Virginia A. Daggitt of Forest Lake, MN
April 20, 2009
Age 87 of Forest Lake and formerly of Tower, MN passed away April 21, 2009. Preceded in death by husband, Robert A. Daggit and sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Donald Wahman. Survived by brother, Jim (Beverly) Ashworth; nieces and nephew, Stephen (Tyra) Wahman, Linda Wahman and Chris Wahman; great nieces and nephews, Michelle, Thomas, Jill, Megan, Joseph and Kori and other relatives and friends. Funeral service Tuesday, April 28th at 11 AM Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Dr. SW, Forest Lake with visitation beginning at 10 AM until time of service. Interment Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul, MN.
What Do You Want?
April 16, 2009
A Certified Funeral Celebrant is someone who is trained to preside over funeral & memorial services, and more importantly to create a personalized service to reflect the personality and life style of the deceased. We are fortunate enough to have Marlene Keyser on our staff providing this valuable service at our funeral home and I have asked her to share her experiences with us on our blog.
What do YOU want?
Recently I had the opportunity to meet with a very special lady who was dying of cancer. This was the first time I had met someone before I presided at their funeral service, and I believe it was an incredible experience for both of us.
For one reason or another Sally was not a member of a local church. In these cases, as a Certified Celebrant, I am called upon to help the family by writing a very personalized service with all the ingredients to make it memorable and appropriate. During my first visit with Sally, I sat in her wheelchair beside the bed in the living room and we talked about her life. We shared a few laughs and a few tears. Her son was very helpful with the facts and I think it gave him the chance to say things he wanted his mother to hear. I took many notes and after about an hour, I said goodbye and promised to return soon.
When I arrived for my second visit with Sally, I found her condition had deteriorated significantly. She was in a lot of pain but still recognized me and pointed at the wheelchair. During this visit we talked between short drug-induced naps. I asked her if she was afraid to die, and she said “no, I’m at peace and not at all afraid.” Then I asked her if she had any regrets, and her only regret was that she was not going to be around to love and guide her grandchildren. Finally, I asked which songs and scripture she wanted included in her funeral service and Sally said, “Play ‘Stroll Across Heaven With You’ for my husband.” And then we prayed together. At her funeral service her son told me that Sally slept the most peaceful sleep after I left that day.
I had a rare opportunity to meet and plan Sally’s funeral service while she was still alive. I know some people are in denial about their own death and are not in any way comfortable discussing their demise or any activities to follow. This leaves all the decisions about funeral plans to a grieving family. Others, like Sally, take control and let their wishes be known. You should too … as a gift to your loved ones.
Maren Linn Kissell of Scandia, MN
April 14, 2009
Maren Linn Kissell came into our lives on October 7, 2003 weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces. We were elated that “Baby Number 2″ was a girl. She quickly had us wrapped around her little finger — especially Daddy. She grew up in Centerville as a petite little girl. Along the way she ran into some challenging times such as being diagnosed with SVT (a fast heart rate) at 13 months and she had to have emergency surgery for Intussusception (when the intestine folds in on itself like a telescope) at age four. On October 16, 2006, her favorite play buddy, Rylen was born.
The Kissells moved to Scandia in October of 2007. Maren attended Scandia Preschool and really started to blossom there. Her favorite things to do were to play babies and tea parties with Rylen, play on the computer — “puter” as she called it and to play with friends at daycare and in the neighborhood.
Maren’s death was unexpected, but she was doing the things she loved to do most — running and playing with friends and Logan and Rylen.
Maren will be deeply missed by her parents, Jeff and Jen; big brother, Logan; little sister, Rylen; grandparents, Darlene Maether and Curt Blegen and Mary and Linden Kissell; aunt, Amy (Larry) Selberg; uncles, Keith (Sue) Kissell and Steve (Shelly) Kissell; other relatives and friends.
Visitation 2-6 PM Sunday, April 19th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Drive SW, Forest Lake. Funeral service 1 PM Monday, April 20th at Elim Lutheran Church, 20971 Olinda Trail North, Scandia with visitation beginning one hour prior to service. Interment Elim Lutheran Cemetery, Scandia.
Kevin R. Trudeau of Minneapolis, MN
April 9, 2009
Age 27 of Minneapolis passed away unexpectedly on April 9, 2009. Preceded in death by grandparents, Mitch Peloquin, Ruth and Donnelly Trudeau. Survived by daughter, Avangeline Rose Hoff; mother and step-father, Terri and Mark Wrobleski; father, Tim Trudeau (Mary McElroy); sister, Nicole Trudeau (Brian Pludeman); step-sisters, Sarah Wrobleski and Megan Wrobleski (Curt Dischinger); grandmother, Celia Peloquin; and many, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral service 7 PM Monday, April 13th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Dr. SW, Forest Lake with visitation beginning at 4 PM until the time of service. Inurnment will be at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.
Melissa McDonald Johnson of St. Francis, MN
April 7, 2009
Age 39 of St. Francis passed away unexpectedly at home on April 7, 2009. Preceded in death by mother, Susan. She will be deeply missed by husband, Richard; children Ashley (Jeremy) Christianson, Emily Johnson and Tyler Johnson; father, Gary (Lisa) McDonald; siblings, Sean (Amy) McDonald, Erin Rivard, Meghan (Ron) Wyman and Kristina McDonald; nieces and nephews, Nick, Nathan, Chris, Katie, Ben, Kaylee and Callie; other relatives and many friends.
Visitation 4-8 PM Tuesday, April 14th at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 Centennial Dr. SW, Forest Lake. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Wednesday, April 15th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 207 County Road 23, Isanti with visitation beginning 1 hour prior to service.
Shop Local
April 4, 2009
With our families background in small business here in Forest Lake, I’ve always been a proponent of shopping local and keeping the money in the community. Small business is the back bone of every town, and its the owners and employees donating their money, time, and talents to give back to their community. The perfect example of this is when the Lichtscheidl Family who owns Forest Lake Cycle & Skate made a significant donation towards the new FLAAA Sports Center, I vow I will buy every stick, skate, & bike from them.
I recently read about Cinda Baxter, who closed her Minneapolis Stationery Store and started The 350 Project. The project encourages people to help save local small businesses by picking 3 independent locally owned stores a month, and spending $50.00 per month at each store. For more information go to: www.the350project.org. Every Chamber of Commerce should make this concept a part of their marketing!
I also was sad to read about Simonet Furniture Store in Stillwater closing after 145 years. The following comment left by a St Paul Pioneer Press reader speaks volumes:
“Sad to see the store close. I’m not surprised, after 2 years of driving by the store and only seeing 2-3 cars in the parking lot. But lo and behold, as soon as they announced their going out of business sale, over 30 cars have overflowed in the lot. Way to go vultures…pick apart Simonets’ bones, then complain about another local company going out of business. Now that you got your ‘deal’ on quality craftmanship, you can go out and continue to buy your knock-down furniture from your favorite Sam’s or Costco store – nice heirloom stuff, NOT!!”
Whether you are shopping for nuts and bolts, out to eat, or even needing help when a loved one has passed away, please think about the following statistic: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home. Source: the350project.org
Help build a stronger communtity, shop local!
Kelly