My Story
Welcome to our CaringBridge site. After a year-long cancer journey, Kathleen Ross passed away at City of Hope 5/24/09. Memorials will take place at Santa Monica Meeting June 13 and at Torrance UMC June 27. For more info. contact her husband Anthony Manousos at friendsbul@aol.com.
Journal
Saturday, July 4, 2009 4:47 PM, CDT
Dear family and friends,
This will be my last entry on this caringbridge blog. After last week's amazing memorial for Kathleen (about which I will say more later), I feel it's time to lay down this blog and move on.
I have started a new blog at http://laquaker.blogspot.com/, which will focus mainly on the interfaith and peace work that I am involved with. As I seek to follow the leadings of the Spirit, I will continue to carry Kathleen in my heart, and she will continue to inspire me (and others) to "walk cheerfully over the earth answering that of God in everyone." Thank you, Kathleen, for lighting up our lives!
I am very grateful to all of you who have accompanied Kathleen and me on our cancer journey. Your support and love have made a huge difference.
Last week a beautiful and moving memorial for Kathleen took place at Torrance UMC, where she served as associate pastor twenty years ago. Around 300 people attended, including Bishop Mary Ann Swenson and numerous clergy who knew and loved Kathleen.
Tributes were given by Laurel Gord (a Quaker), John Ishvardas Abdallah (a Sufi Muslim), Sara Dickens (Walteria UMC), Wilma Ryder (First Torrance UMC Filipino Fellowship), Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, and various family members including Kathleen's brother Jim, her father Jim, her 7-year-old nephew, and of course, her husband, yours truly.
A dozen hymns were sung--all picked by Kathleen--including "Shall We Gather at the River," "Sing wth All the Saints in Glory," "Spirit Song," "Hymn of Promise," and "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Roni Kuester, Kathleen's friend from Hungtington Beach Community UMC, sang her original song "Changing" (which helped convince Kathleen she was ready for the changes that marriage would entail).
The service ended with David Mackenzie (a Quaker) playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. I found this selection especially moving since this was what my mother requested at her funeral. Kathleen no doubt wanted me to make this connection since she was the minister at my mother's funeral.
At the reception following the memorial, I showed a powerpoint of Kathleen's life to the tune of the rousing C & W hit "God is good all the time." The rowdy and upbeat music seemed perfect counterpoint to Kathleen's joyous life.
Meghan, the 11-year-old daughter of Kathleen's cousin Karen Hood, sang a beautiful song about Noah and the dove that he released when the flood waters abated.
As if that wasn't enough, our dear friend Robin organized a "dove release" in which 60 white homing doves soared into the sky to symbolize Kathleen's soul soaring home to God.
It was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul who touched many lives and warmed many hearts.
People came from far and wide to take part in this memorial. Her family members came from Oregon, Missouri, Texas, and Mississippi. My sister Elizabeth flew in from New Jersey. The person who came the farthest was her childhood friend Greg Yager, an architect who came all the way from China!
Peope of diverse religious faiths were present along with the Methodists. Homeless people came as well as those who are well off.
I was grateful to have the opportunity to bond more closely with Kathleen's family, who are wonderful people and have been a great support during this difficult time.
After the memorial, I plunged into moving my stuff from my old apartment in Santa Monica to my new place six miles away in Culver City. I couldn't have managed without the help of Shanae Diaz, a young progressive Catholic woman I have come to know through the Parliament of World's Religions. Shanae was one of the dedicated and hardworking young people who helped organize the youth component for our April 19th Pre-Parliament Event at the Soka Gakkai Center in Santa Monica. She recently graduated from Laverne University with a major in religion and works for the college. She brought with her three stapling football players to help with the move. After I paid them for their labors, I offered to pay Shanae for all her help but she refused, saying she did it because she is my friend. I was touched and very grateful.
I feel so blessed to have such friends as I begin my new life. God truly is good, all the time!
In loving friendship,
Anthony
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