The Family Plot Blog
Reflections on the 30 Funerals Challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP34a65sj4k My 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge has come to a close. As the Grateful Dead song goes, what a long strange trip it's been. Here are a few statistics about the 30 events: The funeral for the oldest person was a 98-year-old woman; the youngest was a 24-year-old man. I attended events for 16 males and 14 females. Twelve of the events were funerals with the body present, 18 were memorial services with...
Jacquie Walter Presbyterian Musical Service
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBNWG_y4H4 Ah, to be present at your own memorial service! The beautiful soprano voice of Jacquie Walter, MD, 58, was part of a creative memorial service within the outline of the Presbyterian Service of Worship at St. Andrew Church. Jacquie had already been celebrated by her family back in Minnesota, where she grew up. This was a second memorial service put together by friends in Albuquerque to remember a...
A Creative Memorial for Artist Peggy Jackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJY6NjuDVe4 Peggy Jackson's lengthy obituary, written by her husband Dave, painted a detailed portrait of a fascinating artist, and it really made me want to attend her memorial service. Unfortunately, no event had been scheduled when this obit ran. A few weeks later, a short notice appeared saying a memorial for Peggy Jackson, 76, would be held at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center the Wednesday before...
Louise Ganie Lambert Bundy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgpczjR27g Two things jumped out of the extensive obituary for Louise Ganie Lambert Bundy, 91, in addition to her impressive array of accomplishments: She was born in Salt Lake City into a pioneer family of Mormons, and was an avid Nelson Eddy enthusiast. From the obituary: Louise spent years inside the Republican political world, including being a Barry Goldwater Delegate at the1964 Republican Convention; she...
Funeral for Kevin Hayes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ldqebQlp7g The funeral for Kevin Hayes, whose death at the age of 24 is under investigation, brought home the important role a funeral plays in comforting those who mourn. Rev. John Thurman, who is a professional Christian counselor, gently guided the service, starting by thanking those in attendance for supporting the family on a difficult day in a difficult time. The funeral home chapel was filled with the...
Five Life and Death Questions Every Family Should Discuss this Thanksgiving (But Probably Won’t)
When the family gathers this Thanksgiving, besides giving thanks for the bounty in your life, take advantage of this face time to talk turkey about end-of-life issues. Sure, it’s easy to keep it superficial and focus on the football game. But with close relatives you don’t often see, grab the opportunity to have a meaningful discussion. Just as talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about funerals and end-of-life treatment won’t...
A Presbyterian Worship Service for Betty Gephart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmUq7ByhrN4 The service at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church for Betty Gephart, 96, was first and foremost a worship service. The program called it "A Service of Witness to the Resurrection: Celebrating the Life and New Life of Elizabeth S. Gephart." She passed away quietly at home on the eve of the 71st wedding anniversary of her marriage to husband Ken, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. Betty was an active member...
A Unique Celebration for Ron Sheppeard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e6_58lEYSg The memorial service for Ron Sheppeard, 60, started like a 12-step program meeting. A man stood up in front of the crowd at the South Valley Multi-Purpose Center and announced, "Hi. I'm John, and I'm an addict." Everyone said "Hi, John." There was a moment of silence, and then the recitation of the Serenity Prayer. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the...
Dr. Oscar Syme Memorial Service
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmRrYcEGkn8 Family and friends of Oscar Syme, M.D., 91, came together to remember him and celebrate his life in a story-filled non-religious service at the University of New Mexico Memorial Chapel. Oscar was a pediatrician for 38 years in Albuquerque, providing practical, no-nonsense, compassionate medical care for thousands of children and soothing their anxious parents. He was recognized everywhere he went in...
Irene Adele White Episcopal Memorial Service
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esV_t7p8b74 The memorial service for Irene Adele White, 88, incorporated an Episcopalian memorial service with a salute to a woman who was not afraid to pre-plan the elements she wanted as part of her funeral. At the entrance to the funeral home chapel, next to the guest book, Irene's grandchildren had written their thoughts about what they remembered most about Grandma. They remembered playing all sorts of board...
Saluting Lt. Col. Jack Cole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sp0rzwKuKA Lieutenant Colonel Jack Hart Cole, 88, U.S. Army (Retired) is one of the members of The Greatest Generation who has gone to his final rest. In the flag-draped casket, he looked quite sharp in his uniform with medals and service ribbons. A West Point cadet, Jack served in the infantry in Europe in World War II and in the Korean War, and served staff duty in the Vietnam War. He was also a member of the...
Thomas Campbell Memorial Service
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wq75jfgnrY Tommy Campbell overcame enormous challenges early in life to become a rock and roll drummer, husband, father, and grandfather, beloved by many. Music and time was the theme for his celebration of life service. As I entered the funeral home chapel, I overheard a man say, "Tommy played the cards life dealt him, and he always had a smile on his face." Some background, from the obituary written by his...
Leonor Escudero Funeral
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wseIdSxU-a4 The funeral for Leonor Escudero, 83, got underway at the New Beginnings Church with a photo-montage of her large family, accompanied by narration in Spanish. When the pastor got up and welcomed the attendees in Spanish, I wondered if I'd be able to comprehend the service. Phrases like "viendo eterna" (eternal life), "bonito" (beautiful) and "spiritu santo" (holy spirit) were understandable, but not...
Greek Orthodox Funeral for Angelo James Gineris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_iUwzV42vw It was an honor to attend both the evening Greek Orthodox Trisagion service and the next day's funeral for Angelo James Gineris at St. George Greek Orthodox Church. "Ange," who died at the age of 77 from pancreatic cancer, was celebrated as a as a father, grandfather, mentor, businessman, and friend. Holding an evening service followed by a funeral and burial the next day is a similar pattern followed...
The Sudden Death of Richard Gene Gonzales
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAXFD6wvchc The obituary for Richard Gonzales, 43, said he died suddenly. It also said his brother Vincent and his father preceded him in death. At the memorial service for Richard, a very sad day for the family, no mention was made of the reason why he died suddenly, leaving a two-year old son. An autopsy was conducted before he was cremated, but the results were not yet available. His mother and her husband, two...
Graveside with Mary Alice Pilon Skinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAQnuAFlt18 The poetic obituary attracted to the graveside service for Mary Alice Pilon Skinner. Some highlights: Mary Alice Pilon Skinner, age 98, peacefully and gracefully passed from this world into the arms of her Lord in the early twilight of a beautiful fall evening on November 9, 2010. Alice was a lifelong resident of New Mexico, born in Blanco to Odilon and Clara Pilon on October 18, 1912. She was so proud...
A Send-Off for Craig Stiniker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK0SasFqaH0 The passions of Craig Stiniker - motorcycles, hot rods, Corvettes, and travel - drew me to his funeral. He was 64, born in 1945, the first of the Baby Boomers. A cancerous brain tumor took his life, but not his dear friends who came to pay their respects. Upon entering the funeral home, everyone was given a black wristband with the word "Remember" highlighted in white. In the chapel, Craig's Harley...
American Legion Salute to Ray Schroeder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MDPqQFk4PQ At the American Legion Post 49, a small group of people gathered to remember Raymond "Ray" Schroeder. His son Mark, a pastor of a church in Los Lunas, ran the service. He started out saying, "This is a sad day for me," and went on to quote psalms and scripture for words of hope and comfort. Ray was remembered as a most faithful, dependable, reliable person. He was artistic, patriotic, organized, highly...
Celebrating Katherine Spates Buell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkPsrctYbsQ The obituary for Katherine Spates Buell, 83, named 34 surviving relatives and mentioned there were 22 great-grandchildren. While that in itself was impressive, it was this sentence that made me want to come to her celebration of life: "She loved her family, her many, many dear friends, Lobo basketball, the casino, an occasional margarita, and a good piece of chocolate." How could I resist? At least 200...
Graveside with Ovidia Gil
“I love you too much” was Ovidia Gil’s phrase on the memorial photo board, on the prayer card, even on the headstone that sat waiting to be installed.
Jim Henderson Celebrated at Hoffmantown
The obituary for James T. Henderson, 71, said, “a sinner saved by God’s Grace, went to see his Lord on November 7, 2010.”