A Beautiful Funeral

Pete often says that he wishes we had to go to a funeral every week, because of the perspective on life it provides. Saturday morning was such a funeral, as we mourned the death of Dona Chambers. I remember Dona from my earliest days, as she and Don were good friends of my parents. They went out dancing every Friday or Saturday night for years. The two families, along with the Carlsons and Larsons, also gathered most Memorial Days, Labor Days and New Year's Days, at our house or the Chambers mansion in Svea. With seven children, they needed every square foot of their four-bedroom, two-story older home next to the parsonage and across the street from the church. Ever since Don's retirement, Dona has spent over half the year in Yuma, AZ, even after Don's sudden death seven years ago of a massive heart attack. Her son Dave and his family have helped her keep up the big house, which will now be sold.

Dona loved to dance the night away with friends or family, at home or away, at a ballroom or a wedding. This summer two grandchildren got married, and none of the family members could keep up with her on the dance floor at the receptions. She also had a big 80th birthday party in July and everyone was home for the celebration (she has a son in AZ and daughters in WA, AK, and FL). After those events, she finally went to the doctor to investigate the pain she'd had while eating for months. Stomach cancer would kill her, but first she had months of treatment, staying at a care center, relief from pain, and then her final hospital stay of twelve days. I visited her several times but never really had the chance to talk about important things. However, Carol (a daughter) did, and shared at the funeral Dona's firm hope of heaven and that she was ready to go home.

Pastor Joyce Graue, filling in for our pastor on maternity leave, had visited Dona throughout her illness and also supported the family. Her gospel message filled us with appreciation for the Lord and His gifts, mercy and love. She quoted Scripture throughout the service and at the graveside and communicated her great faith in the promises of God's Word. She wanted "Lord of the Dance" sung during the sermon; since David was home, I asked him to sing those verses and have the congregation join on the chorus. His rich bass voice perfectly complemented the words of the verses:

"I danced on a Friday when the world was black;
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back"

and

"I am the life that'll never, never die
And I'll live in you if you live in me."

I sang "One Day at a Time," requested by Dona, at Don's funeral. When I suggested a repeat to the family, they concurred, so Camy Wenberg and I sang it as a duet. After tearing and choking up during Carol's remembrance speech, I was concerned that we would have a hard time getting through our songs (Camy also sang "Amazing Grace" movingly) without breaking down, but the Lord carried us through and we had no problems with that. The daughters also wanted the hymns to be more upbeat, so I played "Soon and Very Soon" with gusto and the congregation followed my lead. As the funeral home directors brought the casket down the aisle, the sound man played "In the Mood" from a CD. The celebration has begun!