Tributes - Dana Rodman Curtis
June 13, 1942 - October 8, 2002
A
Tribute to Dana
by Vicki Holman
"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." Hans Christian Andersen
These are some of the things I know and loved about my dear friend Dana, truly a flower in my life:
She
loved to laugh.
She loved playfulness, fun things, games, and joking
around.
She loved her red barrette.
She
loved sushi and very rare beef.
She loved wine, box wine was fine with her.
She loved beautiful dinners and gracious table manners.
She loved art shows, both for the art and for the
people that attended the shows.
She loved wearable art, photography, art and wine
festivals, and all kind of creative arts and crafts.
Not as an artist, but as a joyful and curious
spectator.
She loved color and contemporary design.
She
loved language and conversation, and conversation, and
more conversation, dinner conversation, challenging
conversation, inquisitive conversation, playful
conversation, girl talk, and She was the master on voice
mail. She took voice mail to a new level, to an art
form.
She
loved French and German language also.
She loved Octoberfest, Greek music, Greek dancing, the
Chicken Dance!
She loved Zydeco, Europe and Mission Peak.
She loved the smell of diesel fuel; it reminded her
of Europe.
She loved travel and travel logs.
French films, other foreign films, dinner and movie,
documentaries.
She
loved having a beautiful manicure.
She loved well groomed, playful men.
She loved cool weather, and her Toyota.
She loved Garrison Keillor and the news from Lake Wobegone.
She loved heady things:
Politics, research, reading the newspapers cover to
cover, collecting and sharing information.
She
loved having a cup of tea with me.
She loved planning get-togethers with our friends and
was our social director with fantastic creative and
detailed ideas.
She loved parties. The more people the better, nametags
please!
She loved teasing with my son, Chris.
If
she liked you, she loved you.
She loved me and she loved you.
She loved her neighbors, her family and her friends.
She loved calla lilies, passion vine, her Cycle
Bruner rose, and daffodils.
She loved roses, herbs, and tomatoes from my garden,
and fried green tomatoes made with tomatoes from my
garden.
She loved my garden very much.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Daffodil Days, she would give bouquets of daffodils to friends. With thoughts of my sweet, spirited, stylish, and delicate friend, I invite you to plant a daffodil bulb in my garden. And, I invite you to come back next spring to enjoy their beauty with me.
Oliver Wendell Holmes said: "The Amen! Of Nature is
always a flower."
Dana was truly a beautiful flower in my life. I will
miss her.
by
Dr. Tricia J. McMahon, Presider and Friend
On behalf of Dana’s daughter Amy, Amy’s father Charles, and Dana’s dearest friend Vicki, welcome to this gathering in memory of a beautiful Mom, and friend, Dana.
I first met Dana when she, accompanied by Vicki, came to our monthly 'Threads of Hope' breast cancer support gathering not even one year ago. Within twenty-four hours I was the recipient of what I would come to know as a "Dana trademark:" phone messages the very next morning. One, two, sometimes 3 messages in a row offering her affirmation, insight, sometimes critique (always gentle and thought-filled), in thanksgiving and praise for what she had witnessed and experienced. Her messages made me smile and feel so good simply because she cared enough to call.
My last such voice message from Dana was on September 16, 2002 after she heard my colleague Cheryl and I being interviewed on KOIT Radio. I always meant to leave her a message back to say 'thank you.'
I am grateful that we are all here today to remember, honor and cherish Dana’s presence in our lives. No doubt she is, in some way, here with us because she wouldn’t miss a party with people she loved. Whether a friendship with her was for many years or only a few encounters, Dana gave wholeheartedly, intensely, thoroughly, effectively and lovingly to all she did, to all she cared for.
I thank you Dana for your persistence in loving me.
On
Sunday afternoon, October 20, 2002, friends and
family gathered in the spectacular garden of Dana's
best friend Vicki to remember and honor their dear
friend. The Memorial Celebration began with a
lovely opening ritual honoring the four elements of
creation: water, wind, earth and fire.
Then beautiful poetry, music and stories were shared
in Dana's honor, and daffodil bulbs were planted in
tribute to her on-going presence in our lives.
As a closing blessing, Vicki offered a champagne
toast in celebration of this special someone we all
are grateful to have known, and will always
remember.
As the day drew to a close and most of the guests had departed, Dana's daughter Amy and partner Jeff announced to their families that: "It has been a difficult week for all of us having lost a mother, friend... and yet there is some good news to share today too... Jeff and I are expecting a baby."
Amy found out she was
pregnant while her Mom was away on a vacation to Greece.
Dana passed away suddenly just after returning from her
trip, so Amy never had a chance to tell her mother she
was expecting Dana's first grandchild.
What an amazing day to be remembering Dana and then also to be celebrating Amy and Jeff's new life.
Remembrance
by Janice
D'Emidio
To those of you gathered together today to remember Dana and to celebrate a life well lived... I would like to add a few fond memories of a dear friend.
When I think of Dana, the words that come to mind are bright, intelligent, energetic, stimulating, enthusiastic--spending time with Dana was often an adventure--sometimes an outrageous adventure (like attending the tent revival in Springfield!) Time with Dana was never dull!
It may seem hard to believe, but Dana's many travels began with a Greyhound trip we took to San Francisco after our freshman year at the U of O. Our mothers saw us off with more advice than two 19-year-olds wanted--but we did go armed with antique hatpins to defend ourselves from the dangers of the "big city"! We visited the haunts of the Beatnik gurus, took a Chinese cooking class in Chinatown...and stayed at the "Y." It may seem tame now, but it was pretty exciting for us at the time--testing our wings for further adventures.
Dana & I might not
see one another for several years, but when we
got
together, it was as if time had not passed; we
would just pick up wherever we had left off.
Despite the fact that we had acquired families,
jobs, responsibilities---when we got together,
we were just a couple of kids again!
In a lifetime we are fortunate to have one or two friends like Dana! I was blessed!