Petriana Monize, dearly loved by a wide community of family, friends, and colleagues, died peacefully in her sleep, at home with her husband beside her, at the age of 61, on June 22, 2026, at 2:22 AM., the morning of the Summer Solstice. She is survived by her heartstruck husband Reuven Goldstein, her two dearly loved children, Naomi and Jahian Copper Monize, her brothers Edward and Albert Monize, and her sister Sarah Monize.Petriana died of BRCA1/2 metastatic breast cancer. She did her treatment her way - using an integrated protocol of naturopathic, herbal, conventional allopathic medicine and diet. Her death was her final experience in the body she had loved and cherished and enjoyed and argued with for her entire life. She was dedicated to healing in a way that was harmonious with her knowledge of herself which was illuminated by her own unique experience as a corporeal and spiritual being.Petriana was born in Georgetown, Guyana, of mixed heritage: Portuguese, Dutch, African, and East Indian. She was raised in Ann's Grove Village, East Coast Demerara. Following her mother's and father's emigration from Guyana to the United States, she and her siblings were cared for mainly by her paternal grandmother, Emelda Tuesdee, as well as by other family members, and a community of close friends.She loved Guyana. But, at age 14 she and her 3 younger siblings moved to New York to be with their parents. She left many close friends who she maintained deep relationships with until her death.After high school she attended Hunter College from which she received her B.A., going on to the Doctoral program in English Education and Pedagogy at New York University where she was A.B.D. (All But Dissertation) and received an M.A.. She taught at a number of colleges in New York City and also taught high school in Florida briefly.From 2003 until her death she taught at Holyoke Community College where she was a tenured Professor. She had deep loving and supportive relationships with her colleagues in the English Department and with other faculty across the college with whom she co-taught cross-disciplinary courses often communing with them outside the college setting. And without doubt, she loved her students encouraging them in their writing to acknowledge the value of their own richly personal experiences and to honor those lived experiences by writing from their hearts.She loved books and literature and poetry. She had an extensive collection of Literature, Pedagogy, Philosophy, Psychology, Zen, and Poetry. She particularly liked the cut-to-the-quick writing of Krishnamurti, which was much like she was, as well as the work of Dogen, founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan, and the works of more contemporary Buddhist writers. She could often be found at the kitchen table or at her desk at 5:00 AM journaling in composition books, taking copious notes on her Koan studies coupled with contemplative insights. She also wrote nuanced poetry over espresso or whisked matcha tea with a touch of oat milk.In every area of her life, she was a wise truth sayer. She kept everybody on their toes. Petriana was a remarkable woman with an acerbic wit that cut right to the truth of the moment. She did not rely on form. She came right from the heart. And let no slight slide by. She did not lose sight of the everyday. Even in her moments of howling pain from her cancer, all of a sudden she would sit up and ask Reuven, "Has the kitty litter been changed?" or "Is the front door locked?" or "Is the stove shut off?"She was extremely well-informed, perhaps to a fault, on both national and international political issues, and highlighted to friends, colleagues, and family members the inequalities, injustices and inhumanity occurring in the world. Even amidst all the mishegoss, she remained captivated by the essence seen in others, by the beauty of nature, by the flowers in the garden, by the birds at the feeder, and by the 600 lb black bear that would walk through our property every year, and with Reuven she would howl with the coyotes at night.Every season found her engaged in its beauty. Jogging 5 miles a day, walking and hiking in the woods, and snowshoeing were passions of hers. A woman born in the Caribbean with its tropical beauty and monsoon season, she loved the snow and cold weather.She liked simplicity and not showiness.She continues to be a profound teacher and dharma holder in the Green River Zen Center, in the eclectic contemporary Soto Zen lineage of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, Tetsugen Roshi Bernie Glassman, and Myonen Roshi Eve Marko of the White Plumb Asanga tradition and the global Zen Peacemaker Order.Along with the chanting of the Heart Sutra, she would listen to gospel music, traditional Seventh Day Adventist choirs and songs of Deep Worship and Praise Melodies, Motown, jazz, and she often danced to reggae and swing music in the kitchen.The love and support she gave her children was unfailing in its kindness, understanding, and constancy. She always gave space and listened. She could be silent and take it all in, regardless of the pain, of the tears that arose, and of life's confusionsWe bless her on her journey home.

There will be a Celebration of Petriana's life, Saturday June 27 at Windhorse Hill Training and Retreat Center, 595 River Rd., Deerfield, MA 01342.8:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Zen Meditation and Service, offered by members of the Green River Zen Center.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Family and Community Service and Celebration of Life

1:15 PM: Burial of Multi-Faith Service and Burial, East Leverett Cemetery, Cemetery Rd., Leverett MA

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