Sept. 15 [1964]
Dear Winnifred
I was stunned to hear of your mother's death and that you had to go on such a sad journey to Seaforth so soon after your return from abroad, and I want to tell you how sorry I am.
I always admired your mother for her integrity, gumption, competence and versatility. But she also had the added and marvelous virtues of kindliness, warmth and humour which made her loveable as well as admirable. She was a rare and wonderful person from whom I always felt a kind of serenity and warmth radiating. I guess you would call it a kind of grace. I consider myself lucky to have one of her daughters as my sister-in-law.
When I cast around for ways of speaking comfort to you I fall back on the realization that the very qualities which you inherited and the attitudes you learned from her are the ones which will bring you your own comfort, in time. Probably the most wonderful thing about wonderful people is that they really do leave their goodness behind for the rest of us, not only in the guise of good memories, but also in good qualities, idea and habits in their children, which comfort them. I'm not putting this very well, but I hope you get my drift.
I'm right here at the end of a phone. Let me know of anything I can do to help, large or small, when you get back. I'll come to you or you can come to me, anytime you feel like phoning.
With sympathy
and love,
Margaret
