Some Sad News
Speaking of ancestry, my ex-sister-in-law has gone on to join her ancestors. She died on the 8th, and she will be missed. She was light, bright, and full of fun, and leaves two children behind. Her father preceded her some years ago. He was as good a man as any who has lived, in my opinion, and was more a father to me than my biological father. The world was made a lesser place without him. But now his daughter is with him and perhaps they’ll lift a cup of mead in toast to us here. I know I will do likewise from my perch here on Midgard.
I don’t know how to write a real eulogy, and I don’t want to make this a opportunity to talk about Heathen ideas of the afterlife so I’ll just say that I last saw my former sister-in-law about three years ago, when my son Ross and I stopped at her place to say “hi” on our way out west. I regret that I didn’t have an opportunity then to visit much, and that I didn’t get to see her again before she died. I will miss her, and I know her sisters and family will miss her. One day perhaps we’ll meet again on the other side.
Hrafnkell Haraldsson is the author of A Heathen’s Day, which since 2005 has addressed the life and thoughts of a modern day Heathen. He is also the founder of the Mos Maiorum Foundation (www.mosmaiorum.org) which is dedicated to the study and support of Paganism as ethnic religion and writes for PoliticusUSA (www.politicususa.com) 
I'm sorry. I hope you're right, and you do get to see her again some day.
I'm sorry to hear of this great loss.
Sorry for your loss.
Very sorry to hear this.
Best wishes to all the family as they walk through this heartbreaking time. Hope everyone will be ok.
Was it unexpected?
Thank you, everyone. Yes, her death was unexpected. The results aren't in yet (toxicology) but apparently she died of a pulmonary edema – an adverse reaction to methadone, which the doctor had recently prescribed for pain.