CELEBRATION OF LIVES CEREMONY
I have been asked to post the words of the closing tribute to our classmates and faculty so this page opens with our final commemoration spoken on August 15, 2009 on the grounds of Winnemac Park, Chicago, Illinois.
In Aug. of 2006 the friends of Linda Cotteleer Anderson learned of her sudden passing. They gathered in her memory at this beautiful oak tree and placed a plaque upon it which ends with “We carry your heart in our hearts.”
I really can’t think of a more wonderful memorial to any human being. A tree gives forth a thousand times more than it requires of the universe; that being simply sun and water. I wanted to honor all those we have just remembered in our service (our classmates and faculty) in somewhat the same way – with hopefully, their own tree and message of a charitable heart. In your hand is a cup containing the necessary ingredients so let’s close our eyes for a moment…
Humanist Service Closing:
We have been remembering with love and appreciation the lives that have ended and now we must return to our own, enriched by these memories, so that we may live more fully.
Let us rejoice in the knowledge that our unique circle and the thoughts expressed today bring a message of hope and joy throughout this universe
May these seeds spread far and wide delivered with the help of the birds or carried on the wind and nourished by the gifts of this universe so that one day more trees stand to provide life resources to humanity, indeed to all of nature in memory of those not here today.
On the count of three please call out that name of the person held in your heart at this moment and fling your seeds far and wide. 1, 2, 3!
Bonita purusing notes
Bonita officiating for Celebration of Lives Service
Bonita -Lisabeth -Linda
Alan Sobel - His song for the service
Alan Bohme -Georgiana Barrie -Kathy Koclanis
Under Linda's tree
“Thanking you so much for the wonderful job you did on the reunion. I had a great time at AHS and the memorial was very touching. Too little time to catch up on so many years. You worked so hard – Bless you.” Sharon Albrecht Gonzalez
Thank you Bonnie for the wonderful tribute to the classmates who have passed on. I was one of those who asked for the words of the closing tribute. I have never heard anything so moving for a ‘memorial’ and would like to have those words spoken in the very distant future at my service. Thank you Alan for your song which was well received above the noise of sirens and squaking birds. Thanks too to all who were there and paid their tribute in one way or another. God Bless Kathy
Bon,
This is better late than never. The memorial was such a wonderful way to remember our classmates that have passed on. Not sad and gloomy – instead, the sharing of stories was a celebration of their lives. Remember, the dead are never really gone, they live on every time we mention their names.
God Bless – Janice