My condolences to the family, for I understand the magnitude of their loss.

I was one of a group of Estonian immigrants who settled in Willimantic, Connecticut, after the end of the Second World War. We had fled from the Russian invasion of Estonia in 1944, stayed alive to finish the war in Germany, spent 4 years in a Displaced Persons Camp and then received permission to come to the US, where we were received quite hospitably. As the Russians had taken my parents, I was here with my aunt and uncle. Our elders went to work in the local factories, we children went to school, where we did our best to manage in English.

We had a few American friends, but mostly we stayed among ourselves and continued various activities in Estonian. When we graduated from Grammar school and went to Windham High, I met and became friends with Anne. It was like finding a treasure. Anne was the American friend who was actually interested in my background and who accepted my special relationship with all the other Estonians. Highly intelligent, she was also very kind and curious, not to mention a bit mischievious. Which made it possible to gossip about the other Estonians, for she knew them, but would never breathe a word of our talks – a truly valuable friend!

When we graduated, she went to UConn with many classmates and thus did not feel as displaced as I did, going alone to RISD in Providence. This is where our correspondence really took off. She was a true-blue listener, as well as an interesting writer. We went into depth about our thoughts and feelings, and one could tell her the most intimate details – not to mention keeping me up to date on the doings of the Estonians at UConn.

It seemed as if this relationship would go on forever. However, when we entered the real world, we found it necessary to concentrate our daily efforts mainly on keeping up with the jobs, the marriages and the pressures of the world. Our correspondence slowed down and we lost touch for a while. Reconnection came when we started meeting at class reunions. Our Latvian friend Gundi was one of the organizers and sometimes we even stayed with her. In later years we could see that Anne was having physical issues, moving with a walker, etc. However, her spirit was always high and we still had a good time. Now we also moved to a Christmas-letter-stage. As always, she produced a full letter, brimming with happy activities and her love for her children. When she moved several times, ending in a care-place, it was a sign that things were not good, and her letters became infrequent and meager as well. I did not want to think of what lay ahead, but when Cathie sent the final notice, I was very sad, but not surprised.

This is extremely personal for her family, but people in my generation are leaving the earth with regularity now. We have to accept that it is our time to go. Rest in peace, dear friend. You made my life better in many ways. Thank you.