By Kim Ae-ran Together with religious sisters from the local community, I went to the Wake and the funeral Mass offered in loving memory of Elizabeth Ann Kammien who passed away on June 29. I remember her with smiles. From time to time, Ann came to our bookshop with her brother Dan Compton, one of our cooperators.
Dan had to help her walk because she couldn’t get around by herself. Once very active as a physical therapist, she suffered from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease or Motor Neuron Disease) for the past three years. Paying a visit to the Wake, I could feel the warm-hearted atmosphere of her family.
Lots of photos were displayed, and the screen was constantly played in memory of her life. Her wedding album and an article about her generous hospitality toward exchange students were also displayed. All these parts of her life bear witness to my belief that our very existence is to be celebrated.
The urn for her cremated ashes revealed that she enjoyed listening to the birds singing in the trees. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou, 1928-2014).
This quotation written on her little holy card invited me to reflect on her life in kindness and gentleness. How beautiful and touching it is for her bereaved family to appreciate the faithful and friendly accompaniment of their acquaintances! The family expressed: “We are forever grateful to those who sent loving cards, texts and flowers, took Ann on walks and coffee dates, took Ann to doctors’ appointments, provided delicious food and wine, stretched and cared for Ann, helped Ann in the garden, danced in the kitchen to 'Georgie Girl,' listened to Billy Joel and Neil Diamond on repeat, worked on puzzles with Ann, organized Ann’s clothes and items, made Ann laugh during this hard journey with ALS.” As Ann’s family realized the true meaning of peace through their enduring and challenging accompaniment, peace does not mean being in a place where there is no noise, trouble, suffering or hard work.
Peace means “to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in our heart”. Death reminds us of living our present life with a joyful appreciation. We don’t know what will happen in the next moment; we just live every single moment to the fullest.
Cemetries are very visible in our daily life. They are either along the street or on little hills. Familiar burial sites tell us that death is not a matter of keeping distance from us but a reality that will come true for every one of us someday.
Death is a necessary part of our life inviting us to reflect on living a transitory life on earth. At the 16 key historic sites along the 2.5 mile-long Freedom Trail in Boston, we can also see the peaceful presence of three burial grounds: Copp’s Hill Burying Ground established in 1659, the Granary Burying Ground founded in 1660 and King’s Chapel Burying Ground founded in 1686.
The goodwill of all souls is still present in the universe. They intercede for us, and we pray for their eternal rest. In this way, we live each moment in a faithful spirit of “communion” (spiritual union) all over the world.
How consoling and blissful it is! The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo), living the Good News and proclaiming it with various means of social communication..
