FReeper GretchenM (formerly GretchenEE) has died.

Gretchen's son Mark | 31 July 2007 | DollyCali

[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

[philman_36]

Just the Other Day

I saw you on a thread just the other day
Writing down what you had to say.

I read with interest what you wrote
But I didn't write back even a short note.

Another day would come giving time to reply
It never occurred to me that you might die.

Time it seems has not been so gracious
For you've been taken away from us.

And though it seems too little somehow
"Rest in peace" is all I can say now.

[napscoordinator]

Prayers to Gretchen’s family and that she enjoys heaven. Thanks for being a FRiend.

[tommix2]

Dear Gretchen may you rest in peace. I have wept and can not stop weeping. Gretchen was my dearest friend on this site. We corresponded by email a lot. But recently she said she wasn’t feeling well and then no more replies.

[Hydroshock]

Prayers sent RIP

[LonePalm]

Prayers up for Gretchen and family.

Notre père, qui êtes aux cieux!
Que votre nom soit sanctificié. Que votre règne vienne.
Que votre volonté soit faite, sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donnez-nous aujourd'hui notre poindre ce jour.
Pardonnez-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux, qui nous ont offensés,
et ne nous soumetez pas à la tentation, mais délivrez-nous du mal.
Car c'est à toi qu'appartiènne, le régne, la puissance et la gloire, pour les siècles des siècles.
Amen.

Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâces,
le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes,
et Jésus le fruit de vos entrailles est béni.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs,
maintenant, et à l'heure de notre mort. Ainsi-soit-il.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[firewalk]

Thank you for the ping to let me know silent_johnny

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Condolences to you, Mark and all of Gretchen’s family and friends.

[twin2]

Oh this is so sad, for us still here at least.

First thing every day I would click open Carrie's thread and pray for Gretchen and her family. What an inspiration of love and service they all were. Their faith humbled me.

She had posted to me on 7/21 that an update was coming, but it never did. I did not realize how sick she was. Thank you God for letting her spread her joy and love here.

[Molly Pitcher]

Prayers for this wonderful woman's family.

GretchenEE was one of the first screennames I became aware of....yesrs ago now.

[CDHart]

May God comfort her family and friends as they grieve their loss.

Carolyn

[Pathfinder]

Prayers for a devoted son and for all who love her....we are so sorry.

[NewCenturions]

May she rest in peace

[DollyCali]

that is a lovely sentiment in the poem. Did you write it?

Thank you regardless for sharing it here. I believe it refelcts a lot of what many are experience. We always will do it, “tomorrow”, and sigh, sometimes tomorrow is not there

[trisham]

I’m so sorry. Prayers for Gretchen and all who loved her. Your mother was a wonderful woman, Mark. She will be so missed.

[DollyCali]

Thank you for sharing. Yours was the last post from her on the carrie thread. We will hopefully have an update for everything from Mark when he has the opportunity to write/call us.

[DollyCali]

That portion of scripture is unfortunately often just reserved for funerals and times such as these, but they are good words to read often & seal in your heart. Thanks for posting & sharing with us.

[trisham]

Thank you so much for letting us know.

************

Yes, if I may echo that, although this is shocking and sad news, it is much better to know.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’m sorry to hear that, I wasn’t aware she was ill. May she rest in peace. Prayers for her family.

[silent_jonny]

Morning, Wolfstar

I woke up hoping this was just a dream :-/

The hymn is new to me too. I first heard it on Johnny Cash's album "My Mother's Hymn Book". You can hear a sample of the song on Amazon, song #6.

Tagline change ...

[jaycee]

I listened and the tears came again. Guess I will run now to get to an 11:00 dr.appt. If I keep listening, I will keep crying.