Grandmother's Final Gift: A Note of Peace from Nepal

Mary Sorensen, a 60-year-old grandmother from Georgia, was tragically lost during catastrophic floods in Nepal while visiting Mount Kailash in August. The devastating event, which occurred along Nepal's border with China, resulted in over 1,000 fatalities. Though her body was never recovered, her family holds onto comfort from a poignant note she left in her will. "If you're reading this note, don't be sad," Mary wrote, as shared by her husband, Brian Wildeman. "I'll see you in heaven."

In addition to her profound environmental advocacy and work with the upper Etowah River Alliance, Mary was a beloved grandmother known as "Oma." To honor her dedication to the planet, her family intends to establish an environmental science scholarship. A celebration of Mary's life is scheduled for October 23 at the Etowah River Park Amphitheater, a place with special meaning for the couple. Her husband plans to share with their grandchildren that their Oma "made a lot of people happy" and completed "great work for the environment."