She is Not Dead - by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Another friend sent this piece to me today, and it is indeed beautiful. Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it is titled "She is Not Dead"

"She is not dead, - the child of our affection,
But gone unto that school
Where she no longer needs our poor protection,
And Christ Himself doth rule.

In that great cloister's stillness and seclusion,
By guardian angels led,
Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution,
She lives, whom we call dead.

Day after day we think what she is doing
In those bright realms of air;
Year after year, her tender steps pursuing,
Behold her grown more fair.

Thus do we walk with her, and keep unbroken
The bond which nature gives,
Thinking that our remembrance, through unspoken,
May reach her where she lives."

A Message from a Friend, as we mourn Joyce's death

I received this message from a friend today. The quote is from the famous German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Since my Joyce came partly from German Lutheran stock, I thought it quite fitting at this time. I quote:

"... nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love, and it would be wrong to try to find a substitute; we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, for the gap, as long as it remains unfilled, preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; he doesn't fill it, but on the contrary, he keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain." From "On separation from those we love."

Slideshow from Memorial

Here is the slideshow from the memorial in case you missed it. Thank you to all of our friends and family for sharing your memories of Joyce on Wednesday.

Service and Memorial

We will have a service for my Mom on Wedensday at 5pm at St. Thomas Church in Medina. Following the service, please join us for a reception to celebrate her life at Newcastle Golf Club in Bellevue.

Eulogy from Dad

My Dad wanted me to post this, along with a photo of our flag at half staff in her honor.

*******************************************************************************
Our beloved Joyce Schroeder Birkeland passed away quietly at the family home in Kirkland July 25, 2009. She died of complications from a return of breast cancer. She was 64 years old.

Joyce was the eldest child of the late Leonard Schroeder and Opal Schroeder and was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended schools there, and after being graduated from high school, met and married Frederick Peter Kalb. Peter and Joyce moved several times around the country, following his educational and vocational requirements, eventually settling in Seattle. They had two wonderful daughters, Gretchen Margaret Kalb and Heather Marie Kalb. Twelve years into their marriage their life paths parted and they divorced.

In 1978 Joyce married Paul Berton Birkeland and moved with him to Kirkland, where they added two more wonderful children - daughter Steffenie Elizabeth Birkeland and son Paul Leonard Birkeland. They raised their family there, and in addition Joyce was an active partner in the family real estate development and management business, Birkeland and Associates. She also established Birkeland Design, which was an interior design consulting firm, working on real estate rehabilitation projects. In her spare time, she became an accomplished porcelain doll artist and won numerous local and national prizes for her dolls. In addition, she was an extremely accomplished chef, hostess and generous benefactor of numerous charities, and was beloved by all she came into contact with. She enjoyed her family, travel, gourmet dinners at home and at favorite restaurants, great wines and vintners, reading, live theater (32 year attendee at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and was looking forward to a life of retirement with Paul in their new home in Las Vegas.

She leaves behind her husband Paul, children Gretchen Moran and husband Mark of Marble Falls, Texas, daughter Heather Kalb of Seattle, daughter Steffenie Birkeland Evans and husband Fletcher of Seattle, and son Paul (Birk) of Kirkland, as well as sister Gloria Williams and husband Mike of Hayden Lake, Idaho and brother Darryl Schroeder and wife Lori of Houston, as well as a number of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Her Mother, Opal Schroeder of Houston, Texas also survives her. Aunt Jean Banker and husband Dr CA Banker of Chappell Hill, Texas and cousin Star Asimakoupoulos were very close to her . A memorial will be held at St Thomas Episcopal Church, 8398 NE 12th St., Medina, WA at 5 pm, July 29, 2009 followed by a reception at Newcastle Golf Club. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund (www.komenpugetsound.org), St Thomas Church (www.stthomasmedina.org), Oregon Shakespeare Festival (petert@osfashland.org) or PONCHO (www.poncho.org)

Joyce enriched the lives of all she came into contact with, and left the world a better place. She had a heart of gold, took pains to be there for everyone, and was a warm and loving friend and hostess to many. We honor her memory and are grateful to all who so graciously helped us during her long struggle with breast cancer. In your own way you are carrying on with her mission - God Bless all of you.

Joyce Schroeder Birkeland, 1944-2009

Our dear mother and wife passed away this morning at 4:23am, losing her valiant fight against breast cancer at home, surrounded by her family.

Update

My Mom continues to rest comfortably in her bedroom. She is no longer concious due to the amount of medication we are giving her, but is not in pain, and we are so grateful for that. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.