Our friend Jan Crandell died this week. You may not recognize her name because she never created a cane or attended a conference. But she knew all about you as she followed along on PolymerClayDaily. She collected your works, commissioning me to purchase pieces for her at each event. (This angel from Susan Hyde was a favorite.)
Jan was my college roommate, an English teacher and a retired state education administrator. She had a huge intelligence and a quick wit. She mentored many students and colleagues.
Early each morning she read the day’s PCD post and called me if she spotted a broken link, a misspelled word or, heaven forbid, a grammatical error. The technology terrified her but if I couldn’t get to a computer she’d fix my gaffes herself. She skyped me from her hospital bed and edited faithfully until very recently.
Jan was my personal coach and cheerleader. I was her technical guru. She bought any art I made, even the awful stuff. My art angel is gone and we lost a dear friend.
Leila Bidler ,
so sorry for your and our all loss. I’m sure she’ll still give you hints and show you mistakes still, you will feel it 🙂
and she’ll keep watching us and our creations. Maybe she’ll even teach angels how to clay, I like that idea a lot!
*hugssssssss*
Leila
Cindy Matthews ,
She sounds like a very special person. I have a friend who fills very similar roles for me and I dread thinking of her passing. She’s 23 years older than I am, so odds are I will live to see her passing rather than the other way around. I am so very sorry for your loss, but thankful, too, for a friend who was so dear. Friends like that are so special and so rare, and we are blessed to know them.
ColtPixy ,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Several years ago I lost the dear friend who introduced me to polymer clay and I still think of her every day. My grandmother once told me that no one is truly gone as long as they live in your heart. That is so true.
Carolyn ,
May your heart heal quickly and your memories last forever. Blessing will shine down on you I can feel it!
Rosana ,
Sorry for your loss, Jan sounds like a wonderful friend. I’m sure she will be missed, but her influences and encouragement to all around her will continue.
Susan ,
Cynthia thank you for sharing a glimpse of your dear friend with us – what a beautiful testament to the bonds of friendship.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss and holding you close in my thoughts, sending healing energy and prayers as you journey through this difficult time. Please take care.
Melinda hayes ,
Thank you for the beautiful tribute to your friend Jan. I know you will miss her dearly.
Denise Fuson ,
So sorry for your loss. How fortunate you were to have such a supportive friend in your life.
Carolyn Good ,
So sorry for your loss. It is always hard to lose a good friend like that. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Mari O'Dell ,
Dear Cynthia,
So very sorry to read of the passing of your dear friend. Having lost my two dearest friends in a three month period one year ,I know that no words can express enough comport or understanding.Please know that you are in the hearts of all the folks who treasure you and the things you share with us.Be well.
Fondly,
Mari
Anita Brandon ,
(((Cynthia))), Please accept my condolences on the lost of your dear friend. She sounds like she was a wonderful person, a true friend, and a special “Earth angel”…… and now you have a heavenly angel watching over you. May the love that surrounds you today bring you comfort and help to ease the pain of your loss. HUGE HUGS
Zuda Gay Pease ,
I am so sorry for your loss!! May your many wonderful memories bring you comfort.
Kimberly Arden ,
Cynthia, Wow, this just kicks the air right out of you you doesn’t it? I am so very sorry and touched by your loss. I see that she is wearing one of your pebble necklaces! She looks like a neat lady. And how I wish I could offer some kind of comfort as you did to me when my own Mother passed last December. Know that you are a treasure to me and the Polymer Community and we all share in your grief.
Barbara Forbes-Lyons ,
My sympathies on your loss, Cynthia. Losing such a dear friend is amongst the hardest things to bear. I hope your memories bring you comfort over time.
dawn ,
So sorry for your loss Cynthia, she sounds like she was the most wonderful friend. My thoughts are with you.x
Lisa Mackin ,
What a nice tribute. I’m sorry for your loss.
Bette Abdu ,
Please know that my thoughts are with you in this time of grief. Jan sounds like a wonderful friend and supporter of the polymer community – even if in the background. I hope you can focus on the good memories and be comforted by them.
Best regards
Bette
claire maunsell ,
I’m so sorry you’ve lost your friend, Cynthia! We loose a little of ourselves when people like this die. You will remember her often…
Emanda ,
Dearest Cynthia,
“In death, life is changed, not ended” (Episcopal Burial service Book of Common Prayer). She is with you still, just in a different way. May you find peace and joys in the memories you two created together.
({({(HUGS)})})
Emanda
Lynda Moseley ,
Cynthia, I am so sorry for your loss. Friends such as your Jan are rare indeed. I hope the many wonderful memories of the time you were able to have her in your life will bring you some small comfort over the coming days and weeks.
Lynda
Vickie Turner ,
Cynthia, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Jan. I’m glad you told us. People like her don’t get the level of recognition they deserve for the kindnesses and generosity they display. We now know a little bit about her, thanks to you, and are encouraged to know that in a world littered with ugliness, there are still people who value friendship and kindness and beauty and selflessness. We all wish we could help with your grief, but we can’t. Please know our hearts are with you and that the love and appreciation you have for Jan is mirrored by the way we feel about you and what you do for all of us.
Maria Casey ,
I read and enjoy your blog faithfully on a daily basis. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your friend. What a wonderful gift to have had someone like that in your life!
LaLa ,
Dear Cynthia,
I am truly sorry to hear of your loss of such a dear friend and art angel, Jan Crandell. Your loving tribute to her says a lot about the wonderful spirit that she possessed. How fortunate you are to have had such a wonderful friend. I hope that your many special memories can bring a bit of comfort to you as you grieve her passing.
Love LaLa
Genevieve ,
I’m very sorry Cynthia – my heart goes out to you.
Sounds as though the world needs more people like Jan.
Randee M Ketzel ,
It is so difficult to lose a dear friend–but thank you for sharing that with us all. The simple knowledge of how much she touched your life touches part of ours–and we are better for it. We will remember her smile.
Mags ,
Dear Cynthia,
I am so sorry for your loss. Friends like her are few and far between. I know you appreciated her presence in your life and will greatly miss her. However, it sounds like you have thousands of happy memories to keep her in your heart everyday forward.
My thoughts are with you.
Trina Williams ,
My sympathies are with you. Such a wonderful friend. There are many friends of polymer clay out there who have never picked up a block of clay. They buy our stuff and tell us how talented we are and, in fact, keep us doing what we love.
Janet ,
Thanks Cynthia for sharing about your long time friend. Jan sounds like a wonderful person who touched many lives. She will still be with you in your memories of her.
Sheri Williamson ,
Heartfelt condolences for your loss, Cynthia. We should all be fortunate enough to have someone like Jan in our lives, if only for a day.
Jeannie ,
My deepest sympathies and God Bless
Pat Lacy ,
You presented us all with the thought of how important our friends and family are to us all. Hugs to you as you go through this journey.
Kit Lockwood ,
Thank you for sharing with us a bit of who Jan has been for you, (and, though we didn’t know it, for us who log on to view PCD ever day). I can’t and won’t try to name what you feel, but I’m thinking of you as the days now begin to pass as you experience not having that daily connection with her. I hope in the midst of it all you feel peace. You are loved and appreciated by so many who can’t fill the loss but would hold you in compassion and respect.
Susan Hyde ,
Thank you, Cynthia – so sorry your friend has gone, and so moving to know she had one of my angels! I do sometimes wonder where they all went!!!!
Gaina ,
((Hug)) You have my most sincere condolences.
PLaneFancies ,
My condolences. Good friends are so hard to find and even harder to lose.
Yvonne ,
Thankyou for sharing this Cynthia. My condolences to you and today I will make an effort to give my very close friend an extra hug.
Dianna Mammone ,
what a lovely tribute. So sorry for your loss
Barbara Handy ,
My heart goes out to you for your great loss.
mg reader ,
I am so sorry for your loss and thankful to hear of such a deep and abiding love between friends. It is difficult to face days without your angel, but I know that you will feel her on your shoulder for the rest of your life. Many blessings to you on your friendship, tears on your loss and strength in the bonding and laughter of women.
Fate ,
Very sorry to hear this. My best wishes to you and her family and friends.
Bonnie Kreger ,
Cynthia, I’m so sorry about your friend. There will be another bright star guiding you and your loved ones. She sounds like she was a terrrific friend and wonderful person. You were very lucky to have been able to share life with her.
Ginny Henley ,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for sharing your cherished memories of Jan.
Patty Spencer ,
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.
Valerie Ashley ,
I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend, Cynthia, my heartfelt condolences and prayers to you and her family.
Betty Jo Hendershott ,
My condolences Cynthia. It’s hard to lose a friend, she sounds like a very sweet person. I’m sure you were blessed to have her as a friend.
Beth Petricoin ,
So very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. She does indeed sound like she was an angel.
tejae ,
I’m saddened to hear of your loss.
Friends are rare treasures helping us to become more than we could ever dream of becoming on our own…. encouraging… gentle… when we need a soft touch, and tough when we need a kick in the bootie, they make us laugh and giggle like little kids, they share our tears when our world has tumbled upon us and at times they get in trouble with us. It’s a very sad day when we lose one. I’m sorry you’ve lost your dear friend. hugs to you sweets.
becky patellis ,
My condolences on the loss of your dear friend. Your sweet memories of her can never be taken away.
Pye Squire ,
She does sound like a special person. I am sorry for your loss my preys are with you.
Brenda Urquhart ,
A friend is the Sugar Bowl in the Tea Party of Life…Sweet & satisfying to the Soul…To lose a firend is the greatest of all losses…At this time when words can’t tell you all that our hearts would say…Just know this message brings all our love & sympathy today for your loss…