Tuesday, October 01, 2002 Grace Lantz funeral
2nd page Jack wrote to DBW family.
Dear family and friends,
It truly is an amazing life if you can look at it from topside. I wish to write the story of our
friends, Jim and Grace Lantz for someone might find help from it. To begin with, Grace's
40-day stay in the hospital with every medical disease involved, with her health and constant
prayers by family and friends to support the doctors who claimed she was the most amazing
patient they had ever had. So when she was allowed to return home it was with just a stack of
medicines to take and kidney dialysis three hours at a time at her local hospital. This was
reduced to twice a week for four hours. However, they were rejoicing at home and onSeptember 5,
Jim and Grace unbeknown to each other, wrote us letters. They each were sad
that I had fallen the second time and Grace especially so lovingly expressed the desire that
people our age should be very careful how they walked. And, in conclusion both of them said
that they were going to have a catered Mexican dinner for Grace's 80th birthday on November
23 and would I spread the word and put a notice on our bulletin board at meeting. This I did. A
couple of days later I received a phone call from Grace and she said that she wanted prayers
for Jim because he was going in for double bypass heart surgery. This was a shock but it was
needed and the doctors who examined him with all the heart tests had to be done right now.
So, we started praying for both of them. Jim returned home very quickly from his surgery. He
did fine. And then the real shock. Last Tuesday night about 11:00 p.m. we received a phone
call from Jim saying the Lord had taken Grace home. We couldn't believe our ears. She had
fallen and was taken right in to have her broken hip operated on. The surgery was a success
but her lungs were very weak and due to her past history of health, they gave out. So, Jim said
that the funeral would be Saturday. We were very very happy in one sense of the word that
Grace's trial-is over and that she is in Glory with her Lord. This was the message at the funeral
parlor. Ken Fournier took the funeral and he brought out such wonderful comfort; verses, the
delights of Glory, to be with Christ: far better, and of course the fact that the Lord has
promised to come soon. He did mention the love of Grace for the assembly. He mentioned
her hospitality and the fact that "we have been to their home so many times it is embarrassing."
We all chuckled over that. Jim did the cooking with Grace's direction and this gave them great
pleasure, especially if children were involved. The last half of the funeral was really a memorial
by her family. Grace and Jim adopted two little girls and they are grown. Debbie has two
teenage daughters who were there. Both are very talented in singing. Two songs they sang
were in Latin but the voices were so clear and beautiful. Apparently one is studying voice in
the Juliard lnstitute for Music in New York. So, Debbie was the first to speak and she had
written a letter to her mother which I found unique. ln the letter she tells interesting things
about all of Grace's relatives. Aunt is doing so and so, or such and such are doing such and
such, interesting tidbits as if she were talking to her mother by phone or letter. Debbie did it
very bravely. I believe that when she announced her letter she said "Both my sister and I were
raised with the Brethren and 1eft". And I know that the letter shows how much they love Jim
and Grace. lt really was touching. Jim's brother spoke and then he announced the next
daughter, Grace Ann. Grace Ann said that she was named after her mother and the only way
they could distinguish between the two of them was that her mother was Amazing Grace and
she was just Grace Ann. And for sure she said that amongst the things that she remembers
most is her mother's love for others, especially babies. Every child she saw she knew they
were the most beautiful baby that God ever sent a mother. She concluded with "Now I would
like to talk about another grace. We would like everyone to sing together the hymn, Amazing Grace."
I felt I had at least two watermelons in my throat and didn't sing too good but for us
who do not have this as a custom, I believe it touched every heart there. The room at the
parlor was full and overflowing. Some even were out in the foyer, just packed. And we were
all invited to the Hemet meeting room for an abundant buffet. Jim came too and we sat beside
him. I would say he is a trooper. He's only 11 days from the surgery table himself and to have
to go through the death of his wife. Well, what can I say? lt makes going Home a real bright
anticipation.
Warmest love,
Jack and Martha Ryan
p. 2
wa actually written by the late American humorist Sam Levenson in his book In One Era and OU the Other. It is a tribute to beautiful women everywhere.
1. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.
When his first grandchild, Georgia, was born Levenson composed a short letter addressed to her:
2 We leave you a tradition with a future. The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed, and redeemed, and redeemed .
Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others. …
Psalm 100 King James Version (KJV)
100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Christian Daily Calendar April Wednesday April 14
Isa 30:15 In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
Poem:
What strength in quietness, What nearness to the Lord, When leaving all things in His hand And trusting in his Word.
How precious, blessed Lord. The quiet times with Thee, A foretaste of the joys to come Throughout eternity.
Dear Dorothy and family
Thank you so very much for your trip & mail letter. and also thanks for Danielle's letter. Warmest love, Aunt Martha & Uncle Jack.