[Oe List ...] The Completed Life of Nan Grow (forwarded from Rebecca)

[Nancy Lanphear]

Thank you Phyllis for your sweet story.  Nancy

On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 3:23 PM JB Webster via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
wrote:

> This is from my sister Phyllis Allard
>
> When I first came into The Order at the Kemper building it was near my
> 50th birthday. There was a big meeting in the large dining hall and it
> seemed to be in celebration of Nan Grow's 50th birthday. I silently
> celebrated along with everyone. I was a bit envious because it was also MY
> 50th birthday. I don't remember how the word got around, but Nan found out
> and true to her nature it became a mutual celebration even tho hardly
> anyone knew even who I was. From that time on, we became “birth sisters” as
> we were the same age. Later, when my brother John Webster became closely
> associated with the Grows, the mutual celebration became more intense. The
> loss of my “sister” is a “blow” as I realize my end is near. I can never be
> the truly sainted person that I believe Nan to be, but I will miss her.
>
> On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 9:52 AM John Ballard via OE <
> oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
>
>> Dear Bill and all the dear Grow family,
>>
>>
>>
>> We are so sad to learn of Nancy’s passing.  We are remembering our
>> wonderful visit to Masonicare in CT a few years ago.  Nancy was still her
>> divine self:  standing up for women, caring for her neighbors, loving the
>> world in every way possible, and being our friend.  We rejoice that we had
>> those great years while you lived in York, PA and were a significant force
>> in our House Church.  Nancy was truly a preacher of the Word and helped all
>> of us grasp its meaning for our lives.  We have been blessed to be in
>> Nancy’s sphere for more than 50 years.  We join the saints and everyone in
>> celebrating her completed life.  We send you our love and hugs and tears,
>> too.
>>
>>
>>
>> With our gratitude and love,
>>
>> Jack, Louise and Peter Ballard
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> *On Behalf Of *Shelley Hahn
>> via OE
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 29, 2020 9:05 AM
>> *To:* Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>> *Cc:* Shelley Hahn <shellhahn at gmail.com>
>> *Subject:* [Oe List ...] The Completed Life of Nan Grow (forwarded from
>> Rebecca)
>>
>>
>>
>> Good morning, friends,
>>
>>
>>
>> Rebecca Grow asked if I would forward this message to the OE list.  It
>> includes both her email address and Bill's.
>>
>>
>>
>> Fond regards,
>>
>> Shelley Hahn
>>
>>
>>
>> From: *Rebecca Grow* <rjgrow at gmail.com>
>> Date: Mon, Sep 28, 2020 at 3:15 PM
>> Subject: Nan Grow
>> To: <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>> Cc: Bill Grow <billgrow at verizon.net>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Order Colleagues,
>>
>>
>>
>> On behalf of Bill Grow, I am writing to let you know that my mother, Nan,
>> suffered a large stroke on Thursday and died from it two days later. Our
>> family gathered to be with her until the end and to support Dad. She was
>> kept comfortable in hospice care and we prayed over her.
>>
>>
>>
>> Nan would have turned 92 on October 23. I told my friends that she had
>> been a missionary in Korea, a pastor’s wife and mother of four, a member of
>> an ecumenical society that focused on community development as its mission,
>> and a teacher who traveled throughout Asia and to Zambia and lived in
>> Brazil. Along the way, she got her Doctor of Ministry degree and became a
>> UCC pastor in Georgia and Florida. She lived a life of integrity, focused
>> on acting out her faith. She loved poetry and language, and she played a
>> wicked game of Scrabble.
>>
>>
>>
>> It has been hard for Bill and Nan, as for so many others, to bear the
>> isolation that Covid-19 has imposed. I am grateful that they were able to
>> spend their August wedding anniversary visiting—socially distanced—with
>> Marilyn and Joe Crocker.
>>
>>
>>
>> We intend to organize an online memorial to share more of Nan’s story and
>> to reminisce. It may be months before we do this. Meanwhile, we would be
>> grateful to receive your stories and memories about her.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bill will be sending a notice to another list, and he apologizes that
>> some of you may receive this news in duplicate.
>>
>>
>>
>> Grace and peace to you,
>>
>> Rebecca Grow
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>>
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