Integration Three
Before beginning the actual assignment, I would like you to know that this was a bit of a difficult prompt for me to respond to due to some personal circumstances, so I apologize in advance if it lacks the depth or feeling that this assignment is meant to take on. Secondly, I am writing this eulogy from the perspective of someone many years from now. Please know that I am not asserting that I possess all the characteristics that are discussed. Rather, these characteristics are ones discussed in this semester’s Moreau that I hope to eventually possess and make a positive impact on others with. In no way do I want to sound like I am praising myself. This is the way that I want to be remembered—not the way that I would remembered currently if I were to die tomorrow. 
The Fulfillment of a Well-Lived Life
	What is a life well-lived? This is a question that could take on a multitude of responses. There is no right or wrong answer necessarily, but there are certainly answers to this question that different people would disagree with. Despite the number of varying responses to this question, I am confident that nobody would disagree that Grace displayed a well-lived life. She touched those around her and made an impression on so many in varying ways. 
	One of her outstanding attributes was her ability to take a step back from the mundane daily tasks that cloud our brains from seeing the bigger picture. No matter how busy she got, she always took the time to calm down and keep everything in perspective. One big distraction factor in life is technology, but she kept technology at a distance in order to remember who she was (“Why we need to slow down our lives” Pico Iyer). Grace was an avid yoga practitioner and meditated regularly which kept her calm and collected when life got rough and complicated.
	Another huge part of Grace’s life and what shaped her into the person she was was her experience at the University of Notre Dame. She grew up a huge fan and ended up attending college there. The mission of the University is what truly drew her to the school, and she loved everything that it stood for. When she was just 9, she got the privilege to meet Father Hesburgh, which she did not understand the significance and importance of until later. Later on, she found out all that he did in his life which was so remarkable and way ahead of the times that he was living in. He was not concerned with the social stigma around certain things, rather he formed opinions and made decisions based on fairness and human dignity regardless of the social climate of the time (Hesburgh Documentary). This is a characteristic that Grace put into practice in her own life. She included everyone and did all she could to take action against things that were unfair and unjust. 
	As we all sit here at Grace’s funeral, she would not want us to all be sad. She implemented Sister Alethia’s outlook on death into her own mindset. “Remembering death keeps us awake, focused, and ready for whatever might happen—both excruciatingly difficult and breathtakingly beautiful” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” Ruth Graham). Grace did not fear death. She ignored death for so long in her younger years because it scared her. She lost many close relatives at a young age, and it was the cause of all of the worst pain in her life. While many of us here might have this same outlook, Grace would encourage us to not look at it in this way. She did not deny the pain that comes along with death, but she changed her perspective to look at the joyous and beautiful aspects of death. I am certain that she would encourage all of us not to ignore the happy portion of her passing. 
	Grace was someone who was successful and happy in her career. From a young age she was ambitious and went for what she wanted. She did not let any obstacles stand in her way, even when the odds were stacked completely against her. Because of this she became extremely successful and knew how to push to achieve what she wanted to. She worked for the same place for a long time and persevered to work her way all the way to the top. She was not discouraged nor dreaded a lot of work. She was a go-getter and continually had goals she was reaching for. 
	I remember when Grace was in college, she called me to ask me questions about herself for a school assignment. I answered the questions with no hesitation. I did not think much of my answers simply because I didn’t have to; she displayed these characteristics so blatantly that it was fully unnecessary to even have to try to contemplate my responses. She asked me questions akin to, “what do I value most in life, or when do I succeed and thrive the most in life?” I distinctly remember her being a little taken aback by my answers almost as if she did not realize these things about herself or she did not believe me. This speaks to her humbleness and intentions in life. She did not possess all of the great qualities in search of accolades from those around her. She genuinely lived her life this way with nothing expected in return, and in turn, she impacted countless amounts of people. 
	In an interview with Pope Francis (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” Pope Francis), he highlights the importance of human connection and the dangers of living in isolation. He discusses the immense amount of people living in the margins of society and how we need to work to all become one. Grace was somebody who tremendously values love and inclusion of all in her life. It did not matter who it was, she made everyone feel special, loved, and wanted. She made those who feel worthless feel important, and she was always there to support and congratulate anyone in any endeavor they undertook.