John Gordon Bucknum married Beatrice Esther Marx August 17, 1939 in Mount Angel, OR (Source: Certificate: Marriage: OR: 22116.).

      Beatrice Esther Marx was born May 22, 1916 at home in Spokane, WA (Source: Bible: Hazel E. Marx.).

      On May 22, 1917 Bea & Theo posed for a picture (Source: Photo, first birthday.).

      John, third from the right, posed for a group First Communion picture (Source: Photo, undated.).

      On May 10, 1925 Beatrice sat for a First Communion portrait (Source: Photo, undated.).

      In 1931 Beatrice sat for an Eighth Grade Graduation portrait (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Commencement Program for the Graduating Class of 1931 at Saint Rose, Portland, OR (Source: Ephemera, A.M.D.G. Programme.).

      Bea posed for a picture outside of Mt. Angel Normal and Academy (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Beatrice Marx’ Junior picture at Mt. Angel Normal and Academy (Source: Photo, 1934.). 

      In 1935 Beatrice sat for an High School Graduation portrait (Source: Photo, undated.).

      The graduating class of Mt. Angel Normal and Academy posed for a picture (Source: School Paper: The Abiqua, June, 1935.).

      On June 2, 1935 John Bucknum and his classmates received a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Source: Commencement Program: Mt. Angel College.).

      Bea poses in her ‘cap & gown’ after graduation (Source: Photo, June, 1935.).

      Bea posed for alongside the car John borrowed to take her to Heppner to meet the folks (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Dear Betty:

      Mea culpa, mea culpa! But there is a reason for my not having written for so long. It was not that I didn‘t want to write or that I didn’t want to hear from you, for I do very much.

      “Mom” went to Los Angeles and stayed seven weeks. During that time I was the sole housekeeper of our three houses and also worked as superviser of a surveying crew. The rain caused us to take a day of rest, so I am now fulfilling a desire born several weeks ago.

      From now on, let’s both be more prompt in answering. I promise to, even if I have to stay up half the night to write.

      Several songs “hit the spot” with me: “Rose Marie,” “Yours Truly is Truly Yours,” and what’s the name of the one that goes “You are so loving, so far above me, I’m almost afraid to look. But I adore you, I place before you a heart that’s an open book.” Several of the late ones I have only heard once or twice, because in the last couple of months I haven’t even listened to the radio much.

No, I don’t believe a person twenty years old is too young to get married – nor eighteen either, for that matter. In some cases it would be, of course. It depends a great deal upon the temperament and character of the individual. A person inclined to be flighty of temperament and slightly fickle would perhaps “settle down” in a few years and might be more successful in choosing a mate if he, or she, waited a while. But anytime two persons really love each other, I think they would be very foolish to postpone the ceremonies for several years, unless some unusual circumstances prevented their marriage at that time.

      If I had two coins whose sum was sixty cents and one of which is not a dime, I suppose the coins are a fifty cent piece and a dime. Is that right?

      Congratulations to the Junior high school graduate. Do you feel any older after your Commencement?

      I found many studious boys and also many studious girls. There were also a number of each who were quite the opposite. My experience has been much too limited to give an honest answer to such a question. Generalizations are dangerous things.

      No, I’m not twenty-one anymore. Had a birthday last month. Really am becoming “old and decrepit.”

      Confession – Yes, I’ve fallen, - Engagement ring and all. I won’t start telling you about her, because if I were to, I would not be able to stop this side of page 10, and I don’t want to bore you. Just say “she’s the nicest thing that ever happened” and let it go at that.

      Such slang for a would-be teacher!

      It is almost train time, so I had better cut this short “pronto.” Before we call it thirty “I want to retaliate for that riddle of yours with a few more sensible questions…Buck (Source (p1)(p2)(p3)(p4)(Envelope): Letter: John Bucknum to Betty Young, Heppner, OR, June 1, 1936.).

      The 4^th of July Court – Madalyn Persyn, Princess; Mary Louise Le Doux, Princess; Georgianna Bourbonais, Queen; and Bea Marx, Princess – posed for a picture taken at the Queen’s home (Source: Photos, July 4^th .).

      The Queen’s Float in the 4^th of July Parade (Source: Photos, July 4^th.).

      The Royal Court Of The 1938 Oregon Flax Festival Queen Maxine The First To Reign Over Festival-Coronation to Take Place Friday Evening. Queen’s Ball to Follow-Amid the roar of tumultuous applause which rolled through the streets, echoed and reechoed as the roll over waves breaking upon a rock-bound coast, Queen Maxine I was announced Wednesday to be ruler of Flaxaria for the year 1938. The efforts of Maxine Berning of Mt. Angel is thus rewarded with the highest honors it is possible for a daughter of Flaxaria to receive. She shall reign as queen of the Flax Festival August 12, 13, 14 and she shall receive the trip promised to its ruler. Following closely behind Queen Maxine I came Beatrice Marx of Mt. Angel-Brooks, who now receives the title of Crown Princess, together with the diamond ring presented by Morris Rogoway of the Bernard Jewelry Company in Portland. The royal court shall be composed of Queen Maxine I, Crown Princess Beatrice Marx, and Princesses Beatrice Leonard of Silverton, Gertrude Meier of Salem, Gladys Matteson of Molalla and Beatrice Doty of Portland. These six merit the honor bestowed on them by reason of having disposed of the largest numbers of flax buttons, which admits the bearer to all flax festival events (Source: Newspaper: Mt. Angel News, August 11, 1938.).

      On August 17. 1939 Andrew Wackter, Raymond Rothenfluch, Theodore Marx, John & Beatrice Bucknum, Elizabeth Sadler, Thelma Marx, Irene Armitage, Shirley Fry & Helen Normile posed for a wedding picture at St. Mary’s Cathedral taken by Eddie Fry (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Thelma & Ted Marx, Edwin, Katie, Bea & John Bucknum, Hazel, Ted, Phil, Brother Boniface & David posed for a reception picture at the Marx Farm (Source: Photo, August 17, 1939.).

      In August, 1940 Bea & Denny posed for a picture (Source: Photo, 1 month.).

      Grandma Marx, Denny, Bea & John (Source: Photo, 1940.).

      In 1951 Dick & John posed for a picture (Source: Photo, undated.).

      In 1952 Bea posed for a picture (Source: Photo, undated.).

      In 1954 John, Mike, Dick, Bob, Barb, Bea & Denny sat for a portrait (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Barb, & John at Grandpa Marx’ farm (Source: Photo, September, 1955.).

      In 1955 Dick, Barb, & Bea posed for a picture (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Dick, Bob, & Mike posed for a picture while John figures out how to take one with his new camera (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Thursday, April 23, 1959: Gordon Bucknum phoned! - from New York just before 11 tonite. Such a surprise! He came by jet at 35,000 ft. 2 hrs. from Denver. He had talked to Florence and Genevieve is in very bad condition in St. Joseph's Hospital, at death's door. His oldest boy is out of the Seminary at home in Hi School (Source: Diary: Delia K. Palmatier.).

      Denny, Bob, Mike, Dick, Michelle, John, Bea, Bev & Barb sat for a family portrait (Source: Photo, 12/30/66.).

      Bob Bucknum, Cathy Goatley, John, Bea, Yvonne (Oliva), Dick, Michelle, Denny, Barbara Ann, Beverly, Mike, & Barb Bucknum posed for a wedding picture (Source: Photo, October 14, 1972.).

      Bea & Dick getting ready to tour the Bishop Museum, during her visited while he was stationed aboard the USS John Adams, SSBN 620 Blue, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Source: Photo, August 24, 1973.).

      Cathy, Bob, Faye, Dick, Debra (Hansen), Mike, Denny & Barbara Bucknum and Michelle Canales, John Bucknum, Barb Khajavei, Bea Bucknum & Bev Pruitt posed for a wedding picture at St. John’s Church (Source: Photo, June 2, 1979.).

      Bea posed for a picture with Helen Gallant in East Hampton, CT (Source: Photo, May, 1985.).

      Dinner at Delia Palmatier’s in Binghamton, NY (Source (p1)(p2): Photo, May 26, 1985.).

      Joan Buckman, Janice Russell, Betty Young, Bea & Diane Weyna [back row] and Dick, Delia & John posed for a picture (Source: Photo, May 26, 1985.).

      Bea & John posed for pictures at Niagara Falls (Source (p1) (p2): Photo, May 27, 1985.).

      Bea & Dick posed for a picture at Niagara Falls (Source: Photo, May 27, 1985.).

      John & Bea share the cake on their 50^th wedding anniversary (Source: Photo, August 17, 1989.).

      Back to neutral corners to count fingers (Source: Photo, August 17, 1989.)!

      Bea thanking Father (Source: Photo, August 17, 1989.).

      John, Terry & Dave Marx viewing the Happy Couple’s life through treasures of the past (Source: Photo, August 17, 1989.).

      On December 13, 1998 lineage of the family was proven and John Buckman was inducted into America’s First Families Roll of Honor (Source: Cerificate: ORBUCK001.).

      Bea & John enjoying Christmas dinner at their Granddaughter Bea Jai’s apartment in Vancouver, WA (Source: Photo, December 25, 2001.).

      Bea & John renewed their wedding vows in a Ceremony performed by Bishop Steiner at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portland, during which the Bishop wore the vestments which Hazel Marx had converted from Bea’s wedding dress for the Ordination of Father Dennis Marx (Source: Photo, August 17, 2004.).

      The 7-layer cake, which the family has used for special occasions for many generations, was prepared by their Granddaughter Bea Jai and was adorned with a replica of their original wedding picture made from frosting (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Bea & John posed for a picture with their granddaughters, Noreen & Colleen (Source: Photo, May, 2004.).

      The family gathers for Christmas Dinner at Bea Jai’s (Source: Photo, December 25, 2005.).

      Bea died peacefully at home in her bed (Source: Memorial, August 30, 2006.).

      Beatrice E. Bucknum died August 30, 2006 in Milwaukie, OR (Source: Newspaper: Oregonian, Saturday, September 2, 2006.).

      Beatrice E. Bucknum - Recitation of the rosary followed by a funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006, in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Milwaukie for Beatrice E. Bucknum, who died Aug. 30 of a stroke at age 90. Beatrice E. Marx was born May 22, 1916, in Spokane and raised in Portland. She graduated from Mt. Angel Academy high school and college. She taught in Brooks and then was a homemaker. She lived in Mt. Angel and West Linn before moving to Milwaukie in 1982. In 1939, she married John G. Survivors include her husband; sons, Dennis, Michael, Robert and Richard; daughters, Barbara Bucknum, Beverly Pruitt and Michelle Quehapama; 20 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Remembrances to the March of Dimes. Arrangements by Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes (Source: Newspaper: Oregonian, Saturday, September 2, 2006.).

      The Funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fathers: Todd Molinari, Pastor, Maxy D’Costa, Vicar, & Athanasius Onyima, a visiting priest from Nigeria who Bea had lent use of her car during his visit. Altar servers were Robbie Babcock & Ryan Greaux. Linda Presnall, a friend of Mike & Dick, arranged the Music and was accompanied on the piano by Beth Link, with Bea’s niece Patty Marx serving as Cantor.

Entrance: Amazing Grace.

Psalm: Shepherd Me O God.

Alleluia: Celtic.

Gifts: Precious Lord Take My Hand, during which Bea’s grandchildren: Roberto & John Carlo Gomez & Jamie Bucknum presented the offerings.

Communion:

      Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled & Ave Maria (Gregory Norbet), during which Bea’s son Michael, Barbara Dunlap & Rich Devitis, who had providing Bea & John with Communion every Tuesday for the past year, served as Eucharistic Ministers.

      Song of Farewell.

Closing: How Great Thou Art.

      Pallbearers were her grandchildren: Bea Jai Humprhies, Patrick Bucknum, Jayson Bucknum, Nicholi Khajavei, Kathleen VanZant, Colleen Bucknum, Jeramy Carpenter & Sean Pruitt.

      The First Reading was orated by her granddaughter Noreen Bucknum: A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:

On this mountain the LORD of hosts Will provide for all people. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

      The Second Reading was orated by her granddaughters, Breah Canales & Anna Rodman: A reading from the Book of Revelation:

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.”

      Father Todd’s Homily for Mass of Christian Burial for Beatrice Bucknum 9.6.06:

Dear Friends in Christ, Today we come together to our parish church of St. John the Baptist to offer this Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of the soul of our beloved sister in the Lord, Bea Bucknum. On behalf of the parish priests and staff, I want to extend my heartfelt and sincere condolences to her husband John; to her sons Dennis, Michael, Robert and Richard and their families; to her daughters Barbara, Beverly and Michelle and their families; to her 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; and to her relatives, friends and loved-ones who have gathered together here this day.

Today we come before the Lord to give thanks for Bea and for her life of love, family, and dedication. Bea was born on May 22, 1916 in Spokane, WA, the daughter of Theodore Michael Marx and Hazel Edna (nee’ Williams). She led a very full life, filled with faith in the Lord and love for her husband and children. On May 10, 1925 she received First Holy Communion. As a child her family moved to Portland, where she attended St. Rose of Lima School. The start of her Third Grade found all the family stricken in the smallpox epidemic in Longview, with the family moving to Portland. At Christmas that year, on a trip back to friends in Longview, she was riding in the car with her mother and Aunt. Her mother hit a patch of ice north of Vancouver on “Dead Man’s Curve”, and the car careened down a ravine, killing her Aunt Adah and Bea suffered injuries as well. She missed all of that year of school, yet managed to catch up and graduate with her peers at St. Rose Elementary.

The following year the family moved to a farm outside Mt. Angel, where she attended Gervais High School. In August 1938 she was crowned Oregon Flax Festival Crown Princess – she always envisioned herself as a princess, not liking farm life. After a couple of years of college she took a teaching job at a one-room school house until she met John Bucknum, a college basketball roommate of her brother Ted, who was attending the Seminary and Mt. Angel College.

She and John married on August 17, 1939 at St. Mary’s Church in Mt. Angel, and they recently celebrated 67 years of Holy Matrimony. Together they had seven children: Dennis, Michael, Robert, Richard, Barbara, Beverly and Michelle. In between these births there were as many miscarriages. [After her last miscarriage her doctor had to have the Bishop of San Jose write her a letter, telling her she had done her duty in the eyes of God and had to have a hysterectomy, a procedure which she constantly rejected as an affront to her faith.].

In 1962 they moved to Olympia. In 1975 they moved to West Linn. In 1976 they moved to NW Portland and in 1982 they moved to their home in Milwaukie. On August 17, 2004 they renewed their wedding vows in a Mass offered by Bishop Steiner at the Cathedral, where the Bishop wore the vestments which Hazel had converted from Bea’s wedding dress into a chasuble for Fr. Dennis’ Ordination.

Life in the 50’s and 60’s consisted of having to contend on her own with this passel of kids during the week while John was on the road. Yet she always found the time to ensure that each child received the necessary training and education. Instead of sending her children to Kindergarten she would spend that year teaching the child, including making them a packed lunch and each morning undertaking a lesson that would last until lunch time, at which time they would take out their sack lunch and eat.

During the late 60’s, at least once or twice a month, she would pack the family in the car and off they would go to visit her parents in downtown Portland for the weekend. A sense of family was always apparent as her brother David and his family would get together frequently, and the whole family would get together on big occasions down at their folks’ farm outside of Mt. Angel. Mass was an everyday occurrence for most of the children, and frequently Mass would be celebrated at home by one of her brothers, Fr. Dennis or Fr. Gerard.

Even though the last 20 years were marked by suffering from Parkinson’s disease, she never lost her cheery sense of humor, her kind voice and her ability for always looking for something kind to say. She always lived her faith and values. She loved sports, as any coach’s wife would. She even took up golf, until the one nearly fatal day when her drive off the tee hit some gentleman in a way that he would not soon forget.

Bea always impressed upon her family the Faith and God’s protection upon them. Besides surviving the car accident in her youth, after her last miscarriage she was gravely ill, when she reported that the Blessed Mother appeared to her at the foot of her bed, telling her that she wasn’t done with her on earth yet. She always had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, and this vision only deepened that, as she soon recovered shortly thereafter. She also survived a serious car accident in Northern California. She would reflect: If life isn’t enough proof that God watches over us, how many near-death experiences does it take to prove to one that He does?

Her two favorite adages were: “God never gives us more than we can handle”, and “the more God gives us, the more he demands from us.” We can see in her life that the Lord has given us many wonderful gifts, talents and graces. It is our responsibility to live our faith in each and every action we take and decision we make. These were the lessons Bea taught her children and all of us in the Christian community, both in her words and in her actions. We can reflect as well: Life can be hard. We stumble and fall, but as long as we are truly sorry in our hearts for our offenses against the Lord and try to incorporate His Word of truth into our lives, then how can we not be reunited with Bea once again in the Kingdom of heaven?

It was through Bea’s leading by example; her untiring devotion to God and the Blessed Mother; her selflessness in tending for her aged parents; her sacrifices of her own desires in deference to her children’s needs and desires; her joy and good humor under the worst of circumstances; her looking for the good in people. These are all authentic ways in which Bea lived her Faith and are well worth emulating. Although she was taken from us, Jesus wants to assure us that this Eucharist and our prayers and sacrifices united with it assist Bea in her final pilgrimage to our Father’s house in heaven. We pray that the angels and saints and the Blessed Mother will guide her safely home. We recall in this offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that our time here on earth is a pilgrimage, a journey of faith, hope and love to our final destiny with God.

Our offering of this Mass for Bea draws upon the infinite graces and merits of our Lord on the Cross and applies them to Bea so that he may enter into Heaven. This awesome power of the Holy Mass that we celebrate confirms our faith that God wants to invite Bea into His merciful and loving embrace – That He too acknowledges and affirms what we also know to be true: That Bea led a life of fidelity in her family, in her friendships and in her work; that she was committed, wise and generous; In truth, in our Faith we believe that any suffering that Bea experienced was and is united with Jesus’ redemption won for us on the Cross in the offering of this Mass.

God the Father, through Jesus Christ, now lifts up, redeems, and heals Bea to prepare her for her final pilgrimage to her heavenly home. In our participation in the Mass today we send our prayers along with her to accompany her in her final sojourn, guided by the angels to the Lord. We will miss you very much Bea. We pray that you will rest in the peace of Christ.

      Bea’s son Richard gave one eulogy on behalf of her husband, John:

What can one say about the person with whom he has shared over 67 years of his life? A lot, but I’m not sure if I have enough time left here to do it justice. So, the next question is what does one say about that very most beloved person? Do I tick off her accomplishments; like being Crown Princess of the Flax Festival; how during the War she took a job in Portland to free up a man for service; how she endured her many successful and unsuccessful pregnancies? These are all the physical elements of Bea, but not what made her who she was. It was her emotional and spiritual elements which were her real make up.

Oh yes, there are the physical elements, such as the comfort of her proximity as we sat in our chairs over the last few decades; the warmth of her body as we lay together in bed each night; the tenderness of her kiss as our lips lingered upon each parting. Those I shall cherish in my heart and mind for the rest of my days, for it was she who made me whole. And I’m certain that each and every one of you who has known her over the years has your own special physical remembrances which you will keep alive within yourself until you meet her again in God’s Kingdom.

I mentioned that her pregnancies were part of her physical element, yet how she contended with them really transitions into her spiritual element. Over the years I have heard countless tales of women lashing out at those around them due to the pain of childbirth. Bea never did that. Instead of allowing the pain she was going through to negatively affect her, she would pray the Joyful Mysteries on her Rosary offering up her sufferings through Mary and realizing that they were nothing compared to what Mary’s son endured for us.

Bea’s devotion to Mary was not just an essential part of her life, but at the very core of her existence. Our daily devotion to the Rosary gave us the strength to continue on regardless of the world around us, comfortable in the knowledge that God had something more for us to do here before he would let us join Him in His Kingdom. I know not what He still asks of me, but I truly believe that this past year and a half was His reward to her for all that she has done.

You see, a year and a half ago-the week before Christmas as a matter of fact-what could have been the most devastating and ruinous time of our long life together became a story of her success at life. When tragedy struck us, taking away our home, our treasured possessions, even our clothes; our family pulled together in a manner we never dreamed possible. We were immediately given shelter in our son and daughter Bob & Cathi’s house where our every need was not only met, but exceeded. When Cathi had to go back to work, our daughter Beverly stepped forward and moved us into her house. Again, exceeding our meager needs. While staying there, each of our other children and grandchildren gave tirelessly of themselves to repair, reclaim and restore our home and surroundings. By March, Bea and I were once again able to move back into our home, which had been completely repainted, recarpetted and refreshed with every thought of what we might want or need having been attended to.

Since that time, not a day has gone by that one or another of the family hasn’t been over to visit and share a little of their life with us, and to make sure that our life was as good as it could possibly be. On every major and minor holiday, practically the whole family has gathered at our house, really making it a home. Our grand-daughter Katie put aside her studies as a pharmaceutical technician to become our care-giver and tend to our every need. On those occasions when she had other things that she had to do, her mother Beverly or Aunt Michelle would step in immediately.

So many of them have done so much for us that I don’t have time right now to recount them all, but each and every one, Denny, Mike, Bob, Cathi, Dick, Bev, Paul, Michelle, Ralph, Katie, Anna, Joe, Breah, Bea Jai, Sean, Jeramy, Nicki, Shari, Steffie, Jamie-every single one of them-were the reward that God had given Bea. I can’t count the times that she has marvelled and praised each of your selfless efforts on our behalf, and took comfort in knowing that her life’s work was not only done, but was successfully done. For she knew that she must have done something right for all of her family to have turned out this well. And I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for having made this last year of her life so complete and allowing her to go to God in comfort.

      A second eulogy was given by her son Michael:

I would like to thank all of you for joining the family in a celebration of Mom’s life. Mom laid out a road map for her children, grandchildren and great grand children to follow. She lived by the teachings and examples of St. Therese of Liseaux, The Little Flower. She did not do great things, she did small things in a great way. Mom would have been uncomfortable, to say the least with all this attention. She was always very unassuming and shunned any praise or recognition for the kind and thoughtful acts she performed during her lifetime. She taught us humility. She would drop everything to help a neighbor in need, especially if it involved children. The young mothers in Pendleton came to her so often for medical advice for their kids that she so became known as Dr. Bea. She taught us charity. She attended Mass every Sunday, received the sacraments regularly, prayed the Rosary daily. And followed the Laws of God and the precepts of the Church. She showed us the way of faith.

With 7 kids, the 4 oldest being boys and Dad on the road most of the time, Mom shouldered the day to day responsibility of raising the family. As I recall we were pretty much a handful and often pushed her to her limits as kids do when exploring their boundaries. Some how Mom persevered through all the battles. She showed us patience. And finally, after watching her live her life emulating the teachings of Jesus Christ she gives us all hope that we can follow her on to eternal life.

A few years ago a young priest, Father John Amsberry came to St. John’s. he was very charismatic and drew sometimes overflowing crowds to the 6:30 Mass on Sunday evenings. It was my great privilege and honor to drive my parents to Mass back then, some of you undoubtedly remember Father for starting every Mass with “It is 6:30 and you are loved.” It became a clarion call throughout the Diocese.

But he also started a less known act, one Sunday during the Sign of Peace. Instead of the normal handshake he asked everyone to turn to the people on either side and make the sign of the cross on their forehead while saying “Peace be with you.” From that day forward every time I left the house Mom made the sign of the cross on my forehead and said “May God bless you and keep you, I love you,” and give me a kiss on the cheek.

Mom, now it’s my turn: it’s 12:35 and you are loved and you will be greatly missed. May God bless you and keep you in eternal life. Amen.

      Following the Mass, the congregation processed to Willamette National Cemetery, where the graveside services were conducted. Father Todd explained the significance of the Papal Plenary Indulgence which was presented to the family of John and Bea Bucknum by Pope Pius.

      Mt. Scott Floral prepared the beautiful flower arrangements which helped us to surround Bea with the beauty that she so greatly enjoyed in life, including a Rosary of lavender roses. Father Todd blessed the Rosary and presented to John to conclude the graveside services.

      Bea was interred in Section Q, Grave 1070.

      Following the ceremony at the Cemetery, a reception was presented at the Church by Young Ladies Institute.

 

 

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^{© Richard J. Bucknum}
March 8, 2007, Clackamas, OR