Eulogy for Larissa

Larissa. She was here for such a short time. Hearts quiver in her wake, enchanted by her beauty, stunned by her briefness.

We loved, we lost, we celebrate all we learned.

Airy flutes and wine-throated cellos sing out the music she taught us.
Silhouettes and sinews, grown stronger from our walks with her, stand tall against the sunsets she treasured.
Our words flow in litanies, psalms and poems like rivers of fresh water, quenching the thirsts of all who hear, as she quenched ours.
Darkness does not frighten us; she was always a friend of the night.

Above all, we value the day lilies.

She planted them in abundance, as her legacy. Each day a new bloom, more colorful, more fragrant, more breathtaking than the one before. She would take us into the garden, show us a single stunning blossom. “Look,” she would say. “Have you ever seen anything more exquisite?” We hadn’t. Like intoxicated bees, we leaned into the rose-orange-mauve flower with its ruffled edging of burgundy. The red-purple eye gazed at us with a serenity that spoke of forever. “Tomorrow this miracle will be gone,” she said. “True eternity is found in a single day.”

Because of Larissa, none of us is the same.

Giovanni’s poetry flows like golden honey, feeds the hungry. Because of Larissa.
Dani has never played his violin with such soulful expression. Because of Larissa.
Michelle sails through the Tour de France winners tape, hands outstretched in victory. Because of Larissa.
Donya chairs her board meetings with compassion and transparency, creates worlds that scrape the very sky. Because of Larissa.

And Benjamin! Benjamin captures the true essence of Larissa, working botanical magic, breeding more day lilies, reaching new heights of color, fragrance, and jubilation. Each blooming for one day only.

And that one day is all we will ever need. Because of Larissa.