Moving On

They entombed my mother yesterday at Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Ambler, Pennslyvania. I wasn't able to attend the funeral. But I've been to the well-landscape, 160 acre park twice before. A tree-lined drive leads up to the 174 foot Tower of Chimes and mausoleum where my mother now rest. The beauty of it is such that you will sometimes see weddings, proms, and picnickers on the grounds. I remember the rhododendrons, roses, and sculptures and seeing a bushy-tailed red fox scamper across our path when I visited the park one autumn day.

Mom was buried in a oak casket on the seventh and highest tier. It's a metaphor of my parents' life that they will be forever untouchable and unreachable-- closest to heaven and furthest from us in death as well as life.

The memorial service was held at my parent's church of a half century, Berarchah in Cheltenham. Sister-in-law Joyce Wik wrote the following bulletin for the service.

Lucinda Elizabeth Wik
October 12, 1918 - December 1, 2008

Much Beloved Wife
Treasured Mother
Precious Grandmother
Cherished Great-Grandmother

Lucinda Elizabeth Wik, 90, died Monday, December 1, 2008 at Calvary Fellowship Homes in Lancaster, PA. Born in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia on October 12, 1918, she was the daughter of Frances and Jane Eliza (Fielding) White. Lucinda began her professional career as a nurse, rising to a position of authority at the Brisbane Women’s Hospital. She met her husband of 56 years, Harold T. Wik, on the mission field. Lucinda was a devoted Christian who served the Lord as a missionary with China Inland Mission, later called Overseas Missionary Fellowship, in China and West Malaysia from 1948 – 1982. During that time she was involved with pioneer Sunday school work, Bible correspondence, visitation, and Christian education. She demonstrated a deep love for the Chinese people among whom she ministered. She raised four precious children: Paul Raymond, Philip Granville, Anne Marie, and Timothy Alan. She became a naturalized American citizen on March 5, 1975. In 1982 she retired, living in Roslyn, PA until May 2008. She was an active member of Berachah Church, Cheltenham, leading women’s Bible studies, visiting shut-ins, and assisting in Vacation Bible School.

In addition to her husband, she will be greatly missed by her children Paul (Joyce) of Downingtown, PA, Philip (Nancy) of Scottsdale, AZ, Anne (Wayne) Birch of Hatboro, PA and Timothy of Elkins Park, PA. A sister, Ruth White of Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, survives her, as do many loving nieces and nephews. Seven grandchildren: Timothy (Holly), Peter, Rebekah (Jacob) Sauer, David Birch, Zachary, Jennifer Birch, and Benjamin; and four great-grandchildren: Gregor, Lucinda, Valentine, and Karina will also miss her tender affection.

Lucinda was much more than a sum of her parts. Everyone who met her was captivated by her warm personality, her insightful wit, her compassionate character, her godly demeanor, and her servant’s heart. Until shortly before her entry into glory, she was working on making Christmas gifts for her grandchildren. She was a faithful prayer warrior who could be depended upon to call with words of encouragement as she prayed. She loved to laugh and bring joy to others. At CFH the staff called her “lovey-dovey.” We can say with confidence that she was greeted with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord” as she entered heaven.

The family requests that contributions in Lucinda’s name be made to the Pocket Testament League, P.O. Box 800, Lititz, PA 17543. Online condolences may be made through the website: www.youngfuneralhome.com.

Service of Memories

Welcome to family and friends Roy Eichner
Opening Prayer Roy Eichner
Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness
Prayer of Comfort Pastor Brian Wood
New Testament Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Hymn: Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!
Tributes from Friends Pastor Ron Vallette
Obituary Pastor Ron Vallette
Tributes from Family Members
o Jenny’s Poem
o Tim’s Poem
o Philip’s Epilogue
o Joyce’s Tribute
o Trio: Paul, Joyce, & Rebekah - It Is Well with My Soul
o In Lucinda’s own words – Three Poems
o Words from Harold

Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-13
Message Pastor Brian Wood

Guests are invited to share some light refreshments with the family in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the service. You may greet Harold and the family at that time.

The family would like to thank Pastors Brian Wood and Ron Vallette and the Berachah church family for their friendship over the years, their support during Lucinda’s infirmity, and their comfort offered at this time of her passing. Special thanks to those who have helped today: Roy Eichner for leading the singing, Peter Hilliard for providing the music, Nancy Matczak for organizing refreshments, and Bill Barry for set up.

The loss of a parent is no small thing. It's easy to feel that's an experience that has happened to no one before. But Mom wanted us to live in the now and the future while not forgetting the past. Several years ago, my Persian cat that I had for 16 years died. I grieved for Rex, as he had wrapped himself around my heart for such a long time and during a time when I was single. But after one year mom correctly rebuked me in my wallowing of grief. There is a time for tears and sadness, and each person will need to go through this process at their own pace. But, if Mom's life has any meaning at all, it is to celebrate life and family and not be bogged into a morass of looking backwards like Lot's wife. There will be a time to move on. For me, that time is not quite yet. However, perhaps the best thing I can do for myself and something that my mother would want for me to do is for me to embrace everything that has enriched my life-- the very things that I've tried to reflect on this blog-- my love for family, ideas, and nature. So that's what I will do, out of the deepest respect for my beloved mother.

Mom had strong literary skills and she always encouraged me in my writing. She kept diaries and journals for much of her life, corresponded weekly to friends and family from around the world, and loved and wrote poetry. The following poem that she wrote was read at the service on Saturday.

" Men must endure, their going hence even as their coming hither," writes Shakespeare, and my mother did so with stalwart grace. Perhaps the best epitaph that I can think of for my mother is another line from Shakespeare, from Prospero, in The Tempest, in praising his daughter Miranda: "Thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise and make it halt behind her."