“Ask our Lord if it is His will for many years of life, so that when He calls us to Himself, we may arrive squeezed out like a lemon, as the Father used to say.”

These words of Don Álvaro, spoken of the founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaría, find their quiet, luminous fulfilment in the life of one extraordinary woman, Mrs. Eva Beautah.

Well into her eighties, Eva continued to do what many would deem improbable, even heroic. She walked beside young university students as a mentor, offering not just guidance, but her time, her presence, and her heart. As her supervisor, I often found myself wondering what unfolded in those meetings. What could an octogenarian and a university student possibly have in common? What bridges could stretch across such a vast generational divide?

Eva answered those questions simply by being herself.

She found the world of young people endlessly fascinating. From their dreams and doubts, their anxieties and enthusiasms, to their questions about life and meaning. Rather than feeling distanced by age, she felt drawn closer. Their stories awakened in her an ever-deepening desire to give more of herself. To listen more attentively, to care more deliberately, and to walk with them more fully.

Her mentoring appointments were treated with reverence. Carefully scheduled, faithfully kept, always on time. As the years went by, her daughter Winnie lovingly stepped in to help coordinate meetings and ensure everything ran smoothly. Eva might occasionally forget small details, but she never forgot what mattered most. She remembered her mentees. She remembered their names, their journeys, their struggles, their hopes. For over thirty years, she poured herself out in service, until one day she gently embodied that beautiful phrase, ‘squeezed out like a lemon.’ And truly, she has been.

To honour this remarkable milestone, we gathered for a quiet tea with some of her mentees. What struck me most was their genuine bewilderment. They simply could not understand why Eva was “retiring.” To them, the relationship was not winding down; it was alive, meaningful, and still unfolding. They longed for her wisdom, her listening ear, her steady presence.

Eva responded as she always had, with warmth and generosity. She left the door open, quite literally, inviting them to visit her at home, to sit, to talk, to continue sharing life.

Eva, we thank you. You have shown us what it truly means to give oneself freely, generously, and to the very last drop. May God bless you abundantly, and may the years ahead be filled with peace, joy, and the quiet fulfilment of a life beautifully and completely poured out.

Article written by Celestine Kanjama, Manager, Student Mentoring Services.