Sunday, November 22, 2009

Roseann Allen-Matthews - R. I. P


From Roseann's husband Gary to a friend on Facebook:

Roseann's Spirit shed its mortal shackles at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. She would want you all to know that she went quietly and painlessly thanks to the loving care of the Hospice staff. She would want all of you to know that your expressions of love and well-wishes these last weeks made her passage much easier and that she loved and cherished you all. Somewhere tonight a new journey began.

Roseann, we will miss you. Gary, we send our love and our prayers. To the hospice staff, to Teri, Roseann's priest, and to all who ministered to Roseann during her last illness, we send our thanks.

Roseann's words in anticipation of the recent Holy Eucharist at her home:

I believe that I am living in a state of grace at this moment. I could write pages on how this feels and how it affects my perception but I am far too inarticulate to give it justice. My spirit feels so light and blessed. Thank you all for everything.

Tonight's HE (Holy Eucharist) will be glorious and I hope you will all join me in spirit.

Love, Roseann

We joined you in spirit at your Eucharist, Roseann. We love you, and you live in our hearts. We await the day when we, with you, shall see God face to face, and we shall all be together. Pray for us here on earth.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Roseann. 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.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

------

Let us also pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in your mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

UPDATE: Many thanks to Sue for letting me know and for her faithfulness in keeping me and you informed about Roseann.

We sang this as our closing hymn at church today. I think Roseann would approve.

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18 comments:

  1. susankayNovember 22, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    Prayers of sadness and joy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Frank Remkiewicz aka “Tree”November 22, 2009 at 9:07 AM

    Mimi,

    The love of God and the love of friends makes death a new beginning instead of a final end.

    Bless you for your love and care and may God rock Roseann in his cradle we call heaven.

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  3. LeonardNovember 22, 2009 at 9:15 AM

    Amen (love the hat...a present all wrapped up for the ages)

    Love to family and prayers for peace and peace of mind,

    Leonardo Ricardo

    ReplyDelete
  4. KJNovember 22, 2009 at 10:09 AM

    Amen.

    I love that Roseann kept herself "wired" and blogging, with the help of friends, nearly to the end.

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  5. Rev. RaggsdaleNovember 22, 2009 at 10:15 AM

    That's probably my favorite picture of her. She will be missed. Prayers for her and for comfort for Gary.

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  6. EHCNovember 22, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon her.

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  7. PriscillaNovember 22, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    "In the arms of angels, fly away from here. . . ."

    And prayers for you too, Grandmere Mimi, for your faithful witness to Roseanne and journey with Christ.

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  8. Erika BakerNovember 22, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    Thank you for that beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman.

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  9. motherameliaNovember 22, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    The great cloud of witnesses is joined by another glorious voice.

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  10. Tim ChestertonNovember 22, 2009 at 2:25 PM

    A very appropriate song, too - Andrae Crouch does such a great job of it.

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  11. Brian RNovember 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM

    Prayers rising in unison with you

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  12. CounterlightNovember 22, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    Prayers for Gary, for St. Peter's parish, for all who knew and loved her.

    And Saint Roseann, pray for us who are still here blundering our way through the world.

    May she rest in peace with the saints in light.

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  13. FranNovember 22, 2009 at 6:14 PM

    I was not on the computer all day, so I am just learning this. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

    So many prayers for Gary!

    I can just imagine Roseann, free from her mortal body, falling deep into the heart of God.

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  14. kladyNovember 22, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    Indeed, the cloud of witnesses has added another. Prayers for Gary and all who have loved Roseann.

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  15. Elizabeth KaetonNovember 22, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    Amen. Amen. And again, I say, Amen.

    Thanks for that video, Mimi. It lifted my spirits.

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  16. SCGNovember 22, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    Eternal rest in peace for Roseann and may God's love be with her family and all her friends.

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  17. kishneviNovember 22, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    "And she went into the river, singing, and none could understand what she said"

    May she be bound up in the bonds of eternal life, and may Gary and the rest of us be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

    ReplyDelete
  18. ITNovember 22, 2009 at 11:07 PM

    Glad to know that her suffering is relieved. Talk about grace... hugs and warm thoughts to Gary and their friends and family.

    ReplyDelete

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