Death of a ‘Twin’

What a blessing and honor for us to participate in the wake and the life celebration in a Mass at the Motherhouse of Elaine Satterwhite.

How kind of Elaine’s nephew, Steve, to wait for us to come from Pakistan and then have her services. Samina Iqbal, Maria Daniel and I already had met Steve, but being present with him for Elaine’s services made an especial connection and bond between us.

During the years of 2002-2007 when I was living at the Loretto Center in Denver, Elaine frequently would tease Marie Dolorosa Simones and Charlotte Marie Schwartz. Both sisters, when teased, would often say to Elaine, “Thank God you don’t have a twin.”

So Elaine created/invented an identical twin for herself and one for me. Her twin name was Arleen and mine Nasruni. So this joke became part of our daily encounters. At table the questions were asked, “Now who is it here today in Denver?” and Elaine would say, “Today both the twins are in Denver. Nasreen and Elaine are in Japan inventing a car which can fly.”

And so it went on. At times the twins or the real Elaine and I were on world travel and would bring all sorts of witty stories to the dining room of the Denver Loretto Center. Later Ann Francis Gleason from the Motherhouse would call Elaine, and the first question would be, “Am I talking to Arleen or Elaine?”

With Elaine gone I experience that the death of my twin has taken place. But Elaine will live forever in our hearts.