Our beautiful and beloved Noorunisa left this world early in the morning on Tuesday, June 3, after a courageous battle with cancer. The course of her illness was a particularly difficult one, and she suffered more pain than anyone should have to feel, but she stayed that course, making the tough decisions and probing into the deep spaces of the heart to learn whatever she could about herself and her life through the unexpected challenge she was facing.

Touching, eloquent expressions of her love and appreciation were the hallmark of a gracious character developed over a lifetime that had more than its share of physical challenges. She was truly grateful for any little thing someone did on her behalf to care for her during her illness, for every prayer and good wish, for every expression of hope and faith. Those of us on the receiving end of her expressions of gratitude—spoken, smiled, written in her exquisite handwriting in tenderly worded notes and cards, or in the silence she so loved to sink deeply into and share with others—knew they were treasured. And she always seemed to make space to ask about how we were doing and offer her loving support to us, even when she was in great discomfort.

One of her greatest gifts was her capacity to see clearly the inner beauty and gifts of those around her. Her gentle way of reflecting these to her loved ones strengthened them to be more of who they really are, and she held that space brightly, and for the long haul.

This capacity extended into her relationships with her clients and students. Noorunisa excelled as an editor; her authors were amazed by her insight and her capacity to enter into their world and help clarify their ideas and make their writing sing. Her greatest gift and pleasure, though, seemed to come from her work as a highly skilled educational specialist, often for children with special needs. She lit them up with her joy, creating a space of calm safety, patiently helping each child reach his or her academic potential.

The sounds and images of Noorunisa’s life were a pastiche of the life-giving passions and creative talents that stirred in her and that were such a delight to others. Who among us cannot envision her dancing the night away, eyes afire—a swirl of red chiffon gliding and leaping across the floor, her thick, luscious hair swaying with the beat? The simple elegance and harmony of line, color, and proportion in her clothing, so perfectly coordinated, paralleled the beauty and grace of her artwork and the aesthetics of her surroundings: sensitive, sometimes even dreamy, watercolor portraits and floral images . . . designs using freshwater pearls, aqua sea glass, and colored Czech crystals . . . her home, a place of peace where you could sink into those cushions on her plumpy white couch or big chair, enjoy a cup of tea, and settle in for a long chat. Each painting, vase, photo, crystal placed just so, but unpretentiously.

And maybe there would be music . . . ah, how she loved her music, across a broad spectrum of types. But nothing made her happier than listening to and singing to gospel music. Being part of the Lighthouse Singers gospel choir was one of the great joys of her life; even when she wasn’t well enough to sing in concert anymore, she loved singing in rehearsals; and when she was too sick for that, she would just go and soak up the spirit.

Noorunisa was born in Meriden, Connecticut, the daughter of Kathleen S. Frederick and the late Edward C. Frederick. She is survived by her sisters Elizabeth and Alison, her brother Edward, her niece Sarah and nephews Bryan and Brendan, along with their spouses and children. Though she started her life on the East Coast, she found her true home among an amazing community of friends and fellow spiritual travelers in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was more a solo flyer than a joiner of groups, especially in her later years, but she loved being part of the Sufi community in an earlier time, and retained to the end a special gratitude, respect, and affection for her teacher, Shabda Khan.

But it was to Jesus that her heart was given, and Noorunisa was expecting and looking forward to his embrace at the end of her journey on this world. Prayer and a strong faith in the goodness of God sustained her in her most difficult hours, and she treasured the prayers and faith of others.

Noorunisa, dear one, the light you shined into the world helped our own to keep burning and to grow even brighter. Thank you, thank you.

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We hope that you—friends and family, clients and colleagues—will add your memories and recollections of her [click on the STORIES tab above or write something in the TRIBUTES section]. There is so much to add to fill out this brief portrait, and those of you who have known Noorunisa for a longer time will have things to share that will help us all to know her even better. May your visit here be a blessing to you and help you as you grieve her passing and celebrate her life.