Debi Lester Anglican Celebration of Life

Debi Lester Anglican Celebration of Life

An impressive eight-page program was handed to all of the attendees as they entered the celebration of life for Debi Lester. As the Parish Administrator for Christ the King Anglican Church of Albuquerque, Debi had created many programs like this for families who had held funerals there.

Today, church members returned the favor with a beautiful document that laid out all the elements of The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two. Each section featured an illuminated capital letter: The Collect; Opening Hymn “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”; From the Old Testament; Psalm 23; From the New Testament; The Gospel Hymn “The Good Shepherd”; The Gospel; Reflections from the Family; Homily: The Very Rev. Pete Falk; Apostles’ Creed; Prayers of the People; The Peace; Offertory “Take Heart My Friend”; The Great Thanksgiving; Communion Music; Post Communion Prayer; Commendation; The Blessing; Closing Hymn “For All The Saints”; and Dismissal.

A number of clergy from Anglican churches in New Mexico came to the celebration of her life. The Very Rev. Pete Falk, now at Wellsprings, an Anglican Church, used to work with Debi at Christ the King Church, and she facilitated his family’s move from Canada to Albuquerque. The Rev. Canon Dan Klooster, interim rector at Christ the King, The Rev. Deacon Bill Lock and well-known Christian musician Fernando Ortega also played roles in the service.

The Rev. Canon Dan Klooster recited the Collect, an opening prayer: “O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Debi. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The readings from the Old Testament were Job 19:21-27a and Isaiah 61:1-3:

Job said,
Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
Why do you, like God, pursue me,
never satisfied with my flesh?
“O that my words were written down!
O that they were inscribed in a book!
O that with an iron pen and with lead
they were engraved on a rock forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”

Isaiah 61:1-3

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion–
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

Everyone recited together the Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.), followed by readings from 1 Corinthians:

In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.

So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

The Gospel reading came from John 10:11-16 and John 14:1-6:

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away– and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

During Reflections from the Family, Debi’s brother Paul spoke about her. “Debi did things really well, not haphazardly,” he said. “When God put her in the administrative position in the church, that’s where God meant her to be.” Not only did Debi work at Christ the King Anglican Church, she also held similar positions at St. Mrks on the Mesa Episcopal Church in Albuquerque and Christ the King Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Florida.

Paul described her as a great sister, a role model, a friend, and a Type A personality, which drew knowing chuckles from the audience. He said she was in charge growing up. “Ask her, she’d tell you,” he said. “Debi would brighten your day.”

The obituary described her as a woman of strong faith, fun loving, adventurous, charming and comforting to all who knew her. She enjoyed traveling and the adventures she would find along the way. She loved New Mexico, having moved here with her husband Art in 1991. They were married for 26 years. She enjoyed sunrises, sunsets, moons and star-filled nights.

Paul shared a poem, actually the lyrics to a song, “Beyond the Sunset” by Hank Williams:

Should you go first and I remain, to walk the road alone
I’ll live in memory’s garden dear, with happy days we’ve known
In spring I’ll wait for roses red, when faith the lilacs bloom
And in early fall when brown leaves fall,
I’ll catch a glimpse of you
Should you go first and I remain, for battles to be fought
Each thing you’ve touched along the way, will be a hallowed spot
I’ll hear your voice I’ll see your smile
Though blindly I may grope
The memory of your helping hand, will buoy me on with hope
Beyond the sunset oh blissful morning
When with our Savior, heaven is begun
Earth’s toiling ended, oh glorious dawning
Beyond the sunset when day is done
Should you go first and I remain, to finish with the scroll
No lessening shadows shall ever creep in
To make this life seem droll
We’ve known so much of happiness, we’ve had our cup of joy
And memory is one gift of God, that death cannot destroy
I want to know each step you take, that I may walk the same
For someday down that lonely road, you’ll hear me call your name
Should you go first and I remain, one thing I’ll have you do
Walk slowly down that long long path, for soon I’ll follow you

Debi’s death at 56 followed a brief battle with lung cancer caused by exposure to second-hand smoke throughout her life. She hadn’t been feeling well most of the year, and by the time the cancer was diagnosed in late May, it was already stage four. Many were stunned by the quickness of her health’s decline.

In the Homily presented by the Very Rev. Pete Falk, he spoke about memories of Debi as a colleague and what the Scriptures had to say about what everyone was going through with her loss. He first met her in 2003 when she handled all the details of a complicated move for he and his family to come to Albuquerque from a small town in Canada. “She was a wonderful manager, an organized person, and fun to be around,” he said.

She started the delightful traditions of “Elevensies,” an 11:00 a.m. tea time with coffee, tea and cakes. You could hear her great laugh all the way down the hall. She was also a great encourager who loved life. She helped all the church’s families put together funerals, many of them unexpected. “She had a tender heart for her ministry, being there for people in need,” he said. “Debi liked to say ‘What comes up, comes out.’ It’s weird that she’s not here. She was the one who put together these services. I think she’d be proud.”

“Debi knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ was her Lord and Savior and her purpose in life,” he said. He turned to the Scriptures, noting Job and his suffering while still proclaiming I know my Redeemer lives and will see God face to face. Isaiah’s passage promises no more mourning and that a new order has come.

He talked about the shepherd passages from John and the 23rd Psalm. “We’re in the valley of the shadow of death all the time. We never know when death will strike,” he said. “Yet we fear no evil, for thou art with me. With death nearby, God is still with us… We get through the valley of the shadow of death as a family and a church community. Everyone suffers and we offer each other a level of comfort and care.”

“The Christian hope is death isn’t the end of the story. Life continues beyond the grave. We’ll receive a new body and the dead shall be raised imperishable. We shall be changed and achieve victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is in the good shepherd who laid down his life for us, that we may have life abundantly.”

“We are here to say goodbye to Debi for a time, not for forever. She did not leave at a time of our choosing, but of God’s choosing. She’s on the next stage of the journey,” he said. As he finished the homily, he spoke to the urn holding Debi’s ashes, “Goodbye, Debi. We’ll see you again.”

The rest of the service reminded me of a Catholic Mass. The Apostles’ Creed, the Prayers of the People, the sharing of “Peace be with you” with our neighbors, and the preparation of the Eucharist and service of Communion all looked familiar from other services I’ve attended. Some took the host and sipped from the communal cup. Others, to protect compromised immune systems, dipped the host in the wine.

During Communion the song “Give Me Jesus” was performed by Fernando Ortega, a Christian musician who has won two Dove Awards. He used to work with Debi at Christ the King Anglican Church and they were friends. Here is the rendition of the song as he performed it at a memorial tribute for Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham’s wife.

During the Commendation, the Celebrant held his hand over the urn and led this prayer, where the people joined in (noted in bold type).

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Debi with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Debi with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Debi. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

After the Priestly Blessing and the closing hymn, everyone was invited to a luncheon reception in the social hall, where the family greeted and received condolences from all who attended. If you have stories or memories to share about Debi, feel free to post in the comments section below.

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Ralph Perea: A Victory Celebration

Ralph Perea: A Victory Celebration

A victory celebration for Ralph Perea coming into the radiant presence of his heavenly Father filled the funeral home chapel with family and friends gathered to remember and pray for a man who died too young. Ralph was 49 when his body succumbed to cancer, but his soul went to be with the Lord.

Ralph’s first cousin Julianne Ashford, an ordained minister from the Bible College School of the Spirit, conducted the service. She opened with a prayer honoring God, remembering Ralph, and praying for peace to his wife Ramona and the family.

“We are here to celebrate the life of one of my favorite cousins,” she said. “He was like a brother to me. We grew up together. Ralph is not in that box, he is present with the Lord.”

She had asked the Lord to speak to her heart and give her just the right Scriptures to offer at this service. These are the passages that spoke to her. She inserted Ralph’s name as appropriate.

Psalm 49:15 – But God will redeem Ralph’s soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive Ralph.

“Ralph is not in that box. He is present with the Lord,” Julianne said. “What you see there is simply a shell.”

Luke 9:56 – For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

“Redemption is a free gift, you don’t have to pay for something given,” Julianne said. “I was with Ralph a few weeks ago. We cried, we prayed, and God’s presence came on strong. Let go of guilt and ill will. Remember the good times, the good memories. That is what the Lord would want.”

Romans 10:9 – If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by his grace that we have been saved through faith, and this faith was not from you, but it is the gift of God.

Revelations 21:4 – And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“Nothing can ever hurt him now. We are the ones who are hurting because we miss him. Ralph believed in Jesus Christ and he is going to meet us at the gate.”

A recording “Amazing Grace,” a favorite song of Ralph’s, filled the chapel. This version had an additional stanza added by Chris Tomlin that I’ve not commonly heard:

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

Attendees were invited to share stories and make comments about Ralph. He was described as a kind person, unpredictable and fun. He was a good man who loved his wife, kids and family, a hard worker who loved providing for his family. In spite of his illness, he wanted to go back to work. He gave his best effort to fight the cancer.

One granddaughter confided that Ralph would “… give us snacks and chips and candy.” Everyone laughed as the truth came out of the mouth of babes. Then his granddaughters charmed everyone by singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” for their granddad.

In one story, a man spoke about the kid inside Ralph. It seems there were sprinklers at an apartment complex that missed a spot, so there was an area of dirt that turned to mud. In a bit of fun, Ralph and he got covered in two inches of mud. Then Ralph went to the convenience store to buy something and discovered the condition of his pockets. “Hope you don’t mind my dirty money,” Ralph said. “Hope you don’t mind change,” said the clerk.

He was also remembered as generous, someone who would give you the shirt off his back. He was good to everyone. He was also stubborn in his own way. Julianne commented that they used to have a competition to see who could be the most stubborn.

Two other songs that were meaningful to Ralph were played: “I Will Rise Again” and Donny Osmond’s song, “And They Called It Puppy Love.” Ralph and Ramona were introduced by cousin Julianne, only in their teens when they met. They would have been married 30 years come February 12.

Sister-in-law Judy said, “I asked the Lord what to say, and the message comes through the heart, the hands, the feet… We all have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. We still have a chance to know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior… We thank the Lord for conquering the grave.”

After the open comments, Ralph’s Uncle Fred brought forward holy water to apply to the body. He led the recitation of The Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary. “Receive his soul and present it to God most high,” they prayed.

Ralph came from Agua Fria near Santa Fe to Albuquerque 31 years ago. Following the victory celebration, his body was taken to the cemetery in Agua Fria for burial. The family planned to reconvene after the burial for a meal at the Community Center in La Cienega. The pallbearers all wore blue carnations as a sign of their solemn duty.

If you have a memory or story about Ralph Perea you’d like to share, please use the comment box below. May he rest in peace.

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Bernice Greer Seventh Day Adventist Celebration

Bernice Greer Seventh Day Adventist Celebration

Bernice Greer was a real life Church Lady, and I say that with the greatest admiration. Bernice was a lifelong member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) and worked as the secretary at the Albuquerque Central SDA Church for many years.

At the memorial service, Bernice’s daughter Carolyn Mata welcomed me at the door to the funeral home chapel. The pews were filled with church members and family gathered to remember and pray. A photo montage cycled on the video screens as soft religious tunes played over the speakers. The video collection ended with the statement “Until We Meet Again on That Glorious Day!” Photos and a photo board were also set up next to Bernice’s urn at the front of the room.

Pastor Don Gibson thanked everyone for coming. “We all experienced Bernice in different ways, and we’re going to share our stories tonight. I remember first meeting her when I was a new pastor at Central and she was the secretary. She showed me the ropes there, and for that I will always be grateful.”

For those unfamiliar with the religion, Seventh Day Adventists’ Sabbath is on Saturday, as opposed to most Christians’ day of rest on Sunday. Many Adventists are also vegetarians of differing degrees. They believe in Jesus as the Savior and in life after this earthly life.

Pastor Don offered a prayer of thanks to God. Then, following the bulletin as they do in church, Addriene Rhodes sang a beautiful rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” over an orchestral background.

Pastor Don started the eulogy saying, “It’s hard to think about Bernice’s entire life on one piece of paper. One day of her life could be a whole book, her life could fill volumes. She was a gracious, gracious person.”

She was born in Texas cattle country near Hereford. She had lots of siblings and grew up doing hard work on the family’s ranch. She went to secretarial school and worked as an administrative assistant at SDA churches in California, Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“I walked in the door and she said ‘I’m quitting,’” joked Pastor Don. “I’m glad she didn’t, because she knew everyone and everything about Central Church.”

She and her husband Milton loved to travel around the country. They had a beautiful farm in Corrales. Milton died in 2008. They were always loving and hospitable. She loved sitting at home on Sabbath evening, watching the sun set and eating popcorn or home made ice cream. She was famous for her brownies and could make the best vegetarian dinners. She and daughter Carolyn were “partners in shopping.”

To Pastor Don Fortner, she was Aunt Bernice. He welcomed attendees to come forth with remembrances. At the church, she had more energy than women half her age. A church member read a poem about the seasons of life – spring, summer, fall and winter – and the hopeful second spring of cleansing and rebirth that will come.

Her brother Wayne told stories about Bernice giving him a red bike when she lived in Clovis and how he got in trouble with the local law for riding his bike on the sidewalk. He also talk about a trip she and Milton took with him on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska. It was not a luxury cruise. They didn’t change their clothes for three days. But that didn’t faze Bernice. She said, “My clothes are so stiff they’re holding me up.”

Patrick Redmond, the elder of the SDA church in Belen offered thoughts on his own mother’s passing. “Moms – when we’re bad they forgive us, when we do good they’re proud of us. There’s a special place in heaven for Moms,” he said. “No matter how old they live, we want them to live longer. When the pain gets too great, Almighty God comes and takes us home. We’ll be reunited in Paradise.”

He offered a prayer for Bernice, saying, “Lord, you are in control. When you take someone from us it’s heartbreaking. Lay your hands on our hearts and provide the healing only you can provide.”

Another man spoke to Bernice’s two daughters, saying, “She was the mother hen who held the chicks together. You don’t have her now to do that. Make a point to stay in touch.”

Bernice spent her last three years living at Brookdale Senior Living. She was very mad when she first moved in and wanted to get out of there. She looked forward to her brother Wayne’s visits and would get excited over a chocolate bar.

Many of the speakers prompted replies of “Amen!” from the audience. Pastor Don Fortner provided his own memories of Aunt Bernice – sitting in her lap at church as a child, playing with the buttons on her favorite suit, helping at camp meetings and vacation Bible school, playing with the kids and making crafts. Family, food and fun were important – especially having fun. She was always interested in others and interested in seeing pictures of family and friends.

He spoke of how the Sabbath afternoon was a special time for their family, when they would talk about how world events fit in with prophesy. They would talk about how the family planned to be together in God’s Kingdom. His sermon covered many of Bernice’s favorite texts: John 3:16, Romans 3:23 and 6:23, John 14:1-3, First Corinthians 15:13, Thessalonians 11:4-13, Hebrews 11:40, and from the Book of Job: “For I know that my Redeemer lives…”

“It doesn’t matter whether we’re cremated or decay in a casket. God knows our DNA and will recreate us both physically and spiritually,” he said. “Comfort each other with the hope of Jesus Christ. He brings everyone together with his amazing grace.”

With that, Suzanne Lutz lead the assembled in an a capella version of “Amazing Grace.” Everyone singing made a beautiful harmonization with the four verses.

The service closed with a prayer for the family and meditation music. Everyone was invited to a reception across the lobby of the funeral home. If you have memories or stories about Bernice you’d like to share, please post them in the comments section below.

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Amanda Dillon Life Celebration

Amanda Dillon Life Celebration

It is sobering to go to a memorial service for someone born in 1976, the year I graduated from high school. Amanda Nicole Dillon died too young at the age of 36. The funeral home chapel was filled with grieving family and friends gathered to mourn and make sense of her death on August 25.

The obituary described her this way:

She will be missed beyond what is imaginable and remembered for her many kindnesses. Amanda had a very big heart and frequently put others before herself. Her passion for family, her love of animals, especially horses, as well as her utter love for nature describes only a small amount of the amazing person she was. She loved the Bosque and frequently took her children for moonlight walks along the river.

She will be dearly missed by her loving husband, Kelly and their children: Sydney, Skyler and Mason; mother: Sheryl; father, Tom and significant other, Christine; sisters: Sam, Meghan and Abby; eight nieces and nephews; and her dear friend, Suni.

Rev. Chuck Exley, pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church, opened the service with thanks to all who came to support the family at a difficult time and offered a prayer.

Oh God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister Amanda. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so that we may see in death the gate to eternal life, that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

He then shared the wisdom of two Psalms, 118 and 121, and two passages from the Scriptures, Romans and Matthew.

Psalm 118 (excerpts)

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;…
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it….
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Romans 8:31-35

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Matthew 5:1-10

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The reverend offered words to the family. Some powerful passages:

“It’s hard to know what to do at a time of death. What do we do? Where do we go? How do we look to the future? This memorial service allows us to stop our flailing, that we may dry our eyes and begin to breathe again…. While the family would like to go back in time and change what led to her death, we cannot go back and change…. There is hope for tomorrow… Pain and suffering does not last forever…. All things will become new with God’s grace.”

“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. They shall find rest in time, although we don’t know when that time will be. Time begins now.”

While Amanda was not a regular church-goer, she loved Easter. The family would attend services on that holiday and have special activities at home. “I like to think she had an instinctive appreciation for new life. All services like this indicate life springs from death. We are also reminded of the shortness of life, how time races, and a sudden change can happen in the blink of an eye. We give thanks to the love of God that we can remember her gifts to us and be glad.”

Attendees were invited to share stories about Amanda, also known as Mandy or Manda-bear. Her father’s significant other Christine described her as an smart, artistic person, whose smile would light up the room. She loved holidays and decorated extensively, especially for Halloween. She worked and studied while raising her three children and became a pharmacist, following in her father’s footsteps career-wise.

Her sisters spoke about growing up in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. Amanda had an early love of horses, and she loved animals of all kinds. Dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles – all kinds of animals found a home at her home.

She became an accomplished horseback rider with many ribbons testifying to her riding prowess. Family gatherings were very important, with creative games and activities. She was always feeding people, and she was generous with her resources.

She loved the outdoors, hiking, camping and going to the family’s cabin in Chama. She was free-spirited, loved to laugh and to make others laugh. Her passion for and knowledge of horses was deep and wide.

The reverend led additional prayers, including The Lord’s Prayer and the Commendation as he held his hand over the beautiful wooden box, made by her father Tom, that held Amanda’s ashes.

“Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Amanda. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.”

The hymn “He Will Raise You Up On Eagles Wings” played over the sound system. Then a photo montage/video tribute with pictures of Amanda was projected onto the screen. The prayer card included a QR code that enables those with a QR code reader on a smart phone to see the video online. The pictures and music were very moving, prompting many in the chapel to tears.

A balloon launch took place after the service. 36 balloons, one balloon for each year of Amanda’s life, were distributed as people left the chapel. Attendees were invited to write their thoughts and prayers on the balloons, to release them into the sky in one mass launch. Some of the messages read “Be Happy” “You will be missed” “Amanda Rocks” and “Ride the Clouds.”

May Amanda Dillon ride the clouds. If you’d like to share any thoughts or stories, please post in the comment box below.

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