Mom is home

My sisters and I (and Delia and one of my nephews) met my mom at the airport this afternoon. We are so glad to have her safely home again. She was very happy to see us, but clearly quite tired. We talked over some of the decisions we need to make, until it became clear she was truly too tired to focus any more on the conversation. My sisters and I offered to have one of us stay tonight, but she told us that wasn't necessary, so we all returned home.

At this point, we are planning to hold the memorial next Saturday (October 6) (sorry to those who had hoped to see me at Gaylaxicon, but this, of course, will scotch those plans). Details to follow later. We plan to get an obituary into the Sunday paper.

(And I found a lovely flower arrangement waiting for me on the porch when I returned home, sent by the Alternity players. I was so very touched by their thoughtfulness.)

(One of my new Harry Potter mood icons):

Now

our refrigerator isn't working.

This month has just sucked.

Dad's obituary

This will be running in the Star Tribune tomorrow: Edited to add: Link is here.



Allen Stewart Kerr: Age 83 of Minnetonka. Passed away suddenly on September 25 in Florence, Italy at the home of his dear friend, Richard Serrin. Born November 13, 1928. Survived by his wife of 60 years, Charlyn; children Betsy (Greg); Chet (Heather); Peg (Rob); and Cindy (Rob); and grandchildren David, Michael, Steven, Andrew, Jackson, Leigh, Georgia, Fiona, Delia, Stuart, Lewis, and Mitchell. Allen grew up in Evanston, Illinois and attended Brown University in Rhode Island. He was a passionate Brown alumnus and recently attended his 62nd reunion. Upon graduation, he served in the 6th fleet of the U.S Navy in the Mediterranean and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He worked in the printing business in Chicago for 30 years while raising his family. He then went back to graduate school at age 55 to get a doctorate in psychology. Graduating at age 60, he worked as a clinical psychologist in Columbus, Georgia for 10 years. As a consummate “people person,” he had friends all over the world he met through American Field Service, Rotary, and the Centers for Citizens’ Initiative. This past year, he raised funds for BioSand water filters through Rotary, and traveled to the Dominican Republic to install the filters. He was passionate about many things including his faith, family, humanitarian causes, golf, Brown University, Richard’s paintings, speaking Spanish, books, telling stories, traveling, and meeting new people. Please join us in celebrating Allen’s life on Saturday, October 6 at 1:30 PM with visitation at 12:30 PM, All Saints Lutheran Church, 15915 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Minnetonka Rotary Club or Brown University.