Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
From Aviva Maller
Joanna
Joanna means G-d is gracious
How perfect!
Joanna was blessed by G-d's grace to have so many wonderful qualities.
She was so much fun and yet she was serious and focused and so intent on getting her work done efficiently and in the best way possible. What most people don't know is that so much of what you saw at Agudath was done quietly by Joanna.
Occasionally she would ask for help of some sort but mostly she was about, "getting the job done!" It was not just done quickly but well and she loved checking off her accomplishments. I could never walk into the office without Joanna saying something about me in a disparaging yet jovial manner. I called her "Blondie" she called me "long hair." She would always spoil me, making me coffee and finding me treats to nourish me for my early morning meetings. She loved to throw Hebrew words out at me and I was always amazed at how much she knew.
I would compliment her great work and give her other ideas, which she loved but always complained and told me to stop giving her these great ideas because they would be more work for her! She knew she could come to me without question for anything but yet she would always be respectful of my time.
We talked of fun things and she had a mischievous spirit that was exciting and calming at the same time. We made promises to visit her little caretakers cottage in Westport or her cabin in the woods near the Canadian border where there was no running water or electricity. Only Joanna could think it was relaxing to spend a weekend without the amenities we all take for granted.
While Joanna was suffering, unbeknownst to me, from her sudden stroke and coma, I was thinking of her nonstop as I planted my flowers this past Sunday, thinking I can't wait to show my flowers to Joanna and show her that there is more to life than Marigolds all in a row. I so wanted to see those marigolds and tease her about her perfect orderly manner of controlling her world. I wanted to show her how disheveled wild flowers were also beautiful, in an un-orderly way. She would have said. "Cool!" Of course she planted Marigolds, they are neat and tidy and blonde! The last time I spoke with Joanna, other than working on creating Claudette's goodbye party flyer, she shared with me about her rows of Marigolds that she planted the same way every year and how proud she was that last weekend she checked off every item on her to-do list.
I was in awe.
Joanna, I hope your to-do list was, like you, gracious and fun. I will really miss you.
Aviva
Joanna means G-d is gracious
How perfect!
Joanna was blessed by G-d's grace to have so many wonderful qualities.
She was so much fun and yet she was serious and focused and so intent on getting her work done efficiently and in the best way possible. What most people don't know is that so much of what you saw at Agudath was done quietly by Joanna.
Occasionally she would ask for help of some sort but mostly she was about, "getting the job done!" It was not just done quickly but well and she loved checking off her accomplishments. I could never walk into the office without Joanna saying something about me in a disparaging yet jovial manner. I called her "Blondie" she called me "long hair." She would always spoil me, making me coffee and finding me treats to nourish me for my early morning meetings. She loved to throw Hebrew words out at me and I was always amazed at how much she knew.
I would compliment her great work and give her other ideas, which she loved but always complained and told me to stop giving her these great ideas because they would be more work for her! She knew she could come to me without question for anything but yet she would always be respectful of my time.
We talked of fun things and she had a mischievous spirit that was exciting and calming at the same time. We made promises to visit her little caretakers cottage in Westport or her cabin in the woods near the Canadian border where there was no running water or electricity. Only Joanna could think it was relaxing to spend a weekend without the amenities we all take for granted.
While Joanna was suffering, unbeknownst to me, from her sudden stroke and coma, I was thinking of her nonstop as I planted my flowers this past Sunday, thinking I can't wait to show my flowers to Joanna and show her that there is more to life than Marigolds all in a row. I so wanted to see those marigolds and tease her about her perfect orderly manner of controlling her world. I wanted to show her how disheveled wild flowers were also beautiful, in an un-orderly way. She would have said. "Cool!" Of course she planted Marigolds, they are neat and tidy and blonde! The last time I spoke with Joanna, other than working on creating Claudette's goodbye party flyer, she shared with me about her rows of Marigolds that she planted the same way every year and how proud she was that last weekend she checked off every item on her to-do list.
I was in awe.
Joanna, I hope your to-do list was, like you, gracious and fun. I will really miss you.
Aviva
From Rabbi Avi Narrow Tilonsky
Joanna
When I recall Joanna, the first thing that comes to mind is a teaching from pirkei avot which Joanna embodied. In the fifteenth mishna of the first perek, Shamai tells us
"hevei mekabel et kol adam besever panim yafot."
"receive everyone with a pleasant countenance."
Every time that I saw Joanna interacting with people she lit up. She could be enthusiastic about the most routine shul event.
Her emails contained various encouraging greetings, such as a "G'day".
Almost all of them contained at least one excited exclamation mark, and all of them signed off with her constant and sincere tagline, "with best regards."
This attitude is a huge deal. Shamai understood that it was unusual enough that is needed to be stressed in the mishna, and is not intuitive for most people.
What was Joanna's secret? How was she so able to embody this teaching with her contagious enthusiasm and bright personality?
I believe that the answer lies in an email that Joanna once sent me confirming a visit that I made to the Atria.
On Tuesday March 1st Joanna wrote:
"Hi Avi,
I just called Kathy and she definitely wants you to come at 2:30 p.m. Have fun!"
Joanna told me to have fun visiting the Atria because helping others was truly fun for Joanna. She could be so excited when dealing with each person that visited the shul because she sincerely took pleasure in helping others.
When you become the type of person that enjoys helping others, it becomes natural to be "mekabel et kola dam besever panim yafot" "to receive each person with a pleasant countenance."
Joanna showed us the pleasure of helping and volunteering, of viewing an encounter with other people as an opportunity and a privilege.
Today we have the unfortunate task of saying goodbye to Joanna, but not to her legacy,
in her own words,
with her tagline,
"with best regards."
When I recall Joanna, the first thing that comes to mind is a teaching from pirkei avot which Joanna embodied. In the fifteenth mishna of the first perek, Shamai tells us
"hevei mekabel et kol adam besever panim yafot."
"receive everyone with a pleasant countenance."
Every time that I saw Joanna interacting with people she lit up. She could be enthusiastic about the most routine shul event.
Her emails contained various encouraging greetings, such as a "G'day".
Almost all of them contained at least one excited exclamation mark, and all of them signed off with her constant and sincere tagline, "with best regards."
This attitude is a huge deal. Shamai understood that it was unusual enough that is needed to be stressed in the mishna, and is not intuitive for most people.
What was Joanna's secret? How was she so able to embody this teaching with her contagious enthusiasm and bright personality?
I believe that the answer lies in an email that Joanna once sent me confirming a visit that I made to the Atria.
On Tuesday March 1st Joanna wrote:
"Hi Avi,
I just called Kathy and she definitely wants you to come at 2:30 p.m. Have fun!"
Joanna told me to have fun visiting the Atria because helping others was truly fun for Joanna. She could be so excited when dealing with each person that visited the shul because she sincerely took pleasure in helping others.
When you become the type of person that enjoys helping others, it becomes natural to be "mekabel et kola dam besever panim yafot" "to receive each person with a pleasant countenance."
Joanna showed us the pleasure of helping and volunteering, of viewing an encounter with other people as an opportunity and a privilege.
Today we have the unfortunate task of saying goodbye to Joanna, but not to her legacy,
in her own words,
with her tagline,
"with best regards."
From Jocelyn Sherman Avidan
Subject: Reflections on Joann
Sent: May 24, 2011 5:53 PM
Dear Rabbi Cohen, We are stunned and so terribly saddened by the heartbreaking and tragic news of Joanna's death. We are currently in Israel and won't be able to join the community in celebrating her life and mourning her loss tomorrow, but we wanted to share a few thoughts. We first got to know Joanna while working on the retreat 2 years ago. Joanna was always there to help, offering things that we didn't even know we needed. Even when the office was crowded with constituents needing assistance while the phones rang and she was trying to answer emails in a timely manner, she was on top of everything and did it all with a smile. That event, along with countless others, could most certainly not have happened without Joanna's dedication. Joanna would call us from time to time to help with the shul's runs to Costco to pick up supplies. Everything was always perfectly coordinated, and if ever there was a question, we would just call Joanna and she had an answer- every single time. Our community has lost a dedicated employee and trusted friend. Her kind heart, warm spirit and beautiful smile shined through in everything she did. She will be missed. Sincerely, Jocelyn and Ron Avidan
Sent: May 24, 2011 5:53 PM
Dear Rabbi Cohen, We are stunned and so terribly saddened by the heartbreaking and tragic news of Joanna's death. We are currently in Israel and won't be able to join the community in celebrating her life and mourning her loss tomorrow, but we wanted to share a few thoughts. We first got to know Joanna while working on the retreat 2 years ago. Joanna was always there to help, offering things that we didn't even know we needed. Even when the office was crowded with constituents needing assistance while the phones rang and she was trying to answer emails in a timely manner, she was on top of everything and did it all with a smile. That event, along with countless others, could most certainly not have happened without Joanna's dedication. Joanna would call us from time to time to help with the shul's runs to Costco to pick up supplies. Everything was always perfectly coordinated, and if ever there was a question, we would just call Joanna and she had an answer- every single time. Our community has lost a dedicated employee and trusted friend. Her kind heart, warm spirit and beautiful smile shined through in everything she did. She will be missed. Sincerely, Jocelyn and Ron Avidan
From Polly Geller
Subject: Joanna
Sent: May 24, 2011 4:45 PM
Joanna made it possible, gracefully and efficiently. "Of course we can do it!" Thank you Joanna.
Polly Geller
Person-to-Person Board Member and Outreach Coordinator to the Jewish Community
203-329-0386
Sent: May 24, 2011 4:45 PM
Joanna made it possible, gracefully and efficiently. "Of course we can do it!" Thank you Joanna.
Polly Geller
Person-to-Person Board Member and Outreach Coordinator to the Jewish Community
203-329-0386
From David and Lorraine Kweskin
Sent: May 24, 2011 1:25 PM
Joanna was such a dedicated person. Many times she and I would communicate by email early in the morning! I Will greatly miss her, her warm smile and laughing ways Lorraine "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world--Indeed its the only thing that ever has..." Margaret Mead
Joanna was such a dedicated person. Many times she and I would communicate by email early in the morning! I Will greatly miss her, her warm smile and laughing ways Lorraine "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world--Indeed its the only thing that ever has..." Margaret Mead
From: Shelly Senker
Sent: May 24, 2011 1:19 PM
Dear Rabbi Cohen, What a week ! Full of sorrow...it is a hard one for all of us. I can not imagine how you are handling all of these events. It is really making me think and pray. I did not know Joanna that well but i decided to compose a little something in her honor. Thank you for asking. If you do go to Israel to visit the Cantor and Tehilla -- please send them our love-- i did email them and tried to call with no luck. Hopefully we will see him sometime soon. Sincerely, Shelley and Eddie Joanna Bell , was more than the Rabbi's secretary. She was my friend. She was a warm, perky, sweet, very intelligent,caring, and always willing to help out to make everything I was involved in , successful , ALL the Simcha Torah Luncheons, the Senior Luncheons, and the upcoming Shul Trip to Philadelphia. She was a lover of life. She told me that she would go to the beach and take walks, she ate healthy-always had interesting snacks by her desk, and was genuinely interested in all our lives and all things Jewish. She was very respectful as well. At the recent shul dinner , she looked so elegant and was so happy to be there. She went out of her way and took Eddie and me over to meet her good friend. Walking into the Shul office which I do often will never be the same without Joanna Bell. She will surely be missed. Shelley Senker
Dear Rabbi Cohen, What a week ! Full of sorrow...it is a hard one for all of us. I can not imagine how you are handling all of these events. It is really making me think and pray. I did not know Joanna that well but i decided to compose a little something in her honor. Thank you for asking. If you do go to Israel to visit the Cantor and Tehilla -- please send them our love-- i did email them and tried to call with no luck. Hopefully we will see him sometime soon. Sincerely, Shelley and Eddie Joanna Bell , was more than the Rabbi's secretary. She was my friend. She was a warm, perky, sweet, very intelligent,caring, and always willing to help out to make everything I was involved in , successful , ALL the Simcha Torah Luncheons, the Senior Luncheons, and the upcoming Shul Trip to Philadelphia. She was a lover of life. She told me that she would go to the beach and take walks, she ate healthy-always had interesting snacks by her desk, and was genuinely interested in all our lives and all things Jewish. She was very respectful as well. At the recent shul dinner , she looked so elegant and was so happy to be there. She went out of her way and took Eddie and me over to meet her good friend. Walking into the Shul office which I do often will never be the same without Joanna Bell. She will surely be missed. Shelley Senker
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)