Remembering WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo

[TwitterQueen1]

This is a thread in remembrance of Leslie, who IRL was called Christine and who sadly died, peacefully, in her sleep, in the morning of 6th April. It’s a place for everyone to share their thoughts, memories and feelings about a lovely, inspirational woman who gave unstinting support to those with cancer. Most of us will know Leslie from the Cancer Support threads (latest one here) she led for years, offering many handholds, much reassurance and unending support, especially when newbies joined. Leslie was always kind, always gentle, always encouraging, pulling together random, disparate strangers into a loving, supportive network.

Leslie asked me to let everyone on MN know when she died. I am under instruction “not to write anything gushy or naff or say I "lost my battle"!” So no talk of soldiers, battles won, lost, fought etc. Let’s celebrate her life, short though it was, be glad that we knew her and grab laughs and loves when and where we can.

Leslie was:
• Only 28, diagnosed at 21 with (a genetic) colon cancer.
• A lifelong veggie with a HUGE love of cheese. Cake was pretty important too. Oh, and pizza. And ice cream.
• Blessed with a loving family; mum, dad and sister, plus a large network of relatives and friends. Plus 2 flippin’ big bunnies called Marigold and Juniper.
• A hooker – otherwise known as a knitter of blankets, hugs, scarves etc. She not only contributed to the lovely Woolly Hugs group here on MN but also recommended ladies with cancer for their very own Woolly Hug.
• A glitzy, glam shoe aficionado who saved her best pairs for the chemo ward
• For those curious about her user name, Leslie Knope is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.

I asked Christine about how we might remember her. She had no suggestions other than perhaps donating to Woolly Hugs if people want to. I am happy to coordinate this.

Christine, you were a true friend to me, bringing me into the cancer support group and being my cheerleader as well as everyone else’s. You are much loved and will be so very missed. Rest in peace xx

I will be thinking of Leslie tomorrow and her mam,dad and sister xx

Also all the lacies who are attending xx

RIP Christine x

Ooo TQ what a lovely idea. I should have thought of that. Always looking for reasons to buy shoes.
I'm looking forward to meeting you tomorrow although it will be a sad day.
I hope her family can get closure now and start trying to heal their souls. I miss her so much. Have looked for her messages by mistake so many times and then remembered she is no longer there. Sucks.

Oh perfect TQ I'm sure she'll be loving the trainers from wherever she is, and I'm glad you and Dulce get to meet although I wish it was in better circumstances

Dear TQ, Dulce and Pistey I will be thinking of you all and Leslie tomorrow at 12:15... please channel some love from me into the room and I will be sure to don some fancy sparkly shoes in her honour!

I will be thinking of all of you and especially Chrissi’s family tomorrow. I’ll have a candle burning and some sparkly shoes.

Another one who will be thinking of Christine today.

I cannot be at the funeral, unfortunately.

The latter part of this thread has made me smile - if I had been able to go, I would have worn the race T-shirt from the weekend of her death and my most lurid trainers!

I hope it’s a good send-off

It was a heartbreaking, heartfelt yet somehow joyful service, filled with love. So many people, and even a Hearing Dog for the Deaf. Honoured to be there.

Thanks for sharing amber. Have been thinking of Christine and her family especially today. It sounds like it was a fitting celebration of a wonderful lady, who touched the lives of so many. RIP Lesley/Christine xx

Thank you Amber. I was wondering how it was although I knew it would be packed. I remember her telling me she'd organised most of it herself and chose her own music. God I bloody miss her so much

Hello everyone
It was a lovely service, very peaceful and comforting. I think it was very much as Christine wanted it! Right down to the readings, the songs, the poem - and including the refreshments afterwards, where there were loads of vegan and veggie options, plus LOADS of cake.

Mumsnet was mentioned and her parents were aware of the comfort and support she gave to so many others.

We heard a poem called 'Instructions' (Arnold Crompton), beginning:
"When I have moved beyond you in the adventure of life,
Gather in some pleasant place and there remember me
With spoken words. old and new,
Let a tear if you will, but let a smile come quickly
For I have loved the laughter of life."

RIP Chrissi xx

Thank you @TwitterQueen and RIP Christine xx

Thanks amber and TQ

Really beautiful. Her folks are extraordinary. Their talk about her was both teary making and laugh out loud making. Heartbreaking and yet so uplifting.

Chrissie had planned it all and so it was perfect. Down to the finest of fine details. Love her.

This song was played at the end. So beautifully her and always will be now

RIP Chrissi.. thank you to those who attended and have shared with us. Keeping Chrissi's family and friends in my thoughts.

Thank you for sharing that TQ and knotty and amber. I couldn’t be further away geographically from where her funeral was but my heart and mind were there.

I could tell Chrissi’s family were amazing from what she said. They must feel such indescribable loss as well as infinite pride. So unfair. Such a beautiful human being. Chrissi will never be forgotten.

My DS1 is the same age as Chrissi. I can't begin to imagine what her parents must be going through

She was an exceptional woman. I only lurked on her threads, but her kindness and compassion shone through everything that she wrote.

RIP Chrissi, and much love and sympathy to those she has left behind

Thank you TQ, Amber and Knotty. The service sounds beautiful and a fitting tribute to such a lovely, kind and caring woman.
RIP Christine.

Beautiful girl. God bless her Thank you for sharing TQ

Thank you for sharing, I am particularly pleased to see her face, that means such a lot. She helped me hugely, I miss her very much on the thread. How very sad.

It was a beautiful service, full of happy hymns and even some laughs. It was lovely for her dad to mention the impact she's had on people online.
I miss her so much. Today was a sad day but I'm glad I've been able to go - unlike so many of the lacies who are too poorly to manage it - and it's given me an extra glimpse of how amazing she was. RIP my beautiful friend. The whole you've left will never be filled.

Thank you for sharing x

Thank you Dulce ❤️

Three of us were there representing the original Tamoxigang that came together when MaryAnnSingleton first started the Cancer Support threads, twenty six of us who have graduated from the threads but remain very much a special part of each other’s lives in real life. Lesley /Ruby was there from the earliest days and has remained at the centre of our group, not only a vital part of our support network but keeping us organised and practical. Her very special combination of wisdom beyond her years, kindness, generosity of spirit, formidable organisation skills and humour were very much loved and valued and she leaves a hole that can’t be filled (even though she typically attempted to organise us to take over).

The Mumsnet thread continues to be a special source of support for those going through diagnosis, treatment and facing the new normal, somewhere you can be honest, and laugh as well as cry and find kindness and others who share your experience free of head tilting and the rhetoric of battle. Lesley played such a massive role in keeping the thread that special place. In a sense we felt she was “our girl” but actually yesterday made me realise just how much she was a special part of so many lives and how far she used her special qualities to bring kindness and love to others. I know the thread is left in safe hands with Twitter Queen.

Sadly, inevitably because Cancer is a bugger there have been other funerals, Mary Ann Singleton, Gigondas, Topsy, and others whose Facebook names I don’t remember but are very much missed (yes if there is a heaven then it is full of laughter and naughtiness and not a little gin) and there is a sense that those special women led where Lesley could follow in facing terminal illness. At yesterday’s funeral though whilst we thought we were there to respect her memory and share a celebration of her life in fact as her father highlighted she was there still caring for us. She orchestrated a funeral that left us with the message that we should focus on all she thought special, climb that mountain, walk in the woods, above all be kind. When we left we saw some stick statues hugging each other and climbed over a fence into a sort of wood and took silly selfies with them. Perhaps we were taking it a bit too literally but we feel sure Lesley would have approved......

Oh that’s lovely emily. Thanks so much for sharing that with the rest of us.