This was my mother's home church - her home in many ways.

Rideau Park United saw her through tumultuous early years in the 50s, as a mother of four young children, often raising them alone for long stretches while her husband Eric, a geologist, did field work in Newfoundland and rural Ontario.

Trained as an elementary school teacher, she found her a place here to use her teaching skills, in the Sunday School, CGIT and more.

Her missionary parents had imparted an awareness of the developing world and a passion for trying to help. Her involvement with the overseas missionaries, the refugee committee, and her “Minute for Mission” contributions to worship services-- all nurtured this aspect of her religious faith.

Her keen mind and love of reading were stimulated by a constant flow of ideas and causes within the United Church, especially during the exciting decades of the 60s and 70s. She read and wrote on causes that involved her mind, heart and even body - she marched for peace, for disarmament, for human rights.

As the women's movement gained momentum, her nascent feminism was validated and given focus by a parallel movement within her church, a movement that put the United Church in the forefront of such reforms within protestant churches.

But most of all, Evelyn found here a beloved community. She was surrounded by warm, loving people who appreciated her deeply, who shared her love of the work and the faith, and gave her a strong sense of belonging. This community expressed its love for her in many ways, including nominating her to receive a Doctorate of Divinity in 1984 .

When she became ill with Alzheimer's in her last decade, the church was there for her, sending flowers, cards, and, in the person of her friend Lois Presley, visiting her faithfully and talking to her on subjects of my mother's choosing. I cannot tell you how much it meant to the family that her church took care of her in this way.

Another way was the writing of a celebratory poem, in 1992, that Mom liked so much that she told its author, "I'd like you to read that at my funeral!" I am very pleased to introduce Evelyn Denyes to read selected stanzas. There will be copies of the full poem at the reception, for those who would like one.

Alastaire