DAY 85: COMMUNITY FUNERAL CHOIR

There is a wonderful group of people here in Marion County that has made it their mission to provide beautiful funeral music for any family who needs them. No local hero here will go unsung, if it's left up to this group of dedicated individuals!

Many people have those within their own family with musical talent who will step forward at the death of a loved one -- but many more do not. And this group of musicians is standing by, ready for the call.

I just can't compliment them enough.

I've seen them at many local funerals. There seems to be a small core group of members, but there are occasional additions or substitutions among the group. Somehow, they are so flexible and so good that they seem to work it out every time.

Just this week, Deacon Joe Dant took up his mandolin to help out with the music at Ricky Spalding's funeral -- and what a wonderful addition that was!

The next day, Deacon Dant was in official "Deacon" mode, and left the music to others as he gave the eulogy for Gertrude Brady's funeral.

Two funerals back to back..and I noted a different keyboard player at each service. Both were wonderful, but different from each other. Yet the core group of this choir rolled with it and provided beautiful music for all. 

What a great ministry! 

 

DAY 84: A COUNTRY UNDERTAKER

This is one of my favorite pictures of my father.

I was walking up into the choir loft at St. Francis of Assisi Church -- there was standing room only at the funeral of Jack Brahm, who had died so young.

I ascended the stairs, but looked back and saw my dad seated there at the bottom of the stairs by the back door of the church and my heart was just taken with the scene.

As I mentioned in my last post, funerals in the country are different from city funerals.

Looking down on my dad that day, I just thought the way he looked there encompassed something important about the way we here in Marion County commemorate the deaths of our loved ones.

Here, every death is personal. Every passing, important.

DAY 83: A Sad Week for the St. Joe Community

I captured this photo of St. Joe Church on Mother's Day in 2003. It was just a beautiful day and the church and yard were in perfect condition. This is before all the recent work on the site and before the brand new Community Center was built next door.

I'm thinking of this place tonight because just this past week two very beloved people from the community passed away --- Ricky Spalding and Gertrude Brady.

There was a huge outpouring for both of their families - the kind of thing that seems to happen best in this day and age only in the country, where all the families know one another so very well.

Marion County is still a place where people take time out of busy lives to pay their respects at the funeral home and/or at the church services and burial and the big community meal afterward.

As far as I know, that kind of thing is very rare or just doesn't even exist any more in big cities. I read occasionally of some new "trend" in "convenient mourning" that is taking place elsewhere - for example,  "drive-thru" visitation (don't even have to leave your car - just drive by to view the deceased and punch in a condolence!)

When I see things like that, I realize why so many people who've lived away from here for years wish to come back home to Marion County for their final rest - to a place where people still really do care.

People here still stop what they are doing along the roadways when they realize a funeral procession is passing by. Some pull over to the side of the road. Guys wearing hats take them off and stand silently as a gesture of respect.

Small acts of kindness like that matter A LOT when you are a grieving family member passing by! Those small acts of kindness are so appreciated.

Anyway, this has been a very sad week for the St. Joe Community.

A beautiful, wonderful mother and wife passed away. And a guy who was everyone's friend and also a loving father and husband left, as well.

Both had their "crosses" to bear in the form of long time physical challenges. I am impressed so much with both of them for carrying their crosses valiantly, and most of all for keeping the love going.

Rest in peace, Ricky & Gertrude! You both will be missed very much.

We hope you'll both be pulling for us down here!

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DAY 82: HUMBLE HOME

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home...

Check out this mailbox - it says "Humble"!

 And now check out the house. Yep! Pretty humble...

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This home along Barber's Mill Road in Lebanon certainly does appear to be a "Humble" home, in more ways than one.

But I learned something about this place from our former Marion County Judge Executive, Dave Hourigan.

According to Dave, the Humble family owns this property, and more - all over Kentucky. Their holdings here extend from the aforementioned road to behind Marion County High School; and hidden from view (except from behind MCHS - if you look closely) is one of the oldest and most majestic homes in our county. You can't get to the "real" Humble house from any open road...

Dave Hourigan told me once that he would sell everything he owned if he only had a chance to buy that property!  I will never forget that.

The old house is significant to his family.

Others with family ties to the historic residence have come from out of state to Marion County with hopes of visiting the old homestead, but I don't know of anyone who has been successful in touring that house. I made an effort for one such person from ?New Hampshire? who was so hoping to see it; I was finally able to speak to one of the Humble family members, but they were not interested in giving any tours of the property. So that was that.

The Humbles are, reportedly, quite well-to-do and reclusive.  I'm not even sure if any of them live in Marion County any more.

I wonder how they came to own these acres here?

It's just another mystery to be solved and a little something to wonder about... 

One of these days when I am feeling extra brave maybe I will wonder on back and try to photograph the big house...maybe...

DAY 81: MISS FRIEDA

This is my friend, Frieda Tate. Can't you just see the personality popping out all over in this picture?

She is the one who named Steve Jeffries "JESUS OVER LEBANON" after his unexpected ascent to the top of the St. Augustine Church tower (see previous entry).

I haven't seen Frieda for a long long time. I hope she is doing okay.

I could say so many things about her but I'll just be at my very briefest and say she was a sweet and interesting person when I knew her. Gotta love her!