When I heard about the death of Elizabeth K. "Liz" Quinlan at age 90 in Washington, D.C., I did not know what I would write about her but I did know I had to write something about such a gracious and grace-filled lady.
Liz was described by one of her friends as "a woman of extraordinary beauty both on the inside and outside." She was that. She was also someone whose friendliness and kindness made you feel as if she had been a friend for years, even after you just met her.
My wife. Jo Ann. and I had the pleasure of meeting Liz by way of her late husband and love of her life, Gerard J. Quinlan. Jerry was my mentor during the two years it took me to become a member of the Fraternity of St. Francis de Sales, a French bishop whose life and works focused on love and everyone's call to lead a devout life.
Liz was a long-time member and leader of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales, so she and Jerry were my guides as I learned about the Salesian spirituality of love and service. They were certainly examples of how the love of God can be at the center of the love between husband and wife.
The Irish-American from New Jersey first met the former Liz Koliopulos, the daughter of Greek-Americans, in Maryland, in 1952, but their lives did not become bound together formally until they were married in 1968. Theirs was a love destined from eternity and for eternity. Now Liz has joined Jerry, who died in 2012.
In the book that Jerry edited called "Reflections of St. Francis de Sales on Living Jesus," I keep a bookmark that was a gift from Liz.
On one side, it states "My love and gratitude to you. Liz Quinlan." The bookmark's other side is a prayer, "Spirit of Jesus come into our souls."
Liz, my love and gratitude is to you for showing me what someone can be when she or he allows the Spirit of Jesus to come into her or his soul.
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Love sown here is harvested in heaven.