[Magdalen] Marcy's Funeral

[James Handsfield]

It was good to have all of you there - thank you for coming.

I have to say it was a wonderful service - Marcy planned it when we planned both of our funerals.  It was difficult but I felt peace afterward, not in small part to having your spiritual presence with us.

Marcy chose her music well, although I did get to choose two pieces - the opening voluntary (Meditation from Thaïs by Massenet and An Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar played on the cello).  I’ll post the order of service in a little while.

-------------------------------------
Education is its own reward, both for the individual and for society.

Jim Handsfield
jhandsfield at att.net

> On May 25, 2016, at 2:51 AM, Joseph Cirou <romanos at mindspring.com> wrote:
> 
> Bob and I sat together for Marcy's funeral. Cindy Smith also attended. I got to talk to Jim before and after the service. He seems to be holding up well.
> 
> Marcy planned the liturgy which had many fine hymns. The organist did improvisations on other hymns which I imagine Marcy  had suggested. There was a piano prelude on the Meditation from  Thais and a cello solo after Communion.
> 
> Matthew and Nina spoke. Nina was Marcy's prayer partner for over 21 years every Tuesday. I imagine they planned the funeral to take place on a Tuesday. The burial was in the church ground. Several folks took turns shoveling dirt on the grave which was just large enough for the urn. The rector gave the homily. The celebrant was the head of the St. Julian of Norwich Guild. The only clergy person I knew among the officiants was the Spanish deacon who had ministered at Christ Church when I subbed a few years ago.
> 
> It was a beautiful service and a comforting afternoon. It was only a few hours so I returned to work early. St Bede's is only 15 minutes from my house and it was about the same distance to the IRS.
> 
> We will remember Marcy at our next liturgy. The Rite of Commendation is very similar to our short Panikhida or Trisagion Service.  We have a beautiful melody for the KOntakion that appears in the English Hymnal. Our melodies at St John's are quite different from the Slavic but they have the same mood.