Amazing Grace
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God rest the soul of GretchenM.
She was a lovely, gracious lady.
Posted on 07/31/2007 4:57:53 PM PDT by DollyCali
I just received an Email from her son Mark.
I am Gretchen Erickson's son Mark, and I wanted to let everyone know who loved and appreciated my mother as much as I did that she is no longer with us. One comfort that I do have is the realization that she is no longer in any pain and is with God now. I still hear her resounding infectious laugh ringing in my ears as a constant reminder that she is having a wonderful time in Heaven. As I write this and I look at how many people she had in her contact list it show me that even with her limited physical abilities that she still made such a positive impact on the lives of so many different people throughout the vast expanse of our planet.
I wish I would have had the opportunity to communicate with all of my Mother's friends under circumstances that didn't bring such disparaging news.
At the same time,this turn of events might provide for a chance to hear from those people my Mother provided spiritual guidance, emotional support and general companionship to if the desire exists within those who knew her. From my personal standpoint, I would be greatly honored to hear any stories of how my Mother has inspired or helped anyone of you throughout the journey of your life.
As most of you who knew my Mother were aware, she has been struggling with emotional and physical problems for a very long time. She was feeling very weak and very sick over the last few days. Mike went to check on her the night before last, her body was rejecting the food she had tried to eat but she still appeared stable.
The next morning he went to check on her again and she wasn't in her bed. He then realized how quiet the house was and found her in the bathroom sitting on the floor. He tried CPR but to no avail, to much time had passed as she expired some time that night.
(CLIP ON PERSONAL CONTACT INFO)
My Mother has a very strong spirit that will carry on with those people she had the chance to cross a proverbial path with. I have never met another person that despite their circumstances never focused on how bad things were, but instead always looked for what was yet to come.
I love my Mother more than I can describe in words. She is the greatest woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I owe my livelihood, my table manners, my fervor and passion for knowledge, my love for God, and my wit, among many other attributes that would overload the internet if I were to list them all, to her and her alone.
She will live in my memory and my heart until I am once again rejoined with her in Heaven.
Beloved son of Gretchen
Mark
God Bless her family and welcome her home with Him...
I recently lost a woman that raised me, through actions and her loving guidance, from birth. She showed me how to love others, consider their feelings, and to always have pride in myself and know that I am loved.
I will miss her greatly, but God needed another angel, and she already has the experience from her years here - guiding and loving all, from her closest family to a person she might be waiting in line with at the grocery store.
Everything I do, everything I accomplish, I do with her in my mind and in my heart.
In Loving Memory of Marie 1928-2000
very sad news.
OMG! What a stunner. I’m beyond words. I just came online a short while ago and just migrated over to FR now. I don’t know what to say right now.
Had she been sick? I just don’t remember seeing that on the Dose. I am very saddened by this!
Thanks so much for the ping, Jonny. I had no idea she was ill. Just the other day when I was reading the Dose I thought about her and wondered why she hadn’t been posting much lately. Gretchen was always a shining light for her Saviour here on FR, and there’s no doubt she is now in His presence and having a wonderful time. I pray for her son Mark and for all who loved her that the Lord will comfort them and give them peace. Especially for Mike that he will know he did all he could, and that his last interactions with her and then finding her gone won’t haunt him, but that he will be at peace.
God rest her soul, and Bless her family.
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Amen, Jonny. Although I never heard that hymn, so don't know the melody, the lyrics are beautiful. Certainly such a gentle, good soul as Gretchen will be so rewarded.
Mark,
What a beautiful tribute to your Mom.
My PRayers are going up for God to keep her in his tender loving care and Prayers offered for you to help you through this time of your terrible loss.
Hugz
Prayers for her eternal rest, and for the comfort and consolation of her friends and family.
From her son's email to Dolly, she had not been in the best of health or spirits recently, but apparently no one realized she was facing a life-threatening situation. She passed away at home, alone. And that, I think, breaks my heart most of all. Many, many people, both family and friends, would have dropped everything to help Gretchen if we could, and yet...
Sigh...no words.
that is a gorgeous song. I officiated at my aunts memorial service memorial weekend (she died in early April) and this was one of the several gorgeous selections of music. I had not heard it before.
thanks for posting this
Gretchen and I worked together on several projects here on the forum during the Clinton years.
I’m so sorry to read this. What a glowing testimony her son Mark gave of her. We can all hope our own Christian testimony will shine like hers did. God bless Mark and all of her family. They were blessed to have her in their lives. And so were we.
I know....I am totally in shock by this.
God rest her sweet soul. She will be missed.
As for her being alone...I think that she was the
type who wouldn’t want to “bother” anyone, and would
have preferred it this way. Just my opinion...I
didn’t know her that well.
wolfstar, I too pondered on her death alone...we dont know any details and we may not ever but the shocking reality for all of us is that we don’t always have a lot OR ANY time to say good-bye to those people who have touched us or helped us in ANY way. Each day, each interaction should always be lived as if it is the last. We truly never know if it will be. The bible speaks of death as a “thief in the night” and that is so true.
It is heartbreaking to loose or family & friends from long term, painful disease but the crueler loss (to those left) is the sudden goodbye.Voids where there should be answers & pain and remorse for all the “I should haves”
Tomorrow it may be no one stepping into eternity, it might be another loved acquaintance... or it might be you or me. We need to live each day with honor & with love & respect for our fellow sojourners in life.
The post is to you but not really, it is to everyone. We have all pondered the life & death issues. Each time it hits home again, we ponder more deeply. We examine life’s journey more appreciatively & we understand our own mortality quite completely
Gretchen was one of the finest people I've ever met and I'm so sad to hear of her passing. Whenever I heard from her in the forum, it brightened my day. She was just a great, great lady and you and your family have my heartfelt condolences and prayers.
I’m very sorry.
I remember her as very kind.
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