Do you have a special memory or memories of your BFF? I have many but these memories are all I will have now. She passed in June of 2025 from stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Her name was Fran. She and I met after she had been living for two years in our neighborhood, only a couple of doors away down from us. We met her husband, Jim, first when he stopped us as we were taking a walk. He introduced himself and mentioned someone that we knew. He quickly said, “Wait until you meet my wife. You will love her!”

A short time later Fran and I did meet. At first she was quiet and somewhat timid but soon felt comfortable sharing all kinds of things with me and I with her. Once our friendship began, it florished and we spent plenty of time together on the phone, visiting each other for tea and going out to lunch. Our husbands clicked and they became besties also.

Soon we were traveling on short jaunts, going out to dinners and lunches, and planning vacations together. During COVID we Facetimed and giggled for an hour catching up on things while snacking on cheese and crackers and sipping wine (the women) or mixed drinks (the men).

She was a kind, caring and special lady who could be funny at times without really knowing it. She would always forget things that I told her and then ask me again about those things. She told me often that she was getting forgetful and claimed that it was the meds. It probably was but she could be daffy at times and we did laugh about it often. I did all I could to help her relax and try to forget what she had to go through with all the testings and chemo treatments. It broke my heart!

When you love someone and then they get sick, you fear for what will happen to them. You know in your heart that they will not live long especially from cancer at stage 4. I think we filled our days as much as we could while she was still able to do things. Near the end I was frightened to show her how much I was hurting just knowing that she was going to die. She was too young. This couldn’t be happening. I tried to convince myself that there would be a miracle. After all, I was praying night and day for one.

I couldn’t understand why she had to die so young! It wasn’t fair. I had finally found a friend that I could call a second sister. I already have a much younger sister who I cherish.

Fran always talked about being a school teacher of young children. She was very proud of that fact. She enjoyed singing and entertaining the children as she taught them the basics of ABCs and numbers through reading books to them. She felt that once she retired she would do so much more but that was not to be. She didn’t have much time after retiring because she broke her arm while shopping and things kept going downhill after that. She discovered that she had stage 4 ovarian cancer and would not live more than five years. She made it four years and then decided to stop chemo for it was slowly eroding her body.

Now I am left without my BFF and feeling lost and alone. But I know she is most likely watching over me until we meet again one day.

I pray every day that God will send me another friend like Fran who I can feel close to as I did with her. It isn’t easy to find a good friend like that. I have had many friends over the years, some have passed now, while others have moved away. I don’t see any of them but keep in touch by snail mail since they don’t do texting or even calling. They are all getting old like I am and others are older and not well. It is sad to get old! Sigh!

Above photos were of our get-togethers and on our travels. Fran was still doing well in these photos and I did not want to share any that as she was getting sicker. These were the happy times! God rest her soul!

We four had such wonderful times together and so many laughs that I still hold close to my heart. Her husband is doing as well as can be expected. But I don’t dare share this post with him. Maybe one day or maybe never. He has had a difficult time adjusting and has moved away to another town close by. We miss him but John has lunch with him once in a while. I have gone out to dinner with John and him just to catch up and see how he is fairing. I pray for him daily. I can’t imagine how hard it is to lose a spouse after so many years together. Sigh!

Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post and for listening. I needed to do this to get closure. I still cry when I think about her or when I have to share that she is no longer here. It hurts and will hurt for a long time. The tears will begin again at the end of this. Sigh!

If you have a BFF, hold onto them with all your heart for as long as you are together. Keep the memories close and one day you will be together again. God willing! Please share your thoughts about your BFF if you can.

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

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Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

Jemsbooks for All Ages!

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