Alamo-Girl's Sister - Donations in Her Memory

Alamo-Girl ^ | October 5, 2001 | GretchenEE for Alamo-Girl

[GretchenEE]

Dear fellow FReepers and FReeperettes,

One among us asked if we could do something to honor the memory of Alamo-Girl's sister or if there were a particular charity the family had chosen for memorials. Alamo-Girl sent me a very gracious (as always!) reply with this information.

Her sister's name: Donna Jean Schunk

Wilton Mortuary (Peoria, Illinois) is handling the arrangements and the services will be held at 2:00 pm tomorrow [October 6] at the First Baptist Church of Peoria.

The family named the Oncology Department of Methodist Medical Center in Peoria [Illinois] for memorials.
[A web search yielded this address; Alamo-Girl, please correct me if it is wrong!!:

Methodist Medical Center
Oncology Department
221 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue
Peoria, IL 61636
(309) 672-5522 ]

Alamo-Girl writes: "My husband and I will also be purchasing Gideon's Bibles as a memorial to her. I like knowing that hurting people in hotel rooms and doctor's waiting rooms have ready access to the Bible!"

Here is a link to the Gideons' home page:
The Gideons International

She wrote that she read the thread from the 4th and is very blessed by everyone's love and words of encouragement -- but her gratitude exceeds her vocabulary at the moment so she is just soaking up the posts for now.

Friends of Alamo-Girl: please help to keep this list bumped for a few days. Thank you!

[JudyB1938]

I think you will want to know about this.

[GretchenEE]

Thank you very much for your kind words. And here's a bump for Donna.

[GretchenEE]

I wish I had a sibling.

I'm up for adoption. And I don't live very far away -- just one county!

[JudyB1938]

I got an email back from the Gideons. The person who takes the donations is out of the country, but will contact me when he returns.

[HalfIrish]

I can't believe I never thought of the Gideons. They were there for me a time or two in the past, too. Thanks for the ping.

[DaughterofEve]

Bump...!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank you for pinging this thread to me.
I knew about Donna "Going Home" but was unaware about this thread.

[Rustybyrd]

Prayers and a BUMP.....

[Vicki]

Wow, we could go the Nordstrom's half-yearly sale!

[JudyB1938]

Although the name "Gideons" is very familiar to me and I've always seen their Bibles in hotel rooms, I really don't know too much about them. Do they do other things besides distribute Bibles?

[GretchenEE]

I looked up the Gideons International Home Page and put the link at the very top of this thread. I believe if you go there you will find all sorts of information. Such a good idea, to donate to them.

[GretchenEE]

You'll have FReepmail in a couple minutes. =)

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Thanks for the post Gretchen.

A-G, I'm so sorry to hear this news. I've been out for a few days and just saw my ping on this tonight. Hang in there and make your way back home (here) soon.

[JudyB1938]

.

[GretchenEE]

Sandi sent this information to me about the Gideons and contributing to them in Donna's memory.

The Gideon's will be happy to receive any donations for Bibles. They usually provide a card for the donor to send a sympathy message to let the family know that Bibles have been purchased as a memorial.

For anyone who wants to send the memorial cards to her or Donna's immediate family, Sandi gave me the addresses for herself and the family which I will be happy to send to anyone who FReepmails me - I'd rather do that than post them on the open forum (although Sandi didn't say not to). I am happy to close the circle on this for any who would like the information.

[Alamo-Girl]

I don’t know where to begin. There have been so many wonderful, dear messages and I cannot possibly reply to each one individually --- so I must post this one message for all of you! I have read every word and viewed every image, and each and every comment is precious to me beyond what I could ever hope to convey!

Your donations to Gideon's, Free Republic and the Oncology Department are greatly appreciated! THANK YOU!!!

Many of you have been praying for my sister Donna, for the family and for me since last May all the way through her memorial service last Saturday!

Your prayers have been abundantly answered! My sister had two beautiful, happy and energetic months with her family and friends and associates. Everyone had just exactly the time they needed to say what they needed to say and to prepare for her homegoing.

Her journey home was full of grace and mercy. I never sensed a moment of fear or dread from her as she dealt with each progessively worse prognosis. Perhaps the rapid, stair-stepping decline actually helped the family to cope. We were able to release her spirit with joy!

The memorial services were correctly titled a “celebration of Donna Schunk’s life and faith!” The pastor affectionately recalled her life here on earth and reassured the congregation of the wonders she now enjoys in eternity. It was beautiful!

I look forward to being with Donna in eternity – and it will be my distinct honor to introduce her to y’all when you get there too. I know you’ll love her!

And please don’t worry about me!

The emptiness has been filled with His own presence and now every time I think of my sister, I think of Jesus. There are no fractures or weak spots in my heart. He has healed them all! PRAISE GOD!!! for this miracle --- which I am very sure is another direct answer to your collective prayers and blessings!

[GretchenEE]

Alamo-Girl, you astound me more on this day with your response to all that has transpired than you did on all the other days put together, and that's saying something!

And a bump for all who have not yet seen your love-filled thank you.

[Alamo-Girl]

You have been so very kind to me in every imaginable way, dear friend! I cannot possibly thank you enough!!!

Grateful hugs and lots of love,
Sandi

[JudyB1938]

Sandi, you are such an inspiration to all of us and a faithful witness for our Lord. You, indeed, have the peace that passeth understanding that Jesus promised.

[Alamo-Girl]

I deserve no credit at all! Jesus is my strength and my refuge. He has given me peace that nothing at all has diminished! PRAISE GOD!!!