Two celebrations in Grand Rapids

OK, so technically we were in the greater Rockford or Comstock Park area but still just a 10-minute drive north of home.

The festivities involved getting together with various members of Susan's family at Clear Lake for lots of good food (think grilling chicken and pork), plenty of good drink but mostly just to be together to share stories of family news and recollections of absent loved ones.

First up was celebrating the Fourth of July, Independence Day. Susan and Bernice and I drove to Raybrook to pick up Aunt Fran and the four of us soon found ourselves sitting on the terrace overlooking Clear Lake.

It was a gorgeous day at the lake, perfect for losing oneself in the quiet of the trees and water.

l-r: Karen Hyde, Jennifer Galloway, Aunt Fran Van Halsema, Bernice Vandenberg

Susie and Laurie Ten Have-Chapman

Karen Hyde

Gordon Galloway, Scott's dad

Our second celebration was unplanned but closer to home as it were and arranged at the last minute by Susan's cousin Jennifer: celebrating the life of Susan's Aunt Frances Jean Vander May Van Halsema who passed into the next life on July 14.

All five of Fran's daughters were here to be with her at the end (or the beginning if you prefer).  Four of them along with several grandchildren and cousins gathered at the Cottage on Clear Lake yesterday afternoon along with Fran's sisters-in-law Bernice VandenBerg and Betsy DeKorne.

The food was delicious, the memories of times past recalled with great affection and plenty of smiles to wipe away the darkness of the hour.

ready for the grill!

Jim DeKorne

Laurel 

Alicia and her mom Pam

Lisa

Bernice and Greta

Earlier that same day, while I was out enjoying a beautiful afternoon looking for the graves of men from Ottawa County who had served in the 3rd Michigan Infantry, I came across this poignant and timely epitaph on the tomb of Wilhelmine and Frederick Bartels in McNitt Cemetery.

Wilhelmine

wife of Frederick Bartels

died January 17, 1898

Aged

75 years, 4 months 19 days

Dear Mother, in earth’s

Thorny paths,

How long thy feet have

Trod!

To find at last this

Peaceful rest,

Safe in the arms of God.

Frederick Bartels

died March 6, 1899

aged

74 years 11 months 10 days

Dear Father, with a

Reverent Hand

This to thy memory given,

While one by one thy

Household band

God reunites in Heaven

Fruitland Cemetery

I typically publish photos from my cemetery wanderings in the United States on my North American Cemeteries blog but I was so taken with four fascinating gravestones from Fruitland Cemetery in Muskegon County that I wanted to share them with you here.

Several weeks ago I was looking for the grave of a former member of the 3rd Michigan Infantry -- which I did not find as it turned out -- but in my wandering stumbled across these folks.

Melissa Nyquist

And then there was Catherine Burns Porter, "gentle and loving, wise beyond her years" whose epitaph spoke not just of her but those she left behind.

Catherine Burns Porter

It may be that in all her phrases stirred 

The grinding water and rasping wind 

But it was she, and not the sea, we heard

And the Bellinger family. . .

Bellinger

Note Michael is listed as "Nubian", which typically describes someone from the Sudan or southern Egypt.

and why the "secret"?

Lastly, if you go keep an eye out for the lovely Connor stone with its striking frame of colorful grapevines.

Connor - a gorgeous stone, one that you should not miss and certainly not miss the reverse side. . . 

La Marseillaise Casablanca

When people chose right over wrong. . .

Life is short

This sentiment bears repeating. . . . On a recent day trip up north to Oceana County, I came across this bit of insight in Hart Cemetery:

"So should we live that every hour 

Should die as dies the natural flower"

Women of Paris Cemeteries

Just a few of the fascinating stories in stone waiting to be discovered.