The Family Plot Blog
Day 25: Behind the Scenes for Two Taharas
http://youtu.be/o2A3kUA784Q For today's 30 Funerals in 30 Days post, we go behind the scenes at the funeral home for two tahara rituals. The tahara is the Jewish ritual of washing and dressing the body before burial. In the Jewish tradition, the body of the deceased is treated with care and respect, extending dignity to the earthly vessel that the human spirit has left behind. This task is undertaken by the local Chevra Kadisha, a volunteer...
Day 24: Sam Baxter Balloon Send-Off
On a perfect morning for ballooning, Samuel “Sam” Houston Baxter was honored at a hot air balloon mini-fiesta.
Day 23: Geraldine (Gerri) Stivers
http://youtu.be/cen_gq5WrrA At St. Stephen's United Methodist Church, the memorial service for Geraldine "Gerri" Stivers provided a lovely remembrance and celebration of her life. The pastor, Dr. Russell Lee, offered a cordial welcome to everyone attending and thanked them for their presence and prayers. He also thanked the people providing the music, singing, and audiovisual assistance, and invited everyone to stay and visit at the reception...
Day 22: Eugenia Edna Rendace
A beautiful funeral Mass for Eugenia Edna Rendace was held in the historic Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. Upon entering the church, attendees were given a prayer card with her picture on one side and the poem, The Broken Chain, on the other. Her blue-gray steel casket was already positioned at the front of the church. A pianist played soothing music as we waited for the service to start. The church bell chimed the hour and all rose...
Day 21: Mike Flowers
Many people crowded into the funeral home chapel services for Michael Wade "Mike" Flowers. The service was conducted by Danny Miller, the minister at the Church of Christ Bosque Farms, the church Mike's mother attends. He sought to bring comfort to a family mourning the loss of a son, father, brother, and friend at the age of 40. He thanked everyone for supporting the family with their presence and opened with the words of John 14: Let not your...
Day 20: Lonnie Chavez
http://youtu.be/4zUkkTAGLzE Upon entering Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Bernalillo, I could tell Lonnie Chavez was a big Dallas Cowboys fan. The dark blue casket was emblazoned with the Dallas Cowboys logo. More than a dozen family and friends in Cowboys football jerseys stood vigil along the center aisle of the church. A blue star rested next to Lonnie in the open casket. Even Lonnie wore a Cowboys jersey. A blue-and-white flower...
Day 19: Doug Johnson
Doug Johnson was a gift to his family and all who knew him.
Day 18: Bert Norgorden
http://youtu.be/k6GoawuUeBI A family of Bert Norgorden's friends in Albuquerque gathered at the Elena Gallegos Open Space area for a memorial gathering and potluck lunch. The chaplain who had agreed to conduct the service dropped out at the last minute due to a family medical emergency. But it all worked out just fine. Herbert "Bert" Norgorden was remembered for many things: his love of herbs and teaching about their healing powers; an...
Day 17: Sidney N. Stone
The amazing obituary for Sidney N. Stone, and the setting for the memorial service at the German American Club, spoke volumes about the man.
Day 16: Karl Lester Siebenborn
An organist played soothing music before the start of Karl Lester Siebenborn's memorial service at the First Congregational United Church of Christ. At the front of the church, a white and black ceramic urn held Karl's cremated remains. A toy truck in front of the urn stood in silent testament to Karl's skill as a mechanic and his passion for his toy car collection. The family entered and sat in the front rows. Rev. Karen Ballon started by...
Day 15: Charlotte Valdez
At the Santa Fe National Cemetery, funerals are conducted with military precision. Attendees assemble near the entry gate, then at the appointed time, the caravan travels through the cemetery to a Southwest-style shelter for the service. The service is kept to about 15 minutes, then the remains are taken to the grave site for interment. On a beautiful October day, about 50 family and friends gathered at the Santa Fe National Cemetery to bid...
Day 14: Josef (Joe) Baecker
Josef "Joe" Baecker and his wife Maria came to the American Southwest from Frankfurt Germany in 1992 to live their German American Dream. At his Celebration of Life service, a parade of family and friends stood up to speak about Joe as a military hero, a father, a fisherman, and a friend to many. His daughter Regina suggested attendees take a good look at the medal on the table that held items important in Joe's life. This red cross was the...
Day 13: JoAnn Marie Titus
http://youtu.be/8Gx2-iM0h_4 JoAnn Marie Titus was a resident of Jemez Springs, NM, a small town about an hour's drive north and west of Albuquerque. The area's natural hot springs are a blessing to those who seek out the healing waters. JoAnn was a member of the Jemez Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva. She died at the age of 51 after a lengthy illness. At her funeral, Pastor Eric Larson recited numerous Gospel passages, including Revelation...
Day 12: Stevan Jay Schoen
The memorial service for Stevan Jay Schoen at B'nai Israel synagogue was not a typical Jewish funeral. It was fitting for Stevan, who was an exceptional man. A traditional Jewish funeral is held within 24 hours of the death, followed by a seven-day period of mourning at home by the immediate family. After Stevan died of a heart attack at his Placitas home on September 9, his body was flown to New Jersey for burial in a family plot. The High...
Day 11: Matthus Hoelzel
The memorial service for Matthus Hoelzel took place outdoors in the Japanese Garden at the Albuquerque Bio-Park on a brilliant October afternoon.
Day 10: Robert Lee Carmignani
Bob Carmignani’s life was celebrated at home with good food and good friends, just as the family celebrated every holiday. His elder daughter Christen called it “My Big Fat Italian Funeral.”
Day 9: Frank D. Eaton
Visitations are a traditional element of funeral ritual for some families. It's a time for the family to receive the support of their community in a relaxed setting. This gathering prior to the funeral service is often held at a funeral home. Visitations allow family, friends and colleagues to share stories, to view the body, and to prepare for the more formal funeral to come. The beautiful and impressive obituary for Dr. Frank Eaton drew me to...
Day 8: Patrick James McGrath
On an overcast day, an American flag draped the lower half of the open casket of Patrick James "Mac" McGrath in the chapel of the funeral home. His 82 year old father, his daughter, her husband and their son sat in the front row on the left, his brother and others sat to the right. Deacon Manuel Montoya officiated with the Catholic funeral liturgy outside Mass. He wore a white robe with a multicolored stole, a long, narrow strip of cloth which...
RIP Steve Jobs
We lost an innovative giant who is being memorialized all across the world: Steve Jobs. His graduation address at Stanford University on living and dying, and doing what you love - words to live by.
Day 7: Sharon Erickson
Sharon Abra Fullilove, known on-air on Albuquerque’s KOB-TV Eyewitness News morning show as Sharon Erickson, died too young at the age of 30 after complications from heart surgery.
Day 6: Elvira Contreras Lopez
http://youtu.be/yThOUvOPSZ4 Elvira Contreras Lopez's graveside service was the morning after an evening visitation and funeral service held at Harvest Fellowship Church. Reverend Jose Leyva officiated at the morning service, saying "Thank you for supporting the family. It's times like this our faith gets tested, and with God's help, our faith is purified." He said, "Let us pray. Thank you God for the comfort of The Holy Spirit in this time of...