Celebration of Teri’s Life
Friday August 26th, 2011
(Bridesmaid for Lois's wedding, age 30, pregnant with Rachel - one of the only pictures by herself.)
Teri viewing a collage of her life, family and friends
PROGRAM
Welcome – Lois (college classmate)
White Coat Ceremony – Steve (best friend, fellow resident)
· Introduction
· Reading – Steve
· Comments – Ben
· Teri’s lesson – B
· Hippocratic Oath - Ben and physicians
· Comments - Kok Peng (fellow resident above) and Ray Chun (mentor to B)
· Putting on the White Coat – Teri and B
Love Story: How We Met, Reading vows – Teri and B
“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor – B (sang and played guitar at their wedding) and Group (Ruthanne & Kok Peng)
Sharing stores with Teri (Memee, mentor and Rachel and Ben's 1st pediatrician)
Musical Interlude - Meleah (cello) accompanied by mother Phyllis (Teri's niece)
Sharing more stories with Teri (Mary, spouse of Steve)
“Take My Hand Precious Lord”, “Amazing Grace” Phyllis (piano, voice)
Musical Selections from “Fiddler on the Roof” “Matchmaker, matchmaker”, “Sunrise, Sunset - Paul Grossberg (fellow resident)
Closing - Prayer Psalm 23 – Lois
Other pictures
Becky (NJ), Lois (NY), Paul (WI), John (Rachel's husband)
Sandy (neighbor)
4 generations of Li's - Chu-tsing (91), Jack and Rachel
S
Note:
We somehow pulled this 'Awake Wake' together with the help of Steve, Kok Peng, Paul, and Lois in a 24 hour period. As we watched Teri's energy level decline, we decided to move it from Sunday morning to Friday evening in order that she be as present as possible. Despite the extremely short notice, forty-four family and close friends attended.
Because Ben returned home and was unable to participate in his white coat ceremony in Michigan, Paul suggested we do a personalized one here that Teri could attend (as she had intended to do). The family and Teri were all profoundly moved by this suggestion. It worked out beautifully and Teri and I got to put the white coat on him! Interestingly, there were 9 faculty physicians (including my former chief Colin and current one Manu) here who were able to read the Hippocratic oath along with Ben ... that may have been more than attended the formal ceremony in Michigan.
It was a moving event full of personal warmth, heart warming memories, life's lessons, and cracking voices and shed tears. Nineteen family and friends shared their recollections. I learned even more about how Teri had touched others' lives through being uniquely 'present' for them, for valuing relationships above all else, for loving all kids (especially babies) not only her own, for her fearlessness and strength in the face of authority and cancer, and for being totally unconditionally accepting of others, and for having an infectious joie de vivre and sense of fun. We know many of you were here in spirit with us. Thank you the many thoughts that you have expressed in writing that reflect her impact on your lives. We have read them to her. She appreciates and is overwhelmed by them.
We somehow pulled this 'Awake Wake' together with the help of Steve, Kok Peng, Paul, and Lois in a 24 hour period. As we watched Teri's energy level decline, we decided to move it from Sunday morning to Friday evening in order that she be as present as possible. Despite the extremely short notice, forty-four family and close friends attended.
Because Ben returned home and was unable to participate in his white coat ceremony in Michigan, Paul suggested we do a personalized one here that Teri could attend (as she had intended to do). The family and Teri were all profoundly moved by this suggestion. It worked out beautifully and Teri and I got to put the white coat on him! Interestingly, there were 9 faculty physicians (including my former chief Colin and current one Manu) here who were able to read the Hippocratic oath along with Ben ... that may have been more than attended the formal ceremony in Michigan.
It was a moving event full of personal warmth, heart warming memories, life's lessons, and cracking voices and shed tears. Nineteen family and friends shared their recollections. I learned even more about how Teri had touched others' lives through being uniquely 'present' for them, for valuing relationships above all else, for loving all kids (especially babies) not only her own, for her fearlessness and strength in the face of authority and cancer, and for being totally unconditionally accepting of others, and for having an infectious joie de vivre and sense of fun. We know many of you were here in spirit with us. Thank you the many thoughts that you have expressed in writing that reflect her impact on your lives. We have read them to her. She appreciates and is overwhelmed by them.
Teri, B, Ben, and my dearest Rachel, I pray for you and the rest of your family for peace, comfort, solace, warm memories, and love. Teri, you inspire me not only through these difficult times but you have always been to me, an inspiration and a source of warmth and comfort. I think of you all the time. Thank you for bringing such joy and love to this world, that is something we should all aspire to. I pray for your comfort and peace. Rachel, I love you and I am constantly thinking of you. I pray for your peace and I pray for the peace of your family. You are a glowing reflection of your mother and I am honored to have been a part of your mom's life in a small way and to be a part of yours.
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