For as long as we her children live, every dragonfly we see will bear a part of her spirit back to us.
You couldn’t miss them. There were dragonflies nearly everywhere: On her purse and on her smart phone, embroidered on her wallet and carved into her walking sticks, on her return address labels and computer backgrounds. Her scarves, sweaters, pajamas, and stationery all bore these icons. She must have had 30 or more hat and lapel pins. The dragonfly was her symbol. And for as long as we her children live, every dragonfly we see will bear a part of her spirit back to us.
One of her daughters thought it would be a touching tribute if her 8 children and 15 grandchildren were to each wear one of those pins the day of her funeral, November 5, 2015. And so we did.
Our mom had been able to communicate some of her desires for her memorial service before she died. Among those were her hopes to have the involvement of her pastor Richard Mullins and her former pastor Mike Mellone, as well as the services of her long-time friend, organist Thomas Cowan. Ann requested that Panis Angelicus be played, and as a lifelong Catholic with a deep devotion to Our Lady, that her grandson Kerry play and Sing “Let It Be” (when I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…) and her grandson Sam play his French horn, which she helped to research and purchase.
Following the Funeral Mass at St. Thomas Apostle Church in Washington, D.C., her spiritual home for almost 60 years, her friends, family, and co-workers crossed the street and gathered for a memorial luncheon at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Ann’s employer for 40 of those years. Though the occasion was sad, the services were poignant and spirit-filled, none more so than the Burial Service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
A lone dragonfly appeared from behind the celebrant, hovered for more than a few seconds, then flew off toward the tree line about 40 yards away.
Because the burial service was held in suburban Maryland later in the afternoon, it was nearly exclusively family members, each wearing her symbolic dragonfly pins, that gathered on that unseasonably beautiful November day, sunny and 72 degrees. As the family assembled around the gravesite, Fr. Mike invited the family to sit in the six velvet-lined seats under the awning. As the eight children eyed the six chairs and each other uncertainly, five of the smallest grandchildren decided that if no one else was going to sit down, they would! Those innocent children provided a humorous and tender moment in an otherwise solemn and serious ceremony.
Following the liturgy, as Ann’s pastor announced, “This concludes the burial service,” a lone dragonfly appeared from behind the celebrant, hovered for more than a few seconds, then flew off toward the tree line about 40 yards away. As many began to point and exclaim excitedly, some blinked in confusion, others in surprised recognition, but all later felt as if the Holy Spirit was sending a sign that Ann was not dead, but lived on in glory, and was now leaving to return to her true home, Heaven.
Four generations of family, sharing history and eternity in one short moment in time.
As if this was not enough, seemingly spontaneously a parade of grandchildren then began gathering handfuls of the flowers that overflowed from around Ann’s casket, and paraded toward her parents gravesite 125 yards or so to the north, where they shared with Leon and Mary Bell Grayson from the bounty of their daughter. Four generations of family, sharing history and eternity in one short moment in time, now itself relegated to history as well. And yet..
This moment, and later, that one too – maybe we’re feeling down, or overworked, or burdened by the cares of everyday life – Is that..? Yes – there it is! A dragonfly! And we look up to the sky, murmur a prayer of thanks and say, “We love you too, Mom.”
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