Hello, dear CB friends. It is a bittersweet and powerful gift when dying and death increase lifegiving relationship. That surely happened as we moved toward one another in myriad ways in the past months, and most recently as we gathered to celebrate Jane's life.

It was a piling on of love and respect for Jane that so many were able to be be present--in person and via Zoom--for the Celebration. I am so blessed to have friends and family who participated as leaders in the Celebration--on and off camera. They gave selflessly of their hearts and talents and provided comfort for all of us. I haven't fallen (literally or metaphorically 😌), because I have been surrounded by countless expressions of support. It was a special treasure that a good number of family and friends from both "sides"--Jane's and mine--met each other for the first time and enjoyed meaningful time together.

Thanks to the expertise of PP residents Lew Fry and Gene Boutilier, a recording of the Celebration of Jane's life is now available. The video is on Vimeo, and can be accessed at https://Vimeo.com/730713472

Here is the program for the Celebration.  Cover photo is above, or maybe below--not sure how it will display on the CB site.

Celebration of Life for Jane Elizabeth Heckles

6:00 p.m.  Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Porter Circle, Pilgrim Place, Claremont, CA

Gathering Music                                                                             Dave Lutz

Welcome                                                                                            The Pastors 

The Community in Song: “Gathering Chant”                Lisa Lally & Elaine Kirkland, song leaders

                                                                                                                     Words and music by Phil Porter

Gathered here in the mystery of this hour.

Gathered here in one strong body.

Gathered here in the struggle and the power.

Spirit, draw near.

A Time of Release & Opening Prayers                               The Pastors

Music: “Open Me”                                                                          Lisa Lally & Elaine Kirkland

                                                                                                                  Words by Marcia McFee; music by Elaine Bates Kirkland

Form me

Hold me

Open me

Unfold me

Unfurl me

Untether me

Uncurl me

Uncrease me

Unwrap me

The One We Celebrate

Remembrances

Kathleen Greider

William MacKay-Heckles

David MacKay

Catherine MacKay

Emily Greider & Kelsey Greider Ridinger

Wendy Vander Hart

Dan Romero

Remembering through Images & Song: A Video Montage

The song accompanying the images is from the musical “Wicked,” which explores—from the point of view of the witches—what was happening in Oz before Dorothy arrives from Kansas. “For Good” is a duet between Glinda (AKA the Good Witch) & Elphaba (AKA the Wicked Witch of the West), in which they refuse to be divided.                                                                                                                                                              Stephen Schwartz, composer

The Community in Song: “Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire” Lisa Lally & Elaine Kirkland, song leaders

                                                                  Tune: O Waly, Waly; Words by Hal Hopson, © 1972 Hope Publishing Company

Though I may speak with bravest fire,

and have the gift to all inspire,

and have not love;

my words are vain;

as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,

and striving so my love profess,

but not be giv'n

by love within,

the profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,

our spirits long to be made whole.

Let inward love

guide every deed;

by this we worship, and are freed.

Biblical Wisdom                                                                                       Krista Betz

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 & Romans 12:9-18, texts chosen by Jane & Kathleen for their wedding ceremony in 2008.

Witness                                                                                                            The Pastors

Prayer of Thanksgiving & the Prayer of Jesus

Commendation

Music: “Joy in the Morning”                                                                Lisa Lally & Elaine Kirkland

Text Ps. 30:5b; music by Elaine Bates Kirkland

There’ll be joy in the morning.

After the tears in the night, oh yes!

There’ll be joy in the morning.

Joy comes in the morning on the wings of the light.

Benediction                                                                                                    The Pastors 

Music for Going On                                                                                      Dave Lutz

Participants

• Dave Lutz, longtime friend of Kathleen and Jane
• Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland and Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz, co-senior pastors of Claremont United Church of Christ, where Jane and Kathleen are members
• Elaine Kirkland, Jane’s colleague in ministry and friend
• Lisa Lally, Jane’s friend and colleague in singing
• Kathleen Greider, Jane’s spouse and life partner
• William MacKay-Heckles, Jane’s brother
• David MacKay, Jane’s nephew
• Catherine MacKay, Jane’s niece
• Emily Greider and Kelsey Greider Ridinger, Jane’s nieces
• Wendy Vander Hart, Jane‘s pal and colleague in ministry
• Dan Romero, Jane’s colleague in ministry and friend
• Krista Betz, Jane’s colleague in ministry and friend

Memorial Gifts

Contributions in honor of Jane’s life are welcome to the Resident Health and Support Program (RHSP) at Pilgrim Place, a major focus of Jane’s charitable giving and volunteer work. RHSP has become a defining feature of this intentional community’s life. Originally designed to assist residents with burdensome medical expenses, it has been expanded over the years to address the most basic elements of living in retirement with dignity. Residents, volunteers, and staff contribute in many ways to the fund by making direct gifts, working year-round on Festival activities, and by including RHSP in their estate planning. All residents are eligible for RHSP assistance according to these guidelines when the need and circumstance arise. You can give today by going to the table at the entrance gate to Porter Patio or go online (https://www.pilgrimplace.org/giving).

Thanksgiving

Jane and Kathleen moved to Pilgrim Place in order to live out their lives in intentional community, where generous, respectful, and mutual support make life, dying, and death more meaningful and dignified. And so it has been during these months of turmoil, loss, and going on.

There are no words adequate to describe how the community at Pilgrim Place and beyond have accompanied Jane and Kathleen and then worked together to create this Celebration of Jane’s life. More could be named. In addition to the participants, of course…

• Pilgrim Place Services: Health Services staff, of course, who were skilled and respectful without exception; all the staff, especially Buildings and Grounds and Dining Services
• The Covid Response Team, with Janet Vandevender coordinating precautions at the Celebration
• Sights and Sounds, especially Lew Fry and Gene Boutilier
• Alison Stendahl, whose technological skill caringly transformed the elements chosen by Kathleen into the video montage
• Jasmine Tomita, Office Manager at CUCC
• Members of the family, for their artful Table and Flower arrangement
• The self-formed “Pod” of friends, active now for months: Ann Taves, Kathy Black, Betty Clements, Chris Blackburn, Bear Ride, Susan Craig, Margaret Burdge, Mary Kraus, Pat Hynds, Bill Clements, Ray Paloutzian
• Family and friends who have gone the extra mile, literally and metaphorically, to be with Jane and Kathleen in recent months, especially Bill MacKay, Dave MacKay, Emily Greider, Scott Landis, Sara Treat, and Wendy Vander Hart
• Ellie Maher, steadfast friend to Kathleen for almost 50 years. Over these last months, with her loving heart and generously abundant energy, Ellie has accompanied Kathleen every step of the way.