› SPC Memorial Garden Update
Care and Craftsmanship Create a Home for Memorial Plaques
› SPC Memorial Garden Update
Care and Craftsmanship Create a Home for Memorial Plaques
“In life and death, we belong to God.”
onceived and created in the 1980s, SPC’s Memorial Garden is a beautiful and Spirit-filled place of rest for the mortal remains of more than 300 of our saints. Each saint is named on an individual bronze plaque on the arced memorial wall that frames the labyrinth. By the end of 2023, the south side of the wall was filled with names of our saints. New landscaping and the installation of bluestone walkways creating graceful access to the north side of the wall was accomplished. This spring saw the completion of new lighting and a sprinkler system designed to support this sacred space and over the summer stone craftsmen made repairs to the memorial wall and prepared the north side of the wall for the mounting of 9 large bronze plaques with the capacity to accommodate over 400 memorial plaques in the years to come.
Looking Back with Thanksgiving
Discussions addressing the need for more space for memorial plaques began in 2016 with a task force comprised of Jessie Chew and Barbara Hirshfeld (longstanding H.O.E. coordinators; Jessie was among those involved in the original planning of the Memorial Garden), Rick Miller (chair of the Property Committee), Bob McCauley (architect and elder on the Property Committee), Don Carpenter (instrumental in improvements to the walkways and member of the Property Committee), Don Semler (architect and member of the Property Committee), and Harriet Henderson, (landscape architect and caregiver/historian to the memorial garden since its inception). There was no shortage of creative and thoughtful solutions offered by this talented pool of people, each of whom cared deeply about this sacred space.
The report of the task force was received, with various options reviewed by staff and the Property Committee over several years. Decision-making and implementation fell to our Property Committee, the members of which were blessedly well equipped for the task. Christine Linde, 2023 committee chair, also happened to be our archivist. Gregg VanGundy, 2024 committee chair, is a skilled woodworker with an eye for craftsmanship. Don Semler, part of the project since its inception, was invaluable in rendering the designs. Doug Harnsberger advised on finishes. Ken Hull installed the new lighting, and Facilities Manager John Hoing managed the project and contractors, notably Bill Conwell (landscaping, new walkway, sprinkler relocation, and new plantings) and Ross Acchione Masonry (Memorial Wall refurbishment and inset of bronze plaque backers). Harriet Henderson and the current coordinators of H.O.E., Paddy Deisroth and Lynn Gee, provided helpful insights on the aesthetics and care of this sacred space.
