Panikhida, or Funeral Service, Saturday, August 29, 1:00 p.m.

On Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., there will be a funeral service, or Panikhida, at St. Andrew Russian Catholic Church, for my late wife, Elizabeth Jane Donovan. The church is located at 538 Concord St., El Segundo, CA 90245. The text and settings of this service are largely those of the Orthodox Church in America, and in English. The YouTube clip above is fairly representative of the type of liturgical music sung, together with part II and part III of those clips.

In addition, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on that same day, there will be a reading of the book of Psalms before the coffin, in the middle of the nave of the church. As the Revised Standard Version is held in some esteem by most Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants, that will be the version used. All are welcome to attend, and if they choose, to read, either in chant, or else simply aloud. Those wishing to read are asked to e-mail me at bfbrandtAThotmailDOTcom. I will in turn happily forward these messages to Mr. Gabriel Meyer, the choir director of St. Andrew Church, who is organizing the event.

There will be a reception after the event, on church grounds. So far, the items on the menu include boeuf bourgignon, coq au vin, a vegetarian quiche or two (NOT vegan!), a chile, and several salads (green, pasta and potato), together with two cheesecakes for dessert. We regret that the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, which is a strict fast day, will not be honored to the degree which the day deserves, but we will endeavor not to serve red foods, or foods on round platters, in remembrance of that Feast. Wine and soft drinks will also be served.

Those wishing to give flowers should know that Beth particularly loved iris and lillies, and asked that they be at her funeral. Those wishing to donate to a charitable cause in lieu of flowers are asked to donate to Ride to Fly, an equine instruction establishment for disabled children, in which Beth was an instructor.

And, just because…

Elizabeth Jane Donovan, Eternal Memory

This is to inform you all that my wife, Elizabeth Jane Donovan, passed away today, August 21, 2015, at 12:50 p.m.

May her memory be eternal

To the tune of “Nicaea”

Coffee, coffee, coffee:Early in the morning.
Pouring out the oily brew Into the chipped cup.
Any brand will do, now: Maxwell House or Mocha,
Fresh or reheated. Pour it and drink up!

Coffee, coffee, coffee, Though you are unhealthy,
Though the hearts of mortal men are quickened by caffeine.
Even though we know you, We can’t do without you,
And if we try to We can get quite mean!

Coffee, coffee, coffee, Bane of Turk and yuppie,
Whether brewed in a tin can or sold fresh by the cup;
Coffee, coffee, coffee,Still do we adore thee,
So, stop this singing And say ‘bottoms up!’

A hymn for the post liturgical sacrament

Progress (of a sort) Report

(With apologies to Gabriel Sanchez, from whom I shamelessly stole the above picture).

It’s been getting rather like the Book of Job around these parts, between the fleas, the disease, and the pleas. Where do I begin?