Down Butternut Road

After yesterday's funeral, a sad but wondrous occasion, our family met at the farm and formed a procession to Ebenezer Cemetery. We drove the few miles up County Y to Butternut Road to Elwood Corners where Ebenezer Evangelical Church stood for many years, to the church cemetery.

Dad's ashes were in the lead vehicle as we made a trip that took things full circle. My Mom and Dad were born in that neighborhood, married at that church, and retired to Mom's home place where they lived well into their eighties and nineties.

After a short committal service and the singing of "For The Beauty of the Earth," we all took turns with the shovel as Dad's ashes were returned to the ground. It was a powerful, poignant moment.

"For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild.

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."

Copyright 2013

Wanda Hayes Eichler