Part 1: Eulogy 
A Farewell To Mary O’Connor
	The family of Mary O’Connor was forced to say a heartbreaking goodbye this week following the death of their beloved sister, daughter, aunt, wife, cousin, and most importantly, friend. Mary O’Connor lived a long, happy life filled with much excitement and joyful memories. Growing up in Connecticut with her three siblings, two dogs and supportive parents, Mary was able to explore her interests and abilities and discern much about herself at an early age. She looked back with affection on the memories of her childhood, particularly on the time she was blessed to have with her two sisters and one brother as they all grew together under the same roof. Mary forged long-lasting friendships during her time at home, and was still in close contact with friends from middle and high school throughout her life. 
	Mary spoke fondly of her time at Sacred Heart Greenwich, her all-girls Catholic school in the beautiful town of Greenwich, Connecticut. She credited the school with instilling and enforcing within her the important values of charitable action, giving back to the community surrounding her, and finding joy in learning. She made friends there that have persisted throughout her entire life. After graduating from Sacred Heart, Mary went on to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Mary always spoke with sheer appreciation about her time at Notre Dame. It was there that Mary not only continued to form relationships with friends she held dearly, but also where she discovered her passion for sociological research. Mary used her time at Notre Dame to explore interests she found herself curious about and excited by, such as writing for the school’s student-led newspaper and involving herself in research projects that interested her. It was through this attitude of willingness to try new things that she ultimately discovered passions that would persist throughout her whole professional career. Mary immediately found herself interested in the power that sociological research held to concretely impact the way in which individuals think of the world and their place in it. Mary aimed to involve herself in the research projects of many of her professors while an undergraduate, and then went on to receive her master’s in the field at New York University. 
Going to graduate school in New York allowed Mary to work during the day and gain more experience in the professional field and go to classes at night, an opportunity she often regarded as essential to her professional and personal development. Here, Mary met her husband, later to become her life partner and biggest supporter. It was also during this time that Mary embarked on her first research project, examining the correlation between proximity to toxic waste facilities and race. Mary spent virtually the rest of her life using her findings in this field to advocate for concrete policy addressing the problem of environmental racism in America. Mary wrote various journal articles and even a research-based novel that made her findings well-known, and received much support in her efforts to change the way Americans think about issues regarding the environment. Up until the time of her death, Mary continued to use her research to support the common good. 
Perhaps what Mary was most proud of, though, was her ability to raise six amazing children alongside her husband. Mary viewed her duty to her children as the primary responsibility of her life, and was willing to sacrifice almost anything to ensure the success and happiness of her children. Mary was quick to pass up on personal or professional opportunities to ensure her availability to her children and her ability to be a caring and supportive mother. Mary often credited her own mother for setting such a clear example of what it meant to be a good mom, and Mary found herself often reflecting on how she used her experiences with her own mother growing up to become the mom she always wanted to be. Mary’s children meant everything to her. Though they are all saddened by her death, they are quick to testify to the life full of love their mother lived. Though Mary’s husband passed away years ago, he often described his wife as the prime example of sacrifice and love for her family. 
Mary often spoke of how lucky she was to meet her grandchildren. She was a fun-loving, adventurous grandmother, present as much in the lives of her grandchildren as she was in the lives of her own children. Family members often speak of how Mary has never missed a family event, whether it be a baptism or simply a barbeque. “My sister’s commitment to family is truly unparalleled. We’ve been beyond lucky to call her our sister,” recently remarked Mary’s older sister Erin. 
Mary leaves behind her six children and her 20 grandchildren, who are deeply saddened by her death but quick to mention the quality life that Mary lived. Her son Kevin, named after Mary’s own father, recently said of his mother’s passing: “My mother has always aimed for her legacy to be one of love, compassion for others, and fulfillment both personally and professionally–and it’s safe to say she achieved all of that and more.” Truly, Mary is remembered both in her family and community as a joyful spirit always there to lift others up and contribute positively to any situation. 
Mary was many things–successful, kind, caring, accomplished, humble, and spirited. Most importantly, though, Mary O’Connor was loved. Mary enveloped her family into a tight-knit circle of connection that will persist well beyond her passing. She receives the most credit for establishing the close familial ties that persist in her family to this day. Her presence at family gatherings will be missed greatly. Condolences and remembrances can be offered at Mary’s funeral service, which will follow a family-only celebration of her life. Her memorial will occur at St. Peter’s church in Litchfield, Connecticut–a parish comprised of much of Mary’s own dearest family and friends. 
Part 2: Integration 
Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs: The Obstacles and Successes of a Life Well-Lived
The past seven weeks in Moreau have encouraged me to reflect on what it means for me to live a life that is well-lived. Despite the seemingly simple nature of this question, the more time I spent seeking to answer it, the more confused and unsure I became. While I possess a deep awareness of what matters most to me in life, figuring out how to implement these values poses a new challenge I have never pondered before. After exploring the materials presented to me in Moreau the past seven weeks, I have gained clarity as to not only what comprises a life well-lived, but also how to ensure that I can live it out.  
Particularly,  the “Hesburgh” documentary of week two allowed me to see how much is possible to accomplish in one life. Father Hesburgh is perhaps one of the best examples of a life well-lived through his ability to dedicate himself to various important causes and make a positive impact while still maintaining meaningful and close relationships with others. As people reflected on Hesburgh’s various skills and talents in the film, one individual remarked with awe that “Father Hesburgh had an extraordinary ability to reach across lives” ("Hesburgh" by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Truly, Father Hesburgh was able to make an impact on virtually everyone around him, remaining committed to social justice initiatives and disregarding anyone who told him he wasn’t capable of something. I realized that Father Hesburgh’s ability to bring people of all backgrounds together is something that I view as important in my ability to live a life that is fulfilling and worthwhile to me. Moreover, his ability to balance making an impact with maintaining close relationships is something that I also aspire to understand as I grow older. In the business of our everyday lives, it's hard to manage finding time for those we love and for doing things that are positive for the world and others. As reflected in my eulogy, I am to strike a balance between my commitments to my academics as well as my relationships through careful time management and thoughtful decision making about what is best for me and those I love. While this may be easier said than done, throughout my time at Notre Dame I have already developed my skills of time management to allow myself to be fully dedicated to both my social and academic life. 
On this note, Pico Iyer’s article about “Why we need to slow down our lives” inspired me to think about how in order to live a life well-lived, we must understand how to know when the business of our lives is clouding our understanding of who we are. As Iyer writes, “It’s easy to feel as if we’re standing two inches away from a huge canvas that’s noisy and crowded and changing with every microsecond. It’s only by stepping farther back and standing still that we can begin to see what that canvas (which is our life) really means, and to take in the larger picture” ("Why we need to slow down our lives" by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). Truly, part of a life well-lived involves recognizing when to take a step back from the hustle and bustle that often consumes us. As reflected in my eulogy, I am to be fully present with family and friends and embrace special moments of calm when they come my way and help others to do the same. Even now, I try to encourage my friends to be present and engaged with each other when we find time to come together despite our busy college schedules. As Iyer wisely suggests, it is only through taking these moments outside of the craziness of life that we reevaluate our purpose and how we are progressing on our paths to lives well-lived. 
Moreover, Sister Aletheia is an example of how a life well-lived requires an openness to new challenges and accepting new callings when they arise. Sister Aletheia was willing to abandon her well-planed, comfortable life in pursuit of new experiences and new callings, something many people struggle with. Truly, “When her longtime boyfriend picked her up from the airport after the trip, she broke up with him and canceled her plans to go to law school. Within four years, she was wearing a habit at the convent” ("Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die" by Ruth Graham, Moreau FYE Week Three). Sister Aletheia’s willingness to follow new passions and accept new challenges as they present themselves is a crucial aspect of what it means to live a fulfilling and happy life. New opportunities and challenges can present themselves in various ways, and part of a life well-lived involves being willing to give up certain goals in pursuit of new passions. 
As can be seen by Sister Aletheia’s pursuit of her own happiness, part of a life well-lived involves discerning and discovering what inspires and fascinates you and incorporating it into a career and life path. Much of what we did in week 4, including reading content and completing surveys created by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development, involved reflecting upon what potential career paths could be best fit for us and allow us to make the most out of our talents and gifts. Week 5 also encouraged us to have meaningful conversations with those we love to further our understanding of how others view our skills and specialties. From both weeks, I was able to more clearly see how a life well-lived is largely grounded in pursuing a career and life path that provides you with consistent fulfillment and satisfaction. Through the activities of both weeks 4 and 5, I was able to clearly identify finding a career path that satisfies and challenges you as integral to a life well-lived. As seen in my eulogy, my passion for sociological research is one that drives me to approach each new learning experience with an attitude of excitement and anticipation, and propels me forward in my studies here at Notre Dame. 
Similarly, the content from week 6 challenged me to reflect on how a life well-lived is defined also by my own understanding of myself and my place in the world around me. Specifically, Tasha Eurich’s article about being introspective really resonated with me as I attempted to grow in my understanding of what a life well-lived truly means to me. Her notion that “ If we’re not self-aware, it’s almost impossible to master the skills that make us stronger team players, superior leaders and better relationship builders, either at work or in the rest of our lives” ("The right way to be introspective (yes, there’s a wrong way)" by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6) made me realize that I often don’t spend enough time reflecting on how I’m feeling in my current life situation or what I can do to make myself a happier, fuller person. Additionally, her discussion of how an understanding of the self helps one contribute positively to others ties into my understanding of a life well-lived as one that is full of collaboration and meaningful relationships with others. 
	In connection with this idea, the ideas about community building and understanding present in week 7 add on to my understanding of a life well-lived as one where I contribute positively to the community surrounding me and help in building a community and world where everyone feels welcomed and included. Specifically, Father Greg Boyle’s suggestion to “Close both eyes: see with the other one. Then, we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgements, our constant exclusion” (Chapter 8: Jurisdiction  by Fr. Greg Boyle - Moreau FYE Week 7) presented me with an opportunity to reflect and build upon how I view the world around me as well as those present in me. Fr. Boyle’s insights aided me in my realization that a life well-lived is not only defined by my own happiness, but my contribution to the happiness of others. This chapter opened my eyes to the importance of connectivity and persistent contribution to the lives of others, and how it interacts with a life well-lived, as seen in my eulogy’s depiction of how I am to use sociological research to spread awareness about environmental racism, an issue I hold close to my heart. 
	Conclusively, the past seven weeks in Moreau have encouraged me to think both inwardly and outwardly about how I can contribute to the complex and ever-changing world around me. After reflecting on what a life well-lived means to me, I have come to understand that it is more than just my own happiness and success. Rather, as demonstrated by the various examples presented by the past seven weeks’ material, a life-well live is one that involves both personal happiness and a positive contribution to the community surrounding you. As I continue to grow on my journey to understanding what my future will look like, I aim to incorporate this definition into my actions and decisions in order to guide myself on a path of self-discovery and reflection.