On Thursday April 29th at 7:40 pm Carla Lee Brooks Johnston died quietly and comfortably at her home with her son and daughter by her side.
This is shocking news because most had no…… idea that she was ill. She wanted it kept a secret and no one knew. Carla figured this out as she describes below. She told her daughter at the end of December and her Son in February, but we were under strict instructions not to tell a soul–please read the explanation she wrote below and understand that she went exactly the way she wanted to go, quietly and quickly without pain. As just as she led her life, when she decided it was time to go, she went.
We are asking friends to forward this email on to other you know to be good friends.
Thank you all!
FROM CARLA:
Dear Friends,
In late November 2010, some health problems popped up that, by late December, seemed serious.
I made two choices at that time:
FIRST: I chose to tell only my children and my friend Bob because I greatly value my privacy and because I see myself on the ‘console, not be consoled,’ side of any equation. In fact, there are few things that I would have a harder time with than having friends caring, asking, wanting to help. I apologize for not sharing this life altering information. I hope you will understand why I made this choice.
SECOND: I chose not to engage in the usual life-prolonging medical treatment for my cancer. I made this choice because for me life can only be ‘the quality of life’ that enables me to combine using my skill and knowledge with the gifts that happened to make a difference in lives. I find value in bringing together the appropriate people to analyze and have the necessary clout to solve complex public policy problems. I find value in spending quality time with loved ones and friends and in traveling. At my age, I cannot imagine being stripped of the ‘quality of live’–not burden for others. I have been extraordinarily fortunate over the years to have been afforded the experiences and opportunities I have had. I hope that I have used at least some of my skills and opportunities well. What a waste it would be for me now, at 71, to reverse my philosophy and spend my time, energy, and money on self-preservation. Were I a couple decades younger and with considerable responsibility for others, I may have justified a different choice. But, at this point in life, two things must be considered: a) my above stated view toward life’s value, and b) my position on what’s happening in America’s medical care. I simply won’t be part of an all-to-common insidious symbiotic relationship between so many in the medical industry who play on fears of seniors to pretend that death is a myth. All that is accomplished is to strip people of their dignity and quality of life while draining their family’s energy and resources. It benefits the medical industry, not the lives in question, not the families, not the larger civil society involved in advancing quality of life.
Just know that I love you all. I cherish the times we have had together. I hope that each of you will walk future paths that are as filled with gifts as those I have walked. And I hope that you will pass on this Spirit of Life to those who follow you.
Carla
(the ultimate “control freak”)
Obituary
Attached please find a copy of the obituary. Her family will be making arrangements for its publication.
You are invited to join us in the celebration of the life of Carla Brooks Johnston
In Florida
Saturday May 7th at 1:00 PM
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
2304 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL 33957-3209
(239) 472-2173www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org
In Boston / Somerville
The family hopes to plan a similar
celebration to be held in
Somerville, MA
in the coming weeks.
Please watch her website or join her email list if you would like to be notified. http://www.CarlaBrooksJohnston.com/
Sharing Memories of Carla On-line:
We are pulling together a website:
http://Remembering.CarlaBrooksJohnston.com/
as place where people may share stories and photographs.
Please do not send flowers – Instead we would suggest:
Considering a tax-deductible contribution to Carla’s Non-Profit Organization
New Century Policies Educational Programs (NCPEP)
Bank of America
Account # 004632487136 (Ready Tuesday May 3rd–this account has been established especially for this program.)
NCPEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which Carla Founded back in 1982.
Our intent is to launch a seed funding grant program for Change Makers, following in line with Carla’s new book–Change Makers: Four Stories which is being published now. The grant program will be oriented to individuals and community organizations that are prepared to make positive and sustainable changes that will benefit their communities. You can watch Carla’s website for more information. (Currently Dr. Robert Hilliard, Eric Johnston, and Dr. Deborah Johnston sit on the Board of Directors.)
Our mother was enriched and invigorated by her community of friends here and around the world. We were all blessed to have her in our lives, teaching us and challenging us to be better human beings. Thank you for respecting her wishes.
Love,
Eric and Elise
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