Roseann Allen-Matthews - Obituary

From the Log Cabin Democrat comes a lovely obituary of Roseann:

Roseann Allen-Matthews, 56, of Little Rock, died of kidney failure Nov. 21, 2009.

She was born Sept. 17, 1953, in Crossett, the daughter of John Twyman Allen and Joann Tatum Allen.

Preceded in death by her dear parents, Roseann is survived by her beloved husband and devoted caretaker, Gary L. Matthews; two brothers, John Charles Allen with wife Jenny Lind Allen of Crossett and Kenneth Andrew Allen with wife Regina Allen of Jacksonville, Fla.; three nephews, John Matthew Allen and wife Kathryn, Ross Allen and Tate Allen; two nieces, Melissa Allen Clayton and husband David and Sarah Allen; three great-nephews; one great-niece; a cousin, Lee Bell Moore; god-daughter, Tiffany King; and dear friends, Dale Helton, Mike and Kelly King, Doug Ward and many others too numerous to mention.

Roseann graduated high school from San Marcos Academy, San Marcos, Texas, in 1971 and attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway where she majored in history, speech and theatre arts.

She was a member of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Conway where she helped start several ministries including a food bank and prison ministry program.

She was also a lay Eucharistic minister.

Nothing was more important to Roseann than family and friends, many losses only reinforced that in her heart.

She met her best friend and perfect match in wit and intelligence when she met Gary Matthews.

Roseann possessed “old soul” wisdom along with her wonderful wit, sense of humor, intelligence and memory.

Her laugh was uplifting.

She always had a sense of the divine in good times and bad.

She could see beyond the obvious.

As a voracious reader she was continually seeking, studying and learning.

As she searched for understanding and answers she learned to embrace the process and find peace and comfort in the questions.

She was a spirit driven person who had great faith, peace of mind and gratitude in the midst of pain and suffering, even death.

Roseann loved people especially the disenfranchised.

Her life was informed by a scripture from Matthew 25:40: I tell you this, Anything you did for one of my brothers, however humble, you did for Me. One of her favorite books was The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, in it, the much loved but shabby and aging Skin Horse says, “Once you are real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.” Roseann was Real and she will be Real forever.

Roseann and Gary would like to thank Dr. Shane Kimball, Arkansas Hospice, St. Vincent Dialysis Center, the Rev. Teri Daily, the Rev. Peggy Hays, The Right Rev. Greg Rickel, and the Venerable Joyce Hardy for their kind care and support.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 925 Mitchell St. in Conway, at 1 p.m. Wednesday officiated by the Rev. Teri Daily and Lay Eucharistic ministers Kelley King and Jim Fowler.

Honorary Pallbearers are Dale Helton, Mike King, John M. Allen, Blake Byrd, Pierre Antoine and Doug Ward.

In lieu of flowers, Roseann has asked that donations be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 925 Mitchell St., Conway, AR 72034, Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12, Little Rock, AR 72204, or the charity of your choice.

Cremation arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.

I hope that the Log Cabin Democrat forgives me for copying the entire obituary, but it's perfect and beautiful, and I wanted to share it with all my readers. About the picture, isn't Roseann gorgeous?

Thanks to Sue for sending me the link and for being a faithful correspondent throughout Roseann's illness. This blog couldn't run without people like Sue and others like her who keep me informed.

All Is Well, TBTG

The cataract surgery is over, and all went well. As I was waiting in pre-op to be sedated, I began to fret and get anxious. I gave myself a good talking to, saying (to myself), "You've been through this surgery before, and you can do it again." I answered myself, and said, "Yes, I can!" At that moment a picture of "The Little Engine That Could" popped into my head, and I began to say over and over (to myself), "I--think--I--can, I--think--I--can". I calmed down immediately and stayed calm until I was sedated and wheeled into the operating room. The surgeon kept up a running commentary about what he was doing, and I stayed calm throughout the procedure and found the experience fascinating and completely different from the surgery on my left eye. I'd guess that the doctor did the commentary through the first surgery, but I was too freaked out to notice.

Thanks be to God, the medical staff, and to all of you who prayed and sent love and good thoughts my way. I had my little miracle with "The Little Engine That Could". I read the story to my children and my grandchildren. One of my grandsons liked to hear the story over and over. I'd go up to three times and then say, "Enough! Another day."

Funeral Services For Roseann Allen-Matthews

From Gary at Facebook:

Funeral Services for Roseann will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway, AR, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Her ashes will be interred in a Helman's Mayonnaise jar (per her request) in the St. Peter's Columbarium followed by a "Farewell" party in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to attend. Roseann's... life was guided by the scripture from Matthew 25:40: "I tell you this, Anything you did for one of my brothers, however humble, you did for Me." She loved this song and it will be played at the funeral.

"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, Moondance

"Quick Before I Forget"

My dear friend, Paul the BB, beat me to the punch and saved me a whole load of trouble on a busy day. I intended to post asking for prayers for my surgery tomorrow, but I'll simply copy and paste Paul's lovely post and image.

Tomorrow Mimi goes in for cataract surgery in her right eye. She is being very brave and the previous round went well, but prayers for peace of mind, a safe trip to and from NOLA, and very successful surgery would not go amiss.

I am putting this up right now because I am so scattered poor Mimi was going to have to remind me and she has enough to do.

A blessing for Mimi and anyone else who needs a blessing this evening:

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen

--the BB

Thank you, dear Paul. My fantastic readers, you may leave your love notes here or over there.

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.

"Ad-o-Rama"

From Irenic Thoughts.

Ad-o-Rama

Below is an advertisement which The Episcopal Church ran in a full page add in USA Today:

I posted a challenge on Facebook for ideas to do a quick and dirty mock up of another ad for The Episcopal Church. Two friends from seminary responded with ideas last night which I worked up into ads. On any of these, click the photo to see a larger version, which will be easier to read.

I like the ad above best of those shown on the web page. We can do better than the print-only ad in USA Today. A picture is worth.... You know the rest. View the other ads at the King of Peace Episcopal Church website, and voice your opinion.

Thanks to Ann for the link.

GOODBYE MOM

A young man shopping in a supermarket noticed a little old lady following him around. If he stopped, she stopped. Furthermore she kept staring at him.

She finally overtook him at the checkout, And she turned to him and said, "I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease; it's just that you look so much like my late son."

He answered, "That's okay."

"I know it's silly, but if you'd call out "Good bye, Mom" as I leave the store, It would make me feel so happy."

She then went through the checkout, And as she was on her way out of the store, The man called out, "Goodbye, Mom."

The little old lady waved, and smiled back at him.

Pleased that he had brought a little sunshine into someone's day, he went to pay for his Groceries.

"That comes to $121.85," said the clerk..

"Wow, how come so much ... I only bought 5 items!?!?!?!?"

The clerk replied, "Yeah, but your Mother said you'd be paying for her things, too."


Don't trust little Old Ladies!!!

From Fran, who says:

A terrible joke you may wish to post - blame me.

And I do blame Fran. I rarely miss an opportunity to legitimately shift blame.

Forgiveness And Pornography

Margaret writes powerfully on forgiveness and pornography (no, not that pornography) at Leave It Lay Where Jesus Flang It, reflecting on today's Gospel reading from the Lectionary:

Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22)

Something Good About Mary

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) will vote "yes" to move the health care bill forward. Good for you, Mary. In no way does this vote signal what her final vote on the bill will be. Still, it's an excellent start.

The Republicans presently drone on and on about abortion coverage in the health care bill, Why doesn't a Democrat ask the Republicans if they wish to exclude coverage for surgery for ectopic pregnancies from the bill?

UPDATE: Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), another holdout, announced that she will vote "yes" to move the health care bill forward.

UPDATE 2: The Republican senators' scare-tactics speeches against the health care reform bill are despicable: "Everyone will be on Medicaid...we'll have medical gulags...we'll wait six months for medical care..." One ugly lie after another.

Fr Jim Jensen's Requiem Eucharist - Part 2

Fran attended the requiem Eucharist for Fr Jim Jensen, husband of our friend, Kathy, who blogs as Klady at Lady of Silences. Part 2 of Fran's account of the beautiful service may be found at There Will Be Bread. Her account is even lovelier than her Part 1.

As I said in the comments:

Fran, thank you for your eloquent and beautiful account of Jim's requiem Eucharist. Your words move me beyond what I can express.

Thank you for representing all of us who would have wanted to be there with Kathy and her family and all those who love Jim.