Sunday, June 20, 2010

In loving memory of Wendy Buckner, 1959-2010

Wendy died yesterday shortly after completing the Flowers Sea Swim. To the best of our knowledge, she swam fast and strong, but came out of the water with blue lips and breathing very shallowly. She was conscious and responsive as she was taken to the medical tent, but her vital signs were dropping. Brent rode in the front of the ambulance that took her to hospital. She experienced cardiac arrest en route, and attempts to resuscitate her at the hospital were unsuccessful.

An expression that Wendy and I shared: "swimming the Pyrenees," for anything extraordinary and above and beyond what one might imagine possible, things that stretch the human soul. Wendy's life was devoted to swimming the Pyrenees, in ways small and large. (Implausibly, she and I spent Thursday evening participating as 2/375ths - the number is approximate!- of an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for World's Largest Bikini Parade, something only Wendy could have persuaded me to do - it was a fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association!)

Words fail me when I think about how she will be missed. Instead: an old picture from Wendy's lovely blog, which has given me any amount of delight over the years I have been lucky enough to bask in her friendship.

21 comments:

  1. I am so sorry, Jenny. You pointed me to her blog a long time ago--I know how important she was to you. Thinking of you.

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  2. I am truly stunned and words escape me. Her gentle view of living and life will be missed, as will her always positive words via her blog and many, many comments over the past few years to each of us.

    RIP Wendy.

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  3. Oh Jenny - I'm so sorry for you and Brent.

    You're in my thoughts.

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  4. I’m so sorry you lost your friend.
    Wendy lived down the street from my family. My son Thomas adored talking to her, as did all the neighbourhood children and families. We would never walk by her home without Wendy engaging Thomas in conversation about a strange bug in her garden, a stray cat - something unusual and four year oldish. She would encourage Thomas at the pool when he was afraid to go to his swimming lessons taking him over to the deep end and gently show him how to put his head under the water without being afraid. Wendy had such an impact on all of us up here and our hearts our so heavy.
    We send you our love.
    Sarah

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  5. If swimming has a gentler and more encouraging spirit, I have never met them. I did, however, meet Wendy, if only briefly, and she was a true light.

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  6. Oh dear god, I am so so sorry..what a tragedy for someone who loved to swim. I am sorry for your loss and the loss to the community...

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  7. So so sad. She will be missed by many who shared her love of the water.

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  8. She will be missed terribly. I only got to meet her once in person, and the news hit me hard - I can't imagine the magnitude of your loss. My heart goes out to you.

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  9. Although I've only been reading your blog for a little white, this is quite shocking news. RIP Wendy. May you swim forever.

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  10. I never had the privelege of meeting Wendy in person despite many emails and comments back and forth. She was one of the kindest people I know. I wish now that I had.

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  11. I can't believe it... she was just amazing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and her family. We'll miss you, Wendy.

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  12. Thank you Jenny for this lovely tribute and the details provided. My family lived two doors down from Wendy on Spruce Street for 12 years and we had the great honour of her friendship for almost 20 years. She will be greatly missed by us all.

    Ania, Kevin, Madeleine and Liam

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  13. Still trying to process this...but will probably never will fully.
    I know had I met her in person we would have been great "buds" as we both loved swimming and kitties.
    Her story will live on through our memories of one of the most positive ladies I have ever had the honor of conversing with. Swim on Wendy. Swim on.

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  14. I am just in shock. For the last few years, I've read her blog and shared her love of the water.

    You and Brent are in my thoughts.

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  15. Dear Jenny and Brent,

    There are no words to describe what a wonderful person, gentle spirit and soul so full of compassion for people, animals (especially Onyx aka the Boarder), her gardens and the birds brought there by them. All these things made up the keen love of life that was Wendy.

    I will miss our chats, our laughs and our "cat stories".

    I shall miss her terribly.

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  16. So sad.....she will be sincerely missed.

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  17. Jenny and Brent,

    I'm so sorry for this.

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  18. Jenny-
    In time, maybe you could help tell her story. Just a thought.
    Cheryl

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  19. Jenny,

    Such sad news. Thank you for sharing the story behind Wendy's passing. Our thoughts are with you and Brent. Also remembering happy times amongst friends in Ottawa enjoying Wendy's company.

    Doug

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  20. No, I cannot believe, this is very very sad. Ciao dear Wendy.

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  21. Thank you Jenny for this beautiful tribute. I have been out of touch the past month while in Hawaii and just heard the news. So saddened to discover a dear friend is gone.

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