Born: January 24, 1948 URS: November 21, 2020
Asherah joined the Dances of Universal Peace circle on Denman Island
in 1991. She probably first encountered the dances at the Lama
Foundation as she made regular pilgrimages to New Mexico to visit
family.
She was a dancer all her life so inevitably began to lead dance
circles on the island.
She was initiated into the Sufi Ruhaniat on March 3, 2002 by Darvesha.
Asherah died peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones and is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
Asherah was my neighbor, friend and co-dance leader on Denman Island BC from 1992-1998. She continued to lead the circle after I left the Island in 1998. In 2004 we attended the NW Sufi camp together.
Asherah was an adventurer beginning with a trip to Nepal and
Afghanistan in her early twenties before settling on Denman Island where she lived the rest of her life. She was the school Librarian for most of her years on the Island and because she had summers off she didn’t hesitate to jump in her car alone and drive down to New Mexico where she had extended family.
She was an avid reader and keenly interested in reading about the lives of women in the Middle East. She was a nature spirit and content being surrounded by forest, with an array of cat and dog companions over the 44 years she lived in the same house. She loved her garden and took daily walks along the ocean beaches. She was an environmentalist, peace activist and lived her life by her strong values. Asherah spent much of her time in the winter months creating a colorful assortment of crocheted hats, hand sewn birds and pillows and many various crafts that she sold at the Christmas craft fair. She is the only woman I know who lived her entire life without Internet or Television! When there was a dance of any kind at the community hall she was always the first one on the dance floor.
Due to her terminal cancer she was able to choose Medically Assisted Dying and I was honoured to be present for her transition and witness her peace and acceptance of death. She said she had no regrets and felt she had lived a good life doing what she loved – dancing and reading stories to children.
Asherah was a generous, sweet and kind person to all she met.
The song she wanted sung at her gravesite was “Chanoon”.
“HONAY HONAY” ASHERAH