Bev’s Remembrance Service: We Hope To See You

We will be holding a commemorative service for Bev on Saturday April 13, from 1:00–2:15/2:30 pm, followed by a social gathering and more memories at Bev, Phil, and Kaye’s home, until 6 pm. All are welcome. 187 Shutesbury Road, Amherst, MA.

Bev’s ashes will be released and scattered across the country, in many of the places Bev lived and loved, but we also wanted to memorialize Bev by leaving a permanent note that Bev was Here! Bev’s name will be inscribed into the lovely outdoor stone columbarium at Wildwood Cemetery, a beautiful, non-denominational and secular cemetery in the heart of Amherst, the town in which Bev and I have lived for 30 years, and where Bev taught for almost 20 years.   

A columbarium is a structure, building, or room with special spaces for the ashes or other personal mementos of those who have passed. The columbarium at Wildwood Cemetery is a lovely outdoor stone structure that sits on the edge of a recently built meditation/reflection garden, where we will hold our remembrance. Here’s a photo of the columbarium at Wildwood. Bev’s name won’t appear for a while, until the weather warms up and Bev’s space can be engraved. We will at a later time place some of Bev’s ashes and other personal items in her space, and that spot will mark and memorialize Bev for many, many years to come.

The Remembrance Service: Saturday April 13, 1:00-2:30 pm

We had hoped to hold our remembrance outdoors at by the columbarium at Wildwood cemetery. But, the weather wouldn’t cooperate. 

Instead, we’ll be holding our ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist Society meeting house/building in downtown Amherst. You’ll find directions and parking information right below.  

We’ll be starting at 1:00 pm, and end somewhere 2:00 and 2:30, as we want to allow enough time for everyone who might like to speak or do a reading. Some people may want to speak about Bev from the podium, with some prepared words or just spontaneously, and others may want to read a favorite poem, passage, verse, or piece of music. I’ll have some readings prepared or folks may select their own; other people may simply want to share a memory, or a laugh they shared with Bev (and many, many, many of you will have had that experience, as Bev was so funny). Some might like to play some music. Other people may want to speak from their seats, and we’ll bring the microphone to you. There will also be plenty of room to share memories and stories at our social gathering that will follow. At the service, we’ll intersperse readings, and music if anyone would like to play, between any personal words anyone might want to speak. 

Parking and Directions

Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst.121 N Pleasant St, Amherst. 413-253-2848. Click here for directions, or here for Google Maps.

There is paid parking in the parking lot immediately behind the UU building, including an underground garage. There is also parking across the street from the UU, in the parking lot behind the CVS, which is nearly opposite the UU building.  

We’ll becoming to our house after the service, until about 6 pm. 187 Shutesbury Road, Amherst. Click on the address for  directions from google maps.

My Contact Information

Please RSVP or contact me for any reason, either through my email at phil@philrich.net (or my alternate email, phil.rich@comcast.net) or my cell phone 413-687-7098 (or our home number, 413-253-3777).

Accommodations

For those coming from out of area, we’re in Amherst, adjacent to Hadley, and the route 9 corridor (which isn’t as bad as it might sound) has a number of hotels within 10-12 minutes of either of our venues.

There are several more hotels in the area, but these are relatively close by. Click on the name to go the hotel webpage.

Howard Johnson, 401 Russell Street, Hadley

Homewood Suites by Hilton Hadley Amherst. 340 Russell Street, Hadley

Courtyard Hadley Amherst. 423 Russell St, Hadley 

Comfort Inn & Suites. 400 Russell Street, Hadley

The Inn on Boltwood. 30 Boltwood Ave, Amherst

UMass Amherst Hotel. On the UMass campus, Amherst.

There’s also Airbnb.