Irene Smith (1946–2021), an educator and founder of the Everflowing hospice program, passed away in her home on April 4, 2021. She was surrounded by two of her most beloved caregivers, as was her wish.
Irene was admitted into in-home hospice care on February 21, after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer that had metastasized to multiple sites.
Irene is best known for teaching touch as a way of honoring the sacredness of life. Before her passing, Irene conveyed her immense gratitude to the community for all the years of support and service, sharing the following message on her Facebook page on March 10:
“Dear beloved friends … so many thoughts with me, however the primary thought is about the love and kindness you have shown me through this time of great suffering. I’m held and soothed with your acts of kindness, and cradled in your love. Although I cannot respond to you each [individually] my hope is that you find yourself with this community message. Words escape me but the feeling is that of being lifted out of the darkness into the light on the wing of angels of which each of you are a feather. I would not change one moment of my life for it has brought me to this moment of being so deeply cared for and loved. With all of my heart forever, Irene.”
Irene made arrangements with David Palmer to digitize her archives and make them available to the public via her website (everflowing.org). You can sign up for the Everflowing newsletter here.
Details regarding an online memorial service for Irene are forthcoming.