Dear Jack, George and other members of our Order who have known and loved Donnamarie, Joe and I send our deep condolences to you, West family members and the Litibu community in Mexico on the passing of one fine, missional lady. We consider Donnamarie our surrogate "daughter," as we stood up as representatives of "the parents" at the wedding of George and Donnamarie, many years ago in Chicago. Although "our daughter in the spirit", Donnamarie, is spared further pain from her long illness, so many of us will deeply miss her presence. We remember especially her memoir of "awakenment" (my label) entitled "What More Could I Ask For?" For us it was such a powerfully positive narrative of her journey from living a full, but somewhat circumscribed life in the suburbs of the US, to experiencing a call to serve the innocent suffering of the world -- and daring to respond. (She wrote this long before the memoir was the literary form "du jour.") In the early 90s when we lived just outside Boston and Joe's young parishioner (a dentist) expressed a "call to serve" beyond the Hispanic community of East Boston, Joe asked Donnamarie and you, George (who were visiting us at the time), to describe your work in Peru and counsel her a bit on the "values screen" she might use in a discernment process for coming to a decision. That young woman is now approaching 50 and has served as a UMC medical missionary in Nicaragua for nearly 20 years. We believe her decision was at least in part influenced by the data, concern and passion shared by the West family. Our OE Community of Saints is forever growing these days, each time with tears "about" the specific loss of beloved ones like Donnamarie, and tears "over" the final separation we all will ultimately encounter. Grace, peace and love, Marilyn and Joe -----Original Message----- From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Jack Gilles via OE Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 12:41 AM To: Richard West; Bill & Sheela Westre; Nancy Lanphear; Bob & Tina Lang; Robert Lang; Order Ecumenical Community Subject: [Oe List ...] Donnamarie West Dear Colleagues, I am sorry to say that Donnamarie died this evening around 9 PM after a brief stay in the hospital. George, his granddaughter Kathy and Diane where there when she passed. She is being cremated on Sunday. No other plans have been announced. Thanks for your love and concern over all these years of her illness. Grace and Peace, Jack _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net