Erl Purnell Sermon

Funeral Service for Leatrice Claire Seidell ~ March 1, 2006 ~ A homily preached by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell at Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT

Song of Solomon 2.10-13; Psalm 23; 2^nd Corinthians 4.16-5.1; Luke 12.22-27

On Sunday, when I stopped to see Lea, the room was dark. She was resting peacefully. I sat on the edge of the bed and touched her arm. John said, “Lea, it’s the Minster here to see you.” John left and so we were together for about half an hour.

Lea said, “Oh good.” I was touched. Then she said, “I see the Light.” I answered, “Yes, Lea. The Light. Go to the Light.” But before she could, she added, “I just want to know John and my children will be alright.” I answered with that wise mantra of Dame Julian of Norwich: “All is well, and all will be well and all manner of things shall be well.” I said it over and over.

What a great privilege to sit with Lea as she let go of this temporal life and turned toward the Light. I also read some psalms:

121 ~ I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come.

139 ~ Lord you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

23 ~ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.

90 ~ Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and earth were born, from age to age you are God. You turn us back to the dust and say, “Go back, O child of earth.”

“Go back, O child of earth.” Before leaving, I blessed Lea and said the Lord’s Prayer. She was at peace and ready.

The Lea Seidell we all knew was the essence of honesty, grace, loyalty, leadership, that good kind of pride, and a woman of great faith. A master teacher, she was always teaching somebody something. Just ask Streeter, John or Leatrice. Music was in her heart and so she made beautiful music. Now there’s a gift to give the world! She also had a gift for making things grow. Remember the seedlings turned to buds turned to gardens of color waving in the summer breeze?

Lea didn’t wait for others; she was a do-er. The church fair, rebuilding committee, the ECW, the Vestry. She never gave up but always kept moving toward her goals. You wanted Lea on your team because she’d get the job done…and have a good time of it to boot. What a light spirit she had.

We’re sad at Lea’s death for many reasons, not the least of which is, despite a full and vibrant 82 years, none of us got to be with her as much as we would have liked. So now we hold on to memories and the lessons she taught. We’ll always see Lea when we think about Figaro and Pinocchio. Mostly though, for her dear husband, John, and her children, and for close friends like Peg and Dom, the sadness is not having Lea’s kindness and love each and every day. Though she’ll be sorely missed, we’re so glad to have known her.

Lea Seidell, you created a terrific family, you lived a wonderful life, you were generous of spirit. Now, “All is well, and all will be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” You are among the blessed company of all the saints in Light. To you, we say, “Blessings and Godspeed, Lea. Blessings and Godspeed.”

Amen.