A Celebration of the Life of the Lovely Libby Dean

On 16 April 2011, most of the family and many close friends of Libby Dean gathered on a terrifically stormy evening--crucially during the cocktail hour--at the Brandywine River Museum to celebrate her life, which was terribly sadly lost suddenly the week before on 7 April. Although she was a fair age, it was a shock to all of us, as we truly believed she would carry on past 100, particularly as she was larger than life.

I had hoped that I would be visiting her a few months later as consolation for my being made redundant from my job, so it was particularly devastating to be travelling to Chadds Ford without her there. A benefit of being jobless is that I had time to pull together a transcript of what was said, which I always wanted to do as so many people contributed such amazing, warm, lovely and certainly fitting tributes. However, until today (this was posted on Grandmommy's birthday), I could not face revisiting that evening, warm though it was, and hitting my grief head-on. On this first year when I cannot ring her on her birthday for a happy chat, perhaps it's been a bit cathartic. There are certainly some touching memories here. I've set out the full account in case anyone else is interested, in the order in which people spoke. (You can leave comments if you feel so inclined, and please forgive any mispelled names; please let me know of any significant errors).

It was a lovely atmosphere, a room at the Museum filled with caring people, and the Museum kindly let us display several of Grandmommy's wonderful watercolours in the foyer, where a buffet and bar were set up. So in a way finally, after all these years, Libby Dean was exhibited in the Brandywine River Museum with the Wyeths.

I will later add some of my photographs of her and maybe the day, perhaps even a brief video clip of my beautiful grandmother. Principally, I just wanted to make these words available again. I think they make it clear that Libby Dean was a magnificent, unique character who significantly touched many lives. She will always be desperately missed, but her presence will be felt forever.


Friday, 4 November 2011

Lisa Singer (youngest daughter)

Hi, thanks all for coming. We couldn’t have a better place to have this. No 1 at her favourite museum, and No 2, all drinking and eating and having a good time. I just want to read something:-

First, I will miss my quality time with my mom. She was my best friend. I believe she is where I got my strength—not tonight—my pride, stubbornness, never wanting to bother anyone, humour (I hope), and my desire to help others in learning anything I can help them with. I am glad I did not get her way of driving a car or her fear of flying

These past six months have been rough, losing my brother, Terry, in Australia and now my mom. It was extremely hard for her, too. But having their strength and the rest of my family, Rand, Paige and my sister, Lynn, will keep me functioning properly.

We must all remember my mother lived a beautiful and fulfilling life, the way she wanted to. She did not suffer. We must also remember she was on the way to the bar with her friends, and that is where she wanted to be. She could not have left us in a more efficient way. We must now think that she is above those stars with all the people she once was with and still loves: Pop, Terry and all the others in her past
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)