Celebrating the Life
of
Joann D. Eldridge
August 31, 1939 – January 26, 2021
May 22, 2021
Preservation Hall
Wellfleet, MA
Welcome Ruth Ostenson
Welcome and Reflections - Ruth Ostenson
The Dance Vocalist: Ella Mae Dixon
The Dance - Sung by Ella Mae Dixon
In Blackwater Woods Read by Dikke Hansen
(A Poem by Mary Oliver)
Look, the trees
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars
of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,
the long tapers
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders
of the ponds,
and every pond,
no matter what its name is, is
nameless now.
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars
of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,
the long tapers
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders
of the ponds,
and every pond,
no matter what its name is, is
nameless now.
Every year
everything
I have ever learned
in my lifetime
leads back to this:
the fires and the black river of loss
whose other side is salvation,
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
everything
I have ever learned
in my lifetime
leads back to this:
the fires and the black river of loss
whose other side is salvation,
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
you must be able
to do three things:
To love what is mortal;
to hold it against your bones
knowing your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
to hold it against your bones
knowing your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
Personal Reflection Joy Barry
Personal Reflection - Joy Barry
Blues for a Photograph Read by Judith Gardner
(A Poem for Joann by Jim Fay)
Simple framing
Of objects
Colors spread
Filling the space
The mind saw
What some could not
Coastal points of view
Visions never unseen
Bicycles beached near windmills
The momentum never slowing
One final focus
Before the shutter snapped
Leaving positive space
For all who knew
Personal Reflection Barbara Braman
Personal Reflection - Barbara Braman
Personal Reflection Susan Gingras
Personal Reflection - Susan Gingras
What Matters Most Vocalist: Ella Mae Dixon
What Matters Most - Sung by Ella Mae Dixon
Eulogy Heather Wilson
Eulogy - Heather Wilson
Memories of Joann Open to All A microphone will be provided for those who wish to share personal thoughts, memories and reflections about Joann.
Memories - Part 1
Memories - Part 2
The Death of the Beloved Read by Tina Johnson
(Excerpts from a poem by John O’Donahue)
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.
Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
Moment of Silence
I’ll See you In my Dreams Vocalist: Ella Mae Dixon
I'll See You In My Dreams - Sung by Ella Mae Dixon
Acknowledgements
Officiant: Heather Wilson
Vocalist: Ella Mae Dixon
Pianist: Mike Flannagan
Caterer: David Horton
Flowers: Wildflower of Provincetown
Venue: Wellfleet Preservation Hall(Justine Alten – Private Events Manager)
Special thanks to Judith Gardner and John Ward for providing photos of Joann used in the memorial video.
Memorial Website:
Photo by Judith Gardner
Thank you, Joann.
Rest in Peace