Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Mary Fountain, Rest in Peace

My mom died today. She would have been 90 on Dec. 10. Her death was not unexpected and was peaceful.
She was the U.S. born child of refugees from the Armenian genocide of WW I. Grew up in Providence, RI and married my dad, who was an orphan from the Ozarks ("sorta near this, sorta near that") in NW Arkansas. Like so many after WW II they settled in Los Angeles and that's where the four kids, including this one, were born.
My main thanksgiving is for her dutiful reading from a children's Bible at our dining room table (much worse for wear, I have that table with me here in Sioux Falls). She's the one who fixed the Bible's narrative of salvation in my heart and mind, and she's the one from whom I learned to pray daily.
I take my best organizational qualities and passion from her. Also tendencies to be mercurial and harsh.
Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her.
I'll be away from blogging for awhile.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Expected or unexpected, I'm still sad to hear it. Let light perpetual shine upon her, and the peace of Christ guard your heart.

Laocoon

Annie said...

We are sad with you today. Bless you, bless you.

AnnieCOA

Anonymous said...

May she rest in peace. Our love and thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.

The Oblate

Anonymous said...

There is no way to prepare for the feelings and impact of this sad milestone in life, the loss of one's mother.

My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

The Lord be with you and make this time of re-commending her to Him in your hearts, minds, spirits a holy, peaceful and beautiful one...may you have unity in the Spirit, in the bond of peace.

Anonymous said...

Rick Harris says:

May the Holy Comforter be with you and your family. May Mary be welcomed into the kingdom with the outstretched arms of our savior. May she have rest, and may you have peace.

Kevin said...

My condolences, may the Lord of all comfort be very near you in this time.

Anonymous said...

Praying for you and yours today. May God sustain and strengthen you in your faith during this time.

Anonymous said...

Tim,
My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family this evening in Evening Prayer (5:30 pacific).

St. John's has a parishioner whose mother went through the same Armenian tragedies. It is clear their persecution had a clarifying effect on their Faith in Christ. As your mother's son, you are the beneficiary of high priority faith-in-practice. That's a good legacy.
Praise the Lord.

Anonymous said...

Father Tim, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I don't know what else to say other than you are a shining testament to your mother, and her good example. God bless and keep you, because you are all too rare.

best regards,
Mari

plsdeacon said...

May God comfort you at the passing of your mother. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace and may they rise in glory!

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

Anonymous said...

Isn't it great to be a Christian. We have the hope of the resurection when all who are with Christ will rise again when he comes to his Kingdom. I only feel sad for those who do not look forward to his return. What a sad life they must lead. God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Tim+,
May the peace of our dear Lord Jesus comfort you and your family in this time of loss. May the joy of her salvation and inheritance be your lasting joy!
Festivus

Anonymous said...

May her memory be eternal.

SometimesWise said...

Fr. Tim,

May the Lord comfort you in this sad season, and may you know the assurance that you will be with your mother again in heaven.
GillianC

Anonymous said...

It eventually gets livable but you never get over it. I'm so sorry, Tim.

Anonymous said...

May Light Perpetual shine upon her, Tim. God's blessings on your family.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. And having lost my mother 25 years ago, I echo what Chris said.

Anonymous said...

May the Lord give you and your family His peace and comfort during this time.

The Lakeland Two

Tregonsee said...

I always knew in my head that Easter was far more important than Christmas. It took the death of my parents to move that knowledge to my heart. My prayers will be for you and your family in this time of grief.

Anonymous said...

May she rest in peace. May our Lord Jesus Christ grant you His consolatiion.
Joe

The Rev Canon Dr David Wilson said...

Tim+

My prayers are with you and your family at this time. I know your parish will give you time to mourn, pray tell, please take it for your sake.

On this All Saints Day, may Mary rest in peace and rise in glory

DDW+

Anonymous said...

Father Tim:
May our Saviour bless you and your family. Please know you will be in my prayers.
Frank

Allen Lewis said...

O Sovereign Lord, who desirest not the death of a sinner; We beseech thee to loose the spirit of this thy servant from every bond, and set her free from all evil; that she may rest with all thy saints in the eternal habitations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. AMEN

And this is for you, Tim:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death; Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou has led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; through thy mercy, who livest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. AMEN

We always miss them, my friend, but they are always with us, in our hearts and looking after us from above.

Allen

Unknown said...

Fr. Tim,

Your comments have been, and I'm sure will continue to be, both a comfort to me and a source of inspiration. That your mom played an important role in your spiritual development brings a smile to God and His Angels and as I know that you know, they have opened wide the gates of heaven to receive her into their warm embrace.

May she rest in peace with light perpetual shining upon her, and may God's steadfast love and warm embrace, comfort and sustain you.

YBIC,

Joe Roberts

Anonymous said...

Praying for you, Tim. God bless, strengthen and comfort you at this time.

The Midland Agrarian said...

I also am praying for you and that our Lord take your mother further into his service.

Alice C. Linsley said...

I'm thankful that your mother raised you to be a man of faith. She must be very pleased by your witness as she enjoys the Lord in a greater way with the saints in Light.

May her memory be eternal!

Anonymous said...

Father Tim, My sympathy to you and to your family. May your mother enjoy Heaven thoroughly and may your hearts be comforted beyond your expectations!