Jack, Barbara Nowack did love life, immensely. Yet, for as long as I live, I hope I never forget my last conversation with her. It was in the ladies’ room at NR World Headquarters — where all the real stories are shared. She had come to visit the office, for what she must have known would be the last time. True, she didn’t understand why she had to go, but I got the clear sense from her that if it was time, she wanted to embrace it. Her faith taught her, after all, that life doesn’t really end.

I’ve had nearly every job at NR. And in my early days, Barbara was always kind — in a way you really don’t have to be, to the young kid in the room. You didn’t have to give of yourself for her to treat you as a sister or a brother. But because she did, you were inspired to.

She reminds us to be thankful for the fact that there are so many good people around us every day. Passing us in the street. Ringing up our groceries. Working in our offices. Trying, loving, and believing things like “If God is for us who can be against us,” as was read at her farewell today.

And to want to and seek to emulate them.

I pray she rests in peace where she always wanted to be, as much as she loved being here with all of us.