Ciao to an Angel

My sweet friend, Nicla, passed away today and I'm so sad.  There was only one sister Italian during my mission and that was Sorella Covino.  We were never companions, but lived in the same apartment twice, in Pozzuoli and again in Rome.  She was a tiny thing, but I never remember her without a smile, truly the definition of kindness.  We started our mission at the same time, but she went straight to the mission field whereas I spent a couple months in Provo trying to learn God's language.  :)

At the conclusion of our mission, we traveled together to Switzerland, she to attend the temple just once before boarding a training for Southern Italy to be with her family in Lecce for Easter, and me to meet my parents before traveling Europe. 

We wrote each other occasionally, but I had such a thrill when she and her husband Kim came to my house for dinner two years ago this month.  We hugged and cried on the doorstep--it seemed like just yesterday when we had seen each other, not 30 years.  I always had a bit of guilt that I had not summoned the other missionaries to my house that evening to honor Nicla, but I just didn't have the full energy I needed, as I was still recovering from chemo.  Unfortunately, it was metastasis of her breast cancer which took her life.

 

I love you Nicla and look forward to seeing you again.