November 26, 2017                Totenfest                                             

         It has been my tradition, whether is has been on All Saints Day or on Totenfest, to remember those that have past in the last year. I usually do this by sharing parts of my eulogies for the past year. This year, we had 5 people who the pastors of this church officiated for, and so I asked pastor chuck Maney to share with me his remarks, so that we might reflect on them this morning.

Lou Emma Mannery

Rev. Chuck Maney wrote that Emma lived for many years in Chicago with her aunt. Her Aunt made sure that she was baptized and took her to church regularly. When her aunt’s health deteriorated, she came to live with more of her family in Sandwich. She was in the residential program at Open Door for over 20 years. Emma continued to love the opportunity to go to church.   

Emma was a caring soul. She was nicknamed “Grandma” because she tried to take care of those around her. She always seemed to find someone to care for and fuss over. Her cousin Keena, who was her constant friend and protector through the years, says that Emma tested at a 3-year-old developmental level, but that she lived at a higher level than the testing would acknowledge. She loved her Open Door friends, she loved to go shopping, and she loved to eat fried chicken. Oh, lets not forget, she loved the mailman, certain that he would bring her a check every time she saw him. “Gonna get mad money,” she would say.  

Keena says that Emma often talked about the “Big House.” In time Keena understood that Emma thought that heaven was a big house. Knowing how she loved her Open Door house mates, it is little wonder she would think of heaven as being a “Big House.” As I thought about Emma’s Big House, I thought of John’s gospel. 

Don Miller

Rev. Chuck Maney remembers Don as an example of someone with a great sense of family and community and commitment. Don was active in his church, and was a leader in the local Masons. The Masonic Lodge has long been known as an organization of men of faith and community awareness. Leadership in those ranks is indicative of a man of character and accomplishment. 

 The story of Don’s life begins with the friendships of his youth, and not a few stories of Hi-jnx. Then Don married Florence, and his lifetime commitments began. Unfortunately, Florence died way too soon, and Don, found himself living at home with his infant daughter Debbie, his grandmother, his parents, and his sister  They lived as a unit for nine years. There are plenty of advantages and plenty of challenges when living in close community. Today we are seeing an increasing number of multi-generation households. 

Don married Ruth. The sense of living commitment spread wider. They each brought a child into the marriage. Together, they added two more. Love and commitment held the family together, but it did not prevent dementia. Don cared for Ruth at home, and continued to faithfully attend to her needs once she entered the Nursing Home. Many Somonauk residents made sure I knew what an example of faithfulness Don set caring for Ruth. 

Finally, Don and Doris married. The tree of life and commitment continued to spread. They set up home in Arizona, and by multiple reports their Arizona home became a favorite vacation destination. They were regarded as great hosts, and fun people to be with. By all accounts, it was the commitment of Doris that enabled Don to live as long and as well as he was able. 

Duane Lackey

Duane Lackey passed away fairly soon after I arrived at Union as the pastor. I knew him as person who welcomed me to town and made me feel comfortable from his bed at the nursing home. As I spoke to others about Duane, they talked about him being someone who knew everyone, who was always waving at people. They told me that he was a good friend, someone you could count on. They told me about his walking point in Vietnam, and about looking up a friend who had gone into service. They told me about him being the town santa, about his playing a supporting role in so many community events, even his planning for an upcoming reunion. I love the story about how he got started as a Santa, taking over for someone who gave gifts to needy families.

Cindy of course told me about their meeting and the mouse game at the Sandwich fair. She told me them about hanging out together for a while with friends, then going on a first date, and Duane proposing to her. Cindy told me about his devotion to her, and to his family, and to his relatives. She told me about the friends he had, who were there for him as he battled cancer, driving him to numerous treatments.

Brian Tucker  

Brian Tucker passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, IL. In Brian’s life, the authenticity of Brian’s faith played out in the communities he was a part of. Not only was he part of a loving family, but he found a home and family at Open door. So much so, that at times when he was with his family, and was ready to leave, he would say he wanted to go home. And his family was not upset, but grateful, that he had a place he called home. In addition to this family, he had his church family, who he dearly loved, and with whom he steadfastly and faithfully gathered for worship. Through the life that came through this faith and through these communities, he ran, and swam, and hiked, and camped out, and danced, and loved music and sang. He knew friendships and love. He memorized Scriptures and Hymns. He loved the Sandwich fair, and participated in special Olympics. From the stories his family shared with me, he never let his troubles get him down, or keep him paralyzed, but lived a full and rich life, which they will remember, and for which he will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him.

James Wood

In my remembrance of James Wood, I recalled his life in the way he shared his Christian faith in the living of his live, greeting the children with a smile, having a genuine concern for them, listening, having common sense, and conducting himself with self control. In doing this, he became respected and loved the community in which they serve.

I also remembered his life in the church, he served as a deacon two terms, trustee four terms, and endowments 2 terms. He made and paid his pledge in January, and then gave to the church the rest of the year, over and above his pledge, many times anonymously. He bought tickets for church events, and handed them out. If he saw something at the church that needed to be done, he did it. When the church asked for volunteers, he didn’t assume it meant someone else, he assumed it meant him, and he followed through.

He spoke encouraging words to at least a dozen members of the church in their times of trouble, and probably a great many more. Numerous notes that I read, spoke of his thoughtfulness for others, and his quiet, unassuming spirit. And when his son passed, when many people would give up on their faith, his faith helped him to get through that time of tragedy, and he did not waiver in his commitment to God.

One of the more familiar texts for funerals comes from the 14^th chapter of the gospel of John. There Jesus tells us that he is going to prepare dwelling places for his disciples in his father’s mansions. I believe that these dwelling places are created in our earthly lives, through the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us. In those moments, we create moments that will live eternally, and into which we will enter, when we reach our heavenly homes. There we will be re-united with all who have gone before us, and live in the beauty and glory of those moments.

In each of those who passed this year, we saw this spirit of Christ in their lives. The moments of compassion, faithfulness, joy and love that created those dwelling places in which they now eternally rest. Moments which made a difference in our lives, and have made a difference in our communities. We have been truly blessed with their presence, and we give God thanks for each of them.