You’ve all seen the pictures of Princess Diana’s funeral in the newspapers and on television. Television stations are endlessly replaying images of her coffin proceeding through London’s streets.

And you’ve all seen that moment when her two sons, her brother and ex-husband stepped in to join the procession to Westminster Abbey.

You’ve heard Elton John singing at her funeral.

All of these things, and more, are great tributes to a wonderfully kind, admirable and beautiful woman. Diana deserved that honor.

However, did you know that another remarkably influential and humanitarian woman died this weekend?

No, she wasn’t a princess, but she is a saint to many.

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun, died Friday at her convent in Calcutta, India.

“It is the worst news in 100 years,” said Syed Abul Kashem, an Indian man who makes his home in England.

If you read the Des Moines Register Saturday, you would’ve seen a front page story about the death, accompanying news of Diana’s death.

But, if you were watching Diana’s funeral and the replay of it, you probably didn’t hear that Mother Teresa also passed away.

On cable’s Headline News, a Saturday report of her death seemed like a commercial break from replay and rehashed commentary of Diana’s funeral. Some other stations didn’t mention the nuns death.

Although Diana was a fantastic person, we must not overlook the death of the equally, if not more, admirable Mother Teresa.

Her death from heart attack came after she worked tirelessly for the poor in her homeland and around the world. She even won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work.

Tom Afridi, an Indian man who lives in London, said, “Everyone loves Diana, but Mother Teresa is different. She gave up everything to live in the worst place. She helped the children for so long.”

“It will take time,” said Afridi. “We all felt touched by Diana. But in India, Mother Teresa was like a fairy tale, too.”

No matter what your religion —ÿor if you have no faith at all —ÿit is hard NOT to admire and respect Mother Teresa. A woman of strength for Catholics, she is a diamond in the rough for people around the world.

The thought of someone who suffered to give and help others is remarkable in today’s world.

And it is saddening that she died, but, as Father Sebastian — who celebrated a simple memorial Mass for the nun in India — said, ” … Mother Teresa is enjoying the presence of Jesus, whom she loved and dedicated her work.”

Is it not inspiring that, in this world of violence, fear and poverty, Mother Teresa gave up everything to help others?

She established the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The organization once took her to Beruit, Lebanon, to rescue victims of civil war.

Because of her inspiration from God, she traveled the world to help the ailing, when, all the while, her own health was not in the best of conditions.

She suffered from heart problems, bacterial pneumonia and malaria. In the end, it was a heart attack that halted her 87 years of life on earth.

Thinking of what this woman did for so many should influence us to consider what we have failed to do for others. Sometimes, it’s just little things — thanking your co-workers for helping you out, or your classmates for giving notes from the class you missed.

Little things like doing the dishes for your roommates, picking up your friends from class and sticking up for your friends when it’s necessary can also make all the difference.

But it’s so much more. It is not taking advantage of others for your own benefit. It is considering others’ feelings when you talk and act.

It is allowing someone in the line ahead of you if he or she seems in more of a hurry.

It is being there for your friends when they need you. It is respecting other people for their thoughts and beliefs, even if they contradict with your own.

It is smiling and saying hello to people you meet on the sidewalk.

It is appreciating what you have —ÿnot all the material possessions — but the love, friendship and security of life.

Although life may not seem too loving, friendly or secure, we must remember other people suffer more than we do.

Other people, like Mother Teresa, give their lives to others. That is a kindness that we often don’t encounter.

“I once asked Mother Teresa if there was any place she had not reached,” said Navin Chawla, the nun’s friend and biographer. “She replied with a laugh, ‘If there are poor on the moon, we shall go there, too.'”

What an inspirational statement.

In June, Mother Teresa and Diana met in New York. The photo taken of them outside a convent there can be considered one of the most inspirational images of two fantastic people who have done so much for the world.

Mother Teresa and Princess Diana may have not directly touched most of our lives, but in some manner, nearly all of us can say that somehow, we are connected to one of them.

I can. I lived near Diana’s palace in London this summer and I am Catholic. It may seem trivial, but knowing I have some sort of connection makes me feel comforted; maybe the world’s inspiration isn’t as far away as it seems.

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Erin Payne is a senior in journalism and mass communication and political science from Rock Rapids. She is the opinion editor of the Daily.