Condolence From: Robin A Cullen
Condolence:
Jewel Grace (Mahon) McKeon
Good morning family and friends, and good morning to those who would have been her friends, if only they had once met her, our beloved Jewel Grace (Mahon) McKeon.
We are deeply saddened by our loss. It is truly an honor to have been asked to celebrate the lifeof my Aunt Jewel. For those who don’t know me, I am Robin Cullen, Jewel’s niece, eldest daughter of Jewel’s surviving sister, Marilyn (Mahon) Cullen and husband, Ray.
First, to Susan and Elizabeth,
In my search for words to bring you peace and comfort at this time, and for the days ahead, I remembered a conversation I had, long ago, with your mom - I think we had met for a day at the beach at Water’s Edge. It was after your dad had passed. She told me she promised herself,
after Phil passed, that each day she would get out of bed and do one thing. That’s what came to me, each day, get out of bed and do one thing. I know, I’m sorry, it doesn’t sound like much, and maybe not very comforting. But please, let me tell you, years later, later in my own life, facing devastating circumstances, her words came to me in my time of despair, advice she didn’t know she was giving at the time. Actually, it was the way she lived her life those years between, her example, that ultimately led me back to her words, which in turn, became my motivation, my hope . . . that I, too, could go on . . . Each day, get out of bed, and do one thing. All of her life, she showed me, us, and countless others, that in keeping it simple, there is nothing we cannot handle.
To my Mom,
Today we remember your dear sister Jewel along with your other siblings, gone too soon, James B. Mahon, Jr. and Katherine (Mahon) Salvato. You were all born in New Haven, to Dorothy Hodgins and James B. Mahon, Sr. and as you so often say, you don’t know how any of you survived or how you made it out of there. The truth is, I can’t imagine all that each of you four suffered, together, and each in your own way. Each of you did, in different ways, make it out of there and continue to do what needed to be done so that each of us, my siblings, my cousins and I, would not experience the degree of suffering that you four had. I am sorry for all your suffering, then, and with the loss of your dear sister, today. I am, and I’m sure my siblings and cousins are, as well, grateful for the courage and strength you each mustered up to escape the adversities of your childhood, to be the best parents you could be, for each one of us. We watch as you struggle to hold onto managing today and to all that has become the good in your life. I remember family times and your stories from when we were kids - you and Aunt Jewel would pack us up, diapers and all . . . those were good times . . . at Mixville Beach, a Sunday afternoon on Highland Avenue in Windsor, hmmm, maybe not for you and AuntJewel, though! Especially the time it rained all week at the cottage in New London. And, every time we were all getting together, Dad and Uncle Phil would go off golfing and leave
you and Jewel with all of us kids, demanding the grill be ready when they got back. You gals did all the work while the guys were out having fun! May we all find comfort in the memories we’ve shared with Jewel and Phil, and the McKeon clan!
To Jewel’s Foster Family, Nancy, Charlie, Peter and Biddie, and Dar,
We offer our condolences, love and support, and expressions of gratitude, especially to the late David and Alice Irwin.
To Dave, Sue’s other half; to Kevin, Beth’s other half; to the late Philip McKeon, Jewel’s other half; and to the late Eddie Hollick, Jewel’s long time companion, thank you for showing us that beside every strong woman, there is a good man!
To Ann-Marie, Darlene, and to all the cousins,
May the joy of our family memories forever ease the pain of our losses, both past and present. May we know there is peace in the reunion in heaven as Jewel joins her sons, Steven and Jimmy, all who are gone too soon.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
To Jewel’s grandchildren, Erica and James, Zachary and Heather, and extended family, Erika and Cody,
How she loved you so! You each have your special memories that you will forever cherish.
Jewel’s middle name, is Grace. Jewel Grace (Mahon) McKeon
In the dictionary, grace, as a noun:
• Simple elegance or refinement of movement.
• Courteous goodwill.
• An attractively polite manor of behaving.
And, grace, as a verb, an action word:
• Do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one’s presence.
I think we all could say we have each been blessed by Jewel Grace’s good graces.
Jewel was a friend to so many and touched so many lives in so many different ways. With God’s amazing grace, shine on in heaven now, with your beloveds, until we meet again. Rest in peace, our dear Jewel Grace (Mahon) McKeon
The Full Original Copy of the Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
Change to:
God, grant us the serenity
To accept the things we cannot change,
The courage to change the things we can,
And, the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as we would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If we surrender to Your will,
So that we may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
Peace, love, and joy to you, dear cousins, always,
Robin
Sunday May 08, 2016
