Dear Stephanie, John and families, My condolences in the loss of your sister.   Many good memories from our years at St. Mary’s. 

Stephanie Benz and John King. My deepest sympathy for your loss. 

I shall miss her as well, Dave Arnold 

Monica changed my life and I will miss her calm and encouraging voice always <3 

A smile never seen, laughter never heard, hands never grasped, words shared ONLY online, and yet the BEST of friends - so admired, so much loved,  and ever so sorely missed: Curses, tears, hopes and hugs. My sincere condolences to family, friends, and all whose lives she brightened ...

Monica was a good woman. She will definitely be missed. She was a calming factor for the entire city and a voice of reason. Till we meet again.

I was deeply saddened to discover my "Facebook friend" Monica King, passed away this week. We communicated for about 20 years.  Even though I live in Cornwall, UK, we tried to phone each other by Skype, Whatsapp and Facebook, but the connections were aways terrible, so we gave up. She had a generous spirit and we always joked about me sitting around one of her fires. She loved nature, her garden, permaculture, and worried for the world. She wanted to move to Portugal one day, and garden some land, but life and leukaemia got in the way. She loathed Trump and feared for the loss of women's rights and, most of all, the environmental destruction. In our last messages, she said held no fear that life was nearly over.  She loved people, told off her friends regularly (including me) and was generous and caring, if occasionally spiky. She was not above apologising if she felt she had been too harsh. We never fell out, though sometimes I took a deep breath, and she must have decided to let one or two minor differences pass. She had fabulous hair. She posted me little cards and notes on a whim, all the way from her home across the ocean. I knew she was gone. I could feel it. Real friendships can be made, even over these strange social media. I will miss you, Monica King, and I am sorry I never made it over there, to sit by the fire in your garden of paradise.  Thank you for being my friend. Go well, you great soul. x

Monica is amused look

Book club around Monica's bonfire — with Monica King