A Good Life

Recently I got the sad news that my friend Jeannine had died. Her funeral is on Friday. I hadn't seen her for several years as she had got very frail from ongoing cancer treatments, but our mutual friend Marie-Claude saw her regularly.

Photo of Jeannine Demeulant on a mycology outing, courtesy of Marie-Claude Derrien.

I got to know Jeannine because I joined the Association de botanique et de mycologie de Sainte Maure de Touraine (aka Botamyco37). She was the secretary and editor of the journal for quite a few years. 

Photo of Jeannine Demeulant on a botany outing, courtesy of Marie-Claude Derrien.

She was known amongst her aquaintances as 'la petite dame joviale' (the jovial little lady), which is not a bad description. She was indeed rather short, quick to laugh and joke, lively and a good communicator, infectiously enthusiastic. There were many passionate interests in her life -- music, reading, history, art, travel and botany (especially bryology, the study of mosses, an interest which developed late in her life and at which she turned out to be brilliant).

 

Jeannine spraying moss on a tree with water so it can be more easily identified, in Sainte Maure de Touraine.

On outings she often talked with love and pride about her family, children, grandchildren, neices and nephews, and latterly even great grandchildren. They all seemed to be doing interesting things. She confided recently to Marie-Claude that she had had a good life, with good parents, a good job (she was a pharmacist), successful children and got to travel a lot.

 

Jeannine searching for lichens on an oak tree in the Foret de Preuilly.

When I arrived in France, with execrable French, and not knowing much about the local flora or fauna, she was cheerful and patient with me on many botanical outings over the years. Sneakily, she did not admit for years that she spoke some English, and could read it very well. She made me speak French, which she occasionally corrected when she felt it necessary. I greatly appreciated her willingness to engage with me and how welcome she made me feel in the Association.

Photo of Jeannine Demeulant on a botany outing courtesy of Marie-Claude Derrien.

As our mutual friend Marc said:

Que ton dernier chemin soit bordé de fleurs des champs.

May your last journey be lined with wild flowers.