Friday, November 30, 2012

“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)
 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

“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)

Monday, November 26, 2012

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
 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

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.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

'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