Mood:
sadGood morning. I would like to say a few words in honor of the life of my sister-in-law Tanya Egan who is mourned today by the many who will miss her radiant smiles, her steadfast love and her gentle laughter.
Rachel Carson once said “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”
That quote epitomizes the kind of person Tanya was. Whether on a hike in the desert with Tanya or just talking on the phone with her, her excitement and love of life were always evident.
During the course of her cancer, Tanya bravely, and patiently, submitted to two complete series of chemo, radiation and bone marrow transplants, but never expressed weariness or self-pity.
Of course, Tanya did much in her role as a wildlife biologist, not only dwelling among, but protecting the beauties and mysteries of the earth. Her work and dedication towards protecting her beloved endangered desert tortoise is just one small example of how she found beauty in all living things. With her enthusiastic manner, she shared the joy of the beauties of the earth with people she encountered throughout her life.
Most of us here today are still in shock – Tanya’s cheerfulness and eternal optimism throughout her challenging illness convinced us that she could survive anything; her lack of complaints belied the true gravity of her ordeal. Tanya’s great faith, grace and patience during her adversity exemplified a role model of courage and dignity.
When Tanya first heard that chemotherapy would likely cause her to lose her beautiful long red hair, she beat it to the punch by cutting those gorgeous tresses and generously donating them to Locks of Love, so a child also suffering from cancer treatment might have a wig.
Tanya only converted to Catholicism shortly after marrying Tom, yet Catholics who knew her recognize that she bore her cross in life better than a martyr.
I’d like to recognize a few of the many influences on her life:
Her proud, amazingly strong but heartbroken parents, Roy and Benita Bridges, who have been Tanya’s greatest cheerleaders throughout her illness: their firstborn was always a most beautiful and talented child. Roy, your courage as an astronaut and dedication to the Air Force, and the NASA Space Program, and Benita, your love for all animals and constant adaptability to new people and places as a military officer’s wife taught and inspired Tanya in so many ways. Thank you for raising Tanya to become the wonderful wife, sister, mother, and friend we now mourn, and thank you for sharing her too-short life with us.
Her grandparents Roy Sr. and Elizabeth, in Gainesville, Georgia who could not be present with us today, but who are here in spirit, remember Tanya as their beautiful first grandchild, who brought them so much joy.
Her brother, Brian, who taught Tanya how to be a great sister, as well as wonderful sister-in-law to Jen and myself.
Her husband, Tom, who fell in love with the beautiful girl he rescued on a desert hike a few short years ago. Besides her now famous red hair, Tanya brought so much color and life into your world. You shared with us a most wonderful daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother, aunt and most of all, friend.
A major part of Tanya’s life, of course, are her two little princesses, Kynna and Kiley. We only have to look at them to see Tanya is still with us. Her commitment to her daughters helped Tanya to fight her tragic illness with great optimism, determination, and courage. Thank you Tanya, and Tom, for giving us these two beautiful girls who embody the best of both their parents.
Thank you, Kynna and Kiley, for being such brave and loving daughters. The Russian author Anton Chekov wrote, “We shall find peace. We shall hear angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.”
Dearest Kynna and Kiley, it’s a very sad time for you, but as you grow up, when you think of your mama, be happy and remember that she is always with you, for she is a diamond sparkling in the sky.
Many of Tanya’s family are here today, traveling from across the country, to honor their cousin and niece. Thank you for your many expressions of love to Tanya.
Many friends, some of whom only met Tanya during her stay in the hospital, some of whom donated blood for Tanya’s transplant surgeries, all of whom gave love and support to Tanya and her family are also with us today. Thank you for your faithful friendship.
Along with family, neighbors and so many wonderful and supportive friends, this congregation includes some of the people who formed close ties with Tanya in her career as a wildlife biologist. She was a favorite amongst her many colleagues at the BLM, the Desert Tortoise Council, the Western Ecological Resource Center, and the Center for Biological Diversity, some of whom have described her as “beautiful, intelligent and graceful”, “a ray of sunshine” and “a great woman, someone who did a lot of good for our troubled world”.
Henry David Thoreau wrote ”I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I have not lived.
In her short life, Tanya lived deliberately and learned what nature had to teach. Bravely, with faith in God, and always, always with that lovely smile, Tanya confronted the essential facts of life. And by the time she died, through her contributions to this world, a great many people knew she had lived, and we are all better for having had her in our lives.
Losing Tanya isn’t easy and the pain and grief this loss evokes are tremendous, but Tanya wouldn’t want us to grieve. Instead, do something in her memory. Our time with Tanya was extended through the generosity of an anonymous bone marrow donor. Tom and Tanya’s parents have suggested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation of America, the Desert Tortoise Council, or the Education Fund for Kynna and Kiley Egan.
Remember Tanya with a renewed awareness of the preciousness of life in all its forms; sign up to be a blood, plasma, or bone marrow donor, plant a tree, protect an animal, fight for a worthy cause and raise a glass to a life although far too short, was well lived.
Thank you, Tanya