January 2025

Event of Remembrance

By Edward A. Rinderle
Posted: 11/22/2024

On Monday, November 18, Pasadena Village held its second annual Event of Remembrance, a celebration of life.  We gathered at the Flintridge Center to share our memories of lost loved ones. 

The event, organized and led by Villager Claire Gorfinkel, began with some pleasant ukulele music presented by Corey Brendel.  Corey is a self-proclaimed "Ukulele Troubadour" whom Executive Director Katie Brandon met recently on a Village sponsored walk. 

With Corey's music in the background, Claire gave a brief overview of the program, which was included in a printed brochure containing a list of Villagers who have died since its inception in 2013.  The primary focus on this day was those who have left us in the past two years, with the inclusion those who lost a family member.

The event featured the participation of Villagers to say a few words about a lost loved one.  Claire introduced each of these members in turn, and each said a few words about the person they had chosen to remember.  The participants were: Wayne April, remembering Peter LeSourd . . Terry Chamorro, remembering her son, Adam . . Sue Kujawa, remembering John and Thelma Orr as well as John Hitchcock . . Ron Scott, remembering Dorsey Lawson . . Fritzie Culick, remembering her husband Fred . . Sharon Jarrett, remembering Bob Snodgrass . . Ed Rinderle, remembering his wife Jean . . Claire Gorfinkel sharing on behalf of others: Sharon Wolcott’s daughter Jennifer Gail Anderson, Margo LeSourd and a poem written by Sally Asmundson remembering her husband Mike. With condolences, a white rose was presented to each participant. 

Everyone was invited to add their own remembrances if they wished. Claire closed with an interactive poem entitled “We Remember Them” by Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi John Riemer.  To close this special Remembrance, Corey Brendel sang an old favorite from 1924, “I'll See You in My Dreams”, composed by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn.

For me personally, meeting with other people who have experienced loss helps to ease  my own grief journey.  I appreciate all of those who shared their thoughts of their loved ones with us.

Claire Gorfinkel later commented, “I am so pleased that the event served two significant purposes: to acknowledge our grief and to connect with one-another.  We learned about those who had passed on, and we learned about our Village community.”

The Event of Remembrance has proven to be another of the many ways that Pasadena Village ministers to the Village family.  We are grateful for these meaningful opportunities.