When Darlene Sheehan died last year, she left behind an amazing array of family and friends. She also left a legacy of kindness, a trait that made better the lives of any number of persons who were touched by her at their times of difficulties.

Darlene had been diagnosed some time ago with ovarian cancer; she survived with her disease for almost eight years, and in that time she compressed an endless amount of kindness and compassion in helping others, enough to last a lifetime for most ordinary souls.

But Darlene was far from ordinary. A Dot person at her core, she knew what it is to deal with life's problems; she knew too that, with the help of a simple act of kindness from a friend or family member, such times are manageable, that hard times do not last forever.

Fact is, only those who have dealt with their own struggles can understand the importance of a gentle hand, a lifeline from a friend.

Remember the great Christian saint, Simon of Cyrene: on Good Friday, he stepped out of the crowd and helped Jesus carry the cross for those few short steps along the way. He knew he could not remove the hardship, but for that short burst of time, he could ease this other man's burden. It is a compelling story, one of the great Christian examples from the New Testament.

And it was the example that Darlene Sheehan brought to life right here, in our time, in our town. And it is a lesson for those who honor her can replicate.

"She was an angel, a quiet hero who saw a great human need and tended to it," Mayor Tom Menino said about her when she died last August. In truth, she probably was no angel during her time here with us, but there can be little doubt about where she is in the pantheon of saints right now.

"Be Kind - Honor Darlene S." is the simple, understated message of bumper stickers that have started to appear on cars throughout the neighborhood. It is at once a message both muted and worth shouting. It recalls the spirit and the conviction of Darlene Sheehan, and it reminds that we all have the call to step up and help when there is someone in need.

This weekend, on Saturday night, just a few days before Valentine's, her friends will gather together at Florian Hall for a tribute, to celebrate her life. A committee has formed to stage the event, and they said in a letter, "Because she asked to be remembered with happy memories, there will be music, dancing, tributes and a silent auction. In keeping with her generous spirit, the intent is to praise her memory as well as raise money for two of the charities that she championed, the Edwina Martin House and Maria Droste Services."

The hall will be filled with people who remember her, who were helped by her, and who thank the Lord everyday that she passed through their lives. Those party-goers should remember that, although Darlene is gone, her legacy stays with us. She was our very own, home-grown Simon of Cyrene, and we will honor her memory only if we seek to emulate her kindness and caring for others in all our daily lives.

- Ed Forry