Yesterday, an incredible woman left the earth. After a very brief struggle with cancer, Mimi Perloff — co-founder of the Design for Sharing, deeply-loved mother, grandmother, aunt and great-aunt, avid swimmer and wicked gin player — died after a brief struggle with cancer. She was in her late-nineties.

Ever the independent spirit, she drove her own car, lived in her own house, and carried on a rich and socially-engaged life right up until the end.

I won’t really write much more (because my mom thinks it’s tawdry when I share private family matters on the Internet) but I felt compelled to say something. So I’ll say something about living wills.

As her illness deepened, Mimi provided her loved ones and caretakers with clear directions about how she wanted to conclude her life. Her advance planning smoothed out what could have become a deeply stressful, confusing episode.

To everyone reading — take an hour this weekend to fill out your living will, and get it notarized. Here’s a basic template. Make sure someone you trust has a sealed copy. Not to be morbid, but you never know when it’ll be needed.

And Mimi? We miss you already.

(Photo via UCLA School of Public Affairs)