffering.

She reminds me of my dad, whom I lost more than two years ago; both had the gift of difficult conversation and were fiercely loyal. With her father gone, I cherish the incredible honor of walking her down the aisle at her marriage to Ken—a memory I will always cherish.

When I see a specific community improvement, or witness someone advocating fiercely for others, I think of Dee Dee and how she so perfectly marries her values with action. She wears her heart on her sleeve, always direct and honest.

In The Little Prince, the fox teaches that while separation brings sadness, there is also the lasting memory of a beautiful relationship. Just as seeing wheat fields reminds the fox of the prince's golden hair and brings joy, so too will Dee Dee's memory bring me joy.

Dee Dee is leaving us not by choice, but because her body is failing her. Her fierce grip on life isn't enough to keep her here, though I know her deepest wish is to stay with us.

Professionally and Academically, she graduated from a certificate program in public relations. Dee Dee retired from Manitoba Public Insurance after a long career there, always striving for excellence in all her endeavors. A Fierce Grip on Life and Enduring Love.

Her commitment is further exemplified by her chairing the Riverview Health Centre's fundraising efforts, supporting the very institution that cared for her late husband Harry.

After a run for school trustee, she shifted to the front lines as a formal patient advocate for Shared Health.

Dee Dee is deeply involved in politics, not as an elected official, but as a relentless advocate. She was active in school board politics and, after that, supported local and provincial politicians she believed in.

I often think of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, which reminds adults of life's true priorities. When Dee Dee is gone, I will think of her whenever I see a community united for a cause, a testament to her ability to rally neighbors and improve quality of life.

Our star is leaving us soon. For so many, Dee Dee is a guiding light, and her failing health brings immense sadness. Her departure will leave a void, and we will all feel diminished by her absence.