The Family Plot Blog
Obituary for Tom Keith
For you fans of 'Prairie Home Companion' and sound effects, this excellent news obituary appeared in the Washington Post on November 1. Tom Keith, sound-effects man on ‘Prairie Home Companion,’ dies (Courtesy of A Prairie Home Companion/COURTESY OF A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION) - Tom Keith was a virtuoso sound-effects man on Garrison Keillor's radio program "A Prairie Home Companion.” By Emily Langer Tom Keith, 64, the virtuoso sound-effects man...
Eulogy for Steve Jobs by His Sister
Here's a beautiful eulogy with lessons on living and dying. Mona Simpson is a novelist and a professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles. She delivered this eulogy for her brother, Steve Jobs, on Oct. 16 at his memorial service at the Memorial Church of Stanford University. It appeared in the New York Times as an Op-Ed on Sunday, October 30. I grew up as an only child, with a single mother. Because we were poor and because...
Eyewitness to a Hindu Funeral
Ellen Leitzer had the opportunity to witness a Hindu funeral in Nepal and wrote the following incredibly detailed description. I am honored that she agreed to share her insights in today's guest post. Dear Friends, Rita died early yesterday morning from pneumonia and sepsis at Tribhuvan University’s Teaching Hospital, one of Kathmandu’s public hospitals. Her medical care and the hospital’s sanitary conditions were extraordinarily sub-standard...
Ashes Amnesty Last Call Today!
Today is the last day to register to give any cremated remains you may have hanging around your house a free final resting place, courtesy of the Catholic Cemetery Association. Back on September 30, the association announced it is offering a free program that allows families to properly bury the cremated remains of loved ones now being kept at home. The amnesty for ashes program will provide free placement in a crypt at either Mount Calvary...
In Conclusion: Create a Great Funeral Day
http://youtu.be/57VT6KBoGWg I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death. After 30 funerals in 30 days, what a long, strange trip it’s been. No, my circle of family and friends has not been decimated. As The Doyenne of Death, I undertook the 30 Funerals in 30 Days Challenge for three reasons: To illustrate the many creative ways people celebrate the lives of those they love. To help reduce a fear of talking about death – something...
Day 30: Erika Langholf
Erika Langholf would have enjoyed the celebration of life that her children, family and friends put together. A crowd filled the pews in the funeral home chapel as rock music from the 1970s played over the sound system, such as "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart and "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. A beautiful Himalayan rock salt urn held Erika's cremated remains, displayed on a stand decorated with the chile ristras she loved to make. Cese McGowan...
Day 29: Waldine Patton
The life celebration for Waldine Patton took place at Ballut Abyad Shrine Center. She was the First Lady of the Shrine in 2000, when her husband Roy was the Potentate. Along the walls of the Shrine Center, pictures of Potentates for Ballut Abyad stretched back to 1887. After the family came in and was seated, the song "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong played, followed by a moment of silence.William Aber officiated, starting with a...
Day 28: Emmanuel Ceniceros
http://youtu.be/kiu1_n0fFRk The funeral home chapel overflowed with people attending the Rosary service for Emmanuel Ceniceros. He died at the age of 25 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on the freeway. Three hours of visitation preceded the evening Rosary. The funeral service and burial is scheduled take place the next day. Emmanuel was born in Juarez, Mexico. Except for the funeral director's welcome and request to turn off...
Day 27: Access Granted, Coverage Denied
A rare morning rainbow graced the western sky on the day of (name omitted)'s funeral. At the event, I asked the family for permission to witness and write about the funeral, and they agreed, pending review of the story. I wrote a lovely post that the family got to read in advance, something that no one had yet asked for. Just got the note this morning saying no. My correspondent wrote: "This is very nice, but what is your purpose for writing...
Day 26: Jim Hubbard
At the Graveside Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Jim Hubbard, the warmth for his well-lived life was as prevalent as the late October sunshine. The cemetery staff wheeled a portable shade structure next to his grave to give the 100 or so in attendance some shade before the service got underway. Pastor Don Wilson, recently retired from Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where Jim was a member for a number of years, opened the...
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...