A “Perfect” Mass and a Basket Full of Daisies
About three weeks ago, Susan Stewart (a family service adviser) and I were contacted by a woman in Florida about holding a memorial visitation and Mass of Christian Burial at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens for her daughter. Our challenge was to coordinate details long distance. Susan promptly emailed photos of Good Shepherd and Our Lady chapels to her. The woman also sent her sister-in-law to Oaklawn to look at both chapels.
The woman arrived in Indianapolis a few days before the Mass and came to see the chapel options in person. After Susan took her to both locations she returned to the office and said both felt claustrophobic. She said she would be more comfortable switching the Mass to a church, even though the obituary had already been published in the Star. Susan and I assured her that a perfect Mass could be held in Good Shepherd by "painting the picture" for her.
Over the following two days the Oaklawn staff transformed Good Shepherd into a "sanctuary" like the one she had envisioned. Jack, Tim, Jim, and Mike physically moved the heavy altar from Our Lady to the Good Shepherd chapel. Mike brought in a piano and hired Betty Staples to play traditional Catholic hymns. Father Phil Bowers from Holy Spirit Geist came to Good Shepherd and celebrated the Mass. Another member of the family did the traditional readings. The woman’s daughter’s favorite flowers were daisies, so a large basket of daisies was placed next to her urn, and guest relations staffers Nancy Elson and Carl Stewart handed a daisy to each person attending the service. The daughter had been a cheerleader at both Lawrence North and Indiana University, and many of her cheerleading friends attended the service. It was a heart-warming experience.
The family told us how extremely pleased they were with the creation of this “perfect” setting. I am so proud of our staff for “going the extra mile” to make it happen.
Michael Neff is a funeral director for Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers. He is also a trained celebrant, officiating at both weddings and funerals.