“In the Arms of Family Forever” by Dr. Judy Lee/ Today We Celebrate Jack Meehan's Life, Wake at Everly Community Funeral Home, 2-4PM, 6-8PM

Born in Ballyroan

In County Laois

Rooted in Ireland,

Rooted in love,

Rooted in Christ

Rooted in music-

Strong in the roots,

Intertwined in the

Branches and the

Beautiful blossoms

Growing, making

New in Katie and in Danny

Born of the love of Sean and Nancy

Nurtured by them

and Jack and Bridie,

Grandpa and Grandma,

and Aunt Mary too

and Uncle Patrick and Val,

and Aunt Molly too-

 as well as timid

beautiful Molly

their dog after

beloved Belle

and Shep and Candy,

All the family of Jack,

 and he was so proud

of each one,

and of Mary, his Sister, daughter and priest.

And all the family of Jack

Were by his side

Day and night

In shifts and

All together,

praying, crying,

laughing, waking

 loving, loving

loving him, their gentle love.

And the first time

they were told

God was calling

They waked him

So good, he began

To eat and live again.

He moved his toes to the tunes of

the Ballyroan Band

And squeezed their

hands to the tune of his

Memory Aires, his

trumpet and his sax

for he was music, and music cannot die.

And yes he hummed

To the Rose of Mooncoin

and is free in Inishfree.

And while his homes were in Coolkerry and

Northern Virginia

He would go Back

Home to Indiana with dear

Nancy who lovingly,

with friend Dawn

Fed them all.

And remember his

Beloved Bridie Beale

With In the Mood

And let me call you Sweetheart,

And all the family and dear friends

With Irish eyes are

Smiling and

Danny Boy,

So for them

Happy days were

here with him

and they will come again

when he blares it

out and gathers them in, with him,

when the Saints Go Marchin’ In.

(Dr. Judy Lee, 11/8/12)

 

“Living Love” - For Mary Bridget and Dad, Jack by Dr. Judy Lee

Jack and Bridget Mary, after home church liturgy in Aug. 2012

 

“Living Love”  - For Mary Bridget and Dad, Jack

She has become

Holy Mother Mary

becomes

The Pieta

becomes receiver

of the broken body,

still singing his

song within

the moans,

still playing

 his trumpet

with his fingers

while his

music plays

in the background.

She smiles, she,

 

 now Holy Mother Mary.

 

She holds, She hugs,

She kisses and cajoles

She dances,

and every once in a while

he strings some words

together and,  almost

smiles and dreams.

Miles to go, and she will go,

And they will go together.

Love.

(Dr. Judy Lee, 11/8/12)

Jack Meehan Died on Sat. Nov. 24th/Wake and Funeral Will Be Held in Falls Church, VA.

"Down the corridor of time has travelled a man...whose Life and Spirit have changed our lives...and shaped our history with musicalutterances that touched our hearts.”
"When Saints Go Marchin In"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bjl6Eke4Ac&feature=youtu.be
"Rose of Mooncoin" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVysE9BkBqc

Jack Meehan of Falls Church passed away peacefully at home with family members at his side after a long illness on November 24, 2012. He was born on October 4, 1924, in Ballyroan, County Laois, Ireland. Jack was married September 25, 1946, to Bridie Beale, who preceded him in death. Jack was the beloved father of Sean, Patrick, and Bridget Mary. The family immigrated to the United States in 1956. A gifted musician, Jack played trumpet and saxophone and he and his band entertained in the DC area for over 40 years. His band was the house band for Army-Navy Country Club for over 20 years and also performed for three US Presidents (Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon) as well as at Congressional and embassy functions. Jack retired from the Brookings Institution in 1991 after 30 years of faithful service. Along with his children, Jack is survived by his beloved grandchildren, Katie and Danny, and his daughters-in-law, Nancy and Valerie, as well as many family members and friends in Ireland, England and Australia as well as the US. Services will be held at Everly Funeral Home, 6161 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. Viewing from 2-4PM, 6-8PM on Friday, November 30. Funeral in Everly Funeral Chapel at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 1, followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Falls Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s name to Capital Caring Hospice, 950 North Glebe Road, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22203.

Our family is grateful for the outpouring of prayers and loving support from so many people who loved Dad and enjoyed his fabulous music. We will miss him more than words can say, but his spirit and music will live forever. May the road rise up to meet you, Dad, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm on your face, the rain fall softly on your fields and, until we meet again may God hold you in loving embrace!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com

 

We Give Thanks for Dad/Jack Meehan/Clip and Pics from Oct. 2012 Liturgy

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=If3kZNnuilY

After a joyful house liturgy in Nov. 2012, we listened to Dad's favourite music. Maricia Tibbetts, Judy Lee and Judy Beaumont, Marianne Smyth, and Joleane Presley, Jackie, Judy and Marianne's cousin, and Comfort Boadu, Dad's care-giver celebrated a beautiful liturgy and we anointed Dad with holy oil /Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Jack Meehan in Prayer Circle at Recent Sunday Liturgy

'And the Angels Came" by Dr. Judy Lee

“And the Angels Came”

For the singing

and the moaning

and the caring,

for the caring of a gentle happy, caring man.

God’s own Gabriel on the horn,

He played so sweet.

And they washed him

sometimes with tears,

And they fed him

with Mother love,

And they lifted,

And they washed him

And they ministered

And laughed, Yes

they laughed and

brought his slight

smile and tapping

to the songs they sang.

The sun would shine.

They danced with him

And Mary who

could dance through silent tears.

They came because

they were sent by

our loving Mother God

to care for this

beloved father

and Gran’Pa.

They called him

Papa, for in

Mother Africa all

are family ,

And in Christ

all are One.

Comfort and

Lillian from Ghana,

Memunata, “Mona”

and Saidu from

Sierra Leone.

These are the angels

sent by God from

Africa to Jack Meehan,

son of Ireland forever.

So now there is an

African- Irish-American

 family that will

last forever in our hearts

with Jack.

( by Dr. Judy Lee, 11/8/12)

Comfort Boadu

Lillain King

Mona Gassama