We'll Be walking Together by the end of summer
In late spring of 2025, my dear friend and mother figure, Laura Noonen, passed away from cancer. I had cared for Laura from the first signs of her illness until the day she left this world. Over the years, we built a profound bond—rooted in shared grief, mutual care, and a fierce, joyful resilience. We made sure one another ate, talked endlessly, leaned into spirituality, and often laughed together about simply being “bad bitches” we are.
Caring for Laura during her illness was an experience both excruciating and profoundly beautiful. She was a spit-fire—strong, wise, and caring—even as her body grew more fragile. Near the end, she began to show small signs of recovery--in hindsight; false hopes. Her spirit lifted, and with her love of long walks in mind, I told her, “We’ll be walking together by the end of summer.”
Creating this mural, at 934 Gallery for their 2025 Mural Festival became my way of keeping that promise. 934 Gallery holds deep meaning for both Laura and me—it’s where we would often hang out, volunteered, and enjoyed art & connection. Painting her there felt like sharing the collective grief of loosing a community member and friend.
In the mural, Laura is depicted walking to her favorite place, Goodale Park—with her walker thrown over and ducks gliding in the pond. The branches along her path and her muddy vine-woven feet symbolize the natural burial she received, while her translucent body signifies her continued presence among us. The pair of ducks and two elephants on the fountain reflect our friendship—always side by side, through joy and loss.
The words on her body come from a poem Laura wrote after Roe v. Wade was overturned. It was one of the most significant poems she shared with me, and after her passing, its message stayed with me: that the body and the air are one, even after great change. Her niece, Shannon, painted these words onto the mural. Both she and Laura’s son, Dan, joined me in adding to this mural, adding their own quiet touches or simply being present for its creation.
We painted through our grief together, transforming it into connection. Though Laura is gone, she continues to walk beside us—in memory, in care, and in the community of love she left behind.
