My mother said that I began to pray soon after I learned to construct complete sentences. God has always been in my life. As a child I received my spiritual concepts through Catholicism; from the time I was seven years old I attended mass by myself every week.
In my late twenties I studied the Edgar Cayce readings and found many answers to questions I had not yet begun to ask. The readings reinforced everything I believed about our being Spirit. We are all spiritual beings having a human experience and learning our lessons.
In the early 70’s I was actively involved in training and organizing the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the San Francisco Bay Area. I co-founded a charismatic non-denominational household, a living arrangement which provided the most beautiful environment for prayer and growth.
I have always had exciting and challenging careers. In 1978 I was led into a richly fulfilling real estate career; I still love to assist families with their housing changes.
As an avocation, I also spent over 10 years deeply committed to teaching the process of mediation. I co-founded a non-profit community mediation program that trained in excess of 500 residents of my county. I feel that this work is part of my contribution to world peace.
I have created many Memorials and Celebration of Life services. It began in 1990, when I was invited to deliver a scripture reading at a memorial service for a friend’s husband. The Memorial Service was scheduled to begin but the priest had not arrived because of some confusion on the time. Without thought or hesitation, I volunteered to officiate. I had attended so many funerals and memorials over the years where the bereaved had been left sad and hopeless following the service. At last, this was my opportunity to offer comfort and share my own positive interpretation of eternal life. The service surprised everyone—including me!
Invitations to do other memorials quickly followed. Eventually I was ordained by the trustees of St. Ann’s Healing Sanctuary in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1994. Although the word "interfaith" was not in common use at that time, this congregation was truly all-embracing.
As part of my practicum at the Chaplaincy Institute, I wrote a guide for memorial and funeral celebrants as a way of "paying it forward" and sharing from the rich experiences that I have been blessed to be part of. I love ceremonial ministry of all kinds, and have also cultivated a wedding ministry, which beautifully complements and balances my work with those who grieve.
When I am asked if I have a church, I answer that I am a minister for the "un-churched." I serve everyone, including those with and without a faith tradition. I believe we are all precious children of the Most High God. If we forgive one another and forgive ourselves, we can assist in healing our communities and ultimately the world. As the song says: "I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."
