Bev’s Remembrance Service

We held a beautiful 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 Lily Kaye’s home, until 6 pm. All were welcome.

Bev’s ashes were released and scattered across the country between June and September, 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 was 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. Here’s a photo of the columbarium at Wildwood.

We also placed some of Bev into her memorial space – some of her ashes, a lock of Bev’s hair, some photos, and a couple of other personal items, and that spot will mark and memorialize Bev for many, many years to come.

The Remembrance Service: Saturday April 13, 2024, 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 held our ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist Society meeting house/building in downtown Amherst. It was a wonderful venue, for which we were appreciative.  

We started at 1:00 pm, and ended around 3:00, as we wanted to allow time for everyone who wanted to speak or do a reading.  The remembrance ceremony was wonderful,  and attended by our very closest friends and family, including all of of Bev’s brothers. Many people spoke, in a wonderful and funny tribute to Bev, and what shone through was how wonderful, beautiful, gifted, loving and beloved, and funny was Bev. We had tears and laughter. 

We returned to our house after the service, until about 6 pm.