We have known Edith since 2001—her Mongolian friends in Geneva, Nara and Tufshoo.
From the moment we stayed with her for almost a full year in her Sécheron apartment, Edith became an inseparable part of our lives. At that time, I had just started working at UNICEF, a stone’s throw from her apartment, while Tufshoo was still at a boarding school in England, spending every school break in Sécheron with Edith.
During my first week in her home, Edith—who was nearly 80 at the time—took me by surprise when she announced she was joining a march opposing certain WTO policies. I backed off when she told me they would march all the way to the Annemasse border and back. And this kind of surprise was not a one-off thing, as time went by, we realised this way of active life has been norm for her and age and other discomforts were not going to deter her in any way. Just a few months later, she traveled to an Egyptian city to speak at a peace conference, enduring long flights with multiple connections at odd hours, not uttering a word about the discomfort but only focusing on her messages to the gathering.
Beyond her unwavering commitment to peace, women’s movements, and international cooperation, Edith was equally devoted to those around her. Her hospitality knew no bounds. How many times did we have to extend the famous brown table as more friends arrived for dinner? Those evenings, often spent in large company, flowed with good food, bottles of wine, lively discussions about world affairs, and personal reflections—sometimes lasting until the early hours of the morning.
We often joked with Edith that half of Geneva had access to her apartment—and to her red Toyota with its heavy steering wheel! She embraced an open-door policy, welcoming not only us but also our friends and acquaintances. She was generous with everything she had, but most of all, with her genuine care for everyone who crossed her path. Whether a dignitary or a sans-papier, she extended the same warmth and kindness, making no distinctions.
Edith was a living testament to integrity, touching the lives of people from all walks of life, regardless of age, background, or ethnicity. Even those who met her only briefly were deeply moved by her unwavering conviction for justice, her immense generosity, her boundless energy, and her ability to enrich the perspectives of those around her. Her mind remained sharp and lucid until the very end—a reflection of the extraordinary person she was.
Edith, you have left an indelible mark on our lives, and we will carry your spirit with us always.