we found out friday that a coworker passed away last week at 56 years old.  she worked in a different department and the only reason we really knew her is because i worked with that department for about a year.  hubby and i used to complain about her because she would call one or both of us directly on every issue she came across,  flouting escalation procedures.  i met her a couple times when i had to go to that office for meetings with my then-boss and she was a nice lady (even though her direct calls drove me nuts, i had nothing against her personally).  i was very sad to hear of her passing.  i immediately contacted another person in that department to pass on my condolences.  he said that she had been out on disability after a surgery in march but was supposed to be returning to work today.  though she had health concerns, no one expected this.  my heart is heavy for all of them because i know how difficult it is to have to go into the office and have to continue working like nothing happened when there is an empty desk that just breaks your heart.  my thoughts have once again turned to ron and how much i miss him… even though he was just a coworker.  it’s amazing how our fellow employees really do become family to us.  and a little sad that we don’t even realize it until they are gone.  i need to get a sympathy card to send to that office group tonight since i forgot over the weekend.  my prayers are with her family at this difficult time… her blood family and her work family.