 Her legacy |
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Eulogy for Jeanne
I’m Mike Ketcham, Bud’s brother. While my wife, Barbara and I have known Jeanne for about 40 years, it’s only been the last 10 to 15 years that we’ve really gotten close.
We’ve all been in a situation where we meet someone for the first time and soon find out you have a friend or acquaintance in common. When that happens we’re a little leery saying anything about that person until we find out how the other person feels about them. From experience we know that not everyone feels the same about other people as we do. I don’t want to say something even slightly negative about another person only to find out I’m talking about someone’s best friend. But that is something I really don’t have to worry about Jeanne. We all know her as a very loving, caring person, and because of that I don’t need to tell anyone about the kind of person she is.
I’m sure each of you has fond memories of Jeanne. For Barbara and me we will always remember the ferry trip through the Thousand Islands, this visit to Niagara Falls, and especially the many trips to casinos in Canada, Delaware, West Virginia and New Jersey.
Life is a mystery that we will never fully understand. There are so many questions without answers, at least answers that are available now. Our perception is that we are all human beings that may occasionally have a spiritual experience. But this perception can actually cause more questions without answers. If we change this perception to reflect that we are actually spiritual beings that are currently having a human experience it may help us better understand. Our core existence is as a spiritual being, one not subject to sickness, disease, or death. Eternally spiritual beings. It is our human experience that is temporary and exposes us to the conditions created by humans. It is a burden we each must bear. We can all take a lesson from Jeanne on how to handle the human experience with love, caring, grace and dignity.
Jeanne is also one of the strongest persons I’ve ever met. When faced with very difficult times, such as Chrissie’s and Bud’s cancer, she dealt with them and simply did what had to be done. And the same was true with her own illness. She didn’t ask for it or want it, but she had it so she dealt with it, with very little complaining. And she dealt with death the same way, straight on with little complaint. There is only one parallel I can think of: she didn’t want it to happen, the same way Jesus asked for the cup to be passed from him when he was crucified. But like Jesus she accepted what was to be, what had to be and resigned herself to her fate. The way Jeanne dealt with both life and death was to me both inspirational and faith strengthening.
Another testament to the strength of her character is the fact that she was married to Bud for 39 years. If you knew Jeanne, you knew Bud. While Jeanne had strength of character, Bud is a person who is a strong character. Talk about trials and tribulations. But seriously if you know them, you also know that very few couples have the strong love and commitment to each other that Jeanne and Bud have. However, her 39 years of marriage to Bud probably make her immediately eligible for sainthood. Mother Theresa only had to deal with the poor of Calcutta, Jeanne Had Bud.
I suspect Bud’s love for Jeanne was his saving grace. Maybe tested a few times, but always there.
Surely all of us will miss her dearly, especially her immediate family. Despite my ribbing of Bud, there is no question that Jeanne was a perfect match for him and I thank God he brought her into his and our lives. I hope and pray that we all see her again in the future. The Bible says there is no joy or happiness like that we will experience in heaven. If this is true, and I believe it is, then certainly Jeanne must be there now waiting for each one of us.
Shortly before she died Jeanne said she was looking forward to seeing her father and cousins. I ask that each of you pray to God to give Beverly, Bud, Chrissie, Cheryl, Kayla and Nathan the strength necessary to cope with the fact that she has gone before us and the knowledge that we will all be reunited again in due time. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless and protect each and everyone of Jeanne’s family and friends and he has already blessed Jeanne. Thank you.
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