Today the nave of Washington National Cathedral was filled for Jane Goodall’s celebration of life, drawing scientists, activists, diplomats, and children alike. The service opened not in mourning but in gratitude. “This cathedral is a house of prayer for all people,” said Dean Randy Hollerith. “Jane was one of the world’s most remarkable human beings.” Few could disagree. Procession at the conclusion of Jane Goodall’s service in Washington D.C. on November 12, 2025. Photo by the Washington National Cathedral. Goodall’s life spanned ninety-one years and an era of transformation in how humans see the natural world. The girl who once hid in a henhouse to watch eggs being laid became the scientist who revealed that chimpanzees use tools and express emotions long thought uniquely human. Yet the tributes this morning were less about what she discovered than how she lived: her patience, her wit, and her unrelenting belief that hope was not a sentiment but a discipline. Anna Rathman speaking at Jane Goodall’s celebration of life in Washington D.C. on November 12, 2025. Photo by the Washington National Cathedral. The quiet force Anna Rathman, executive director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA, described a woman who led with restraint rather than volume, whose strength lay in conviction rather than command. “Jane was never the loudest in the room,” Rathman said. “But her powerful message spoke volumes.” Jane Goodall. Photo by Vincent Calmel Goodall, she reminded the audience, saw her institute as an ecosystem: a network of people working toward balance…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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