Thursday, June 4, 2009

Our sister Peggy Redding leaves us. . .

Catholic lay minister Peggy Redding, of Orlando, Florida, passed away during the night of June 3, 2009 after years of suffering from cancer.

Funeral details and celebration updated Saturday, June 13, 2009 10pm
For those that are unable to attend, I plan to post a video after the funeral, the same week as time permits. - Jannet

Follow link to Orlando Sentinel Obituary of Peggy Redding

Please feel free to download photos, instructions included. There is also a video of her pastoral commissioning from 2007 included in the blog you can link or embed in blogs or websites. Leave comments if you would like to share. - Love you Peggy!



If you want the Solo Flight dedicated to Peggy, email jannetwalsh@gmail.com (Unable to upload documents to blog.)



Funeral Information


Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Visitation at 11am
Funeral Mass at noon
Pot Luck luncheon after Mass Bishop Grady Hall at church
(Yes, bring food or beverage!)
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (See map below for driving)
4001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando Florida, 407-293-9556

After the Mass the gathering will be in the Bishop Grady Hall, next to the church, between the parish office and St Charles School Office. Lynn Callahan, coordinator for the celebration, notes you will have a chance to share your thoughts, stories and more at the luncheon. Contact Lynn at lcallahan26@yahoo.com. In an email to distribute information on Peggy's celebration, she wrote, "As strangers we become one common family."
When Peggy was in the room, there were no strangers by the end of the event.

Peggy's family has suggested memorial contributions to the following organizations -

To contribute to Morning Star, Peggy was a teacher for many years at this school. Morning Star's school website has various options for contributions, or send a check to Morning Star School , 954 Leigh Avenue, Orlando , FL 32804 (Phone - 407-295-3077).

To contribute to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, make a check payable to MBCN and mail to MBCN, PO Box 1449 , New York, NY 10159. You can indicate that it is in memory of Peggy Redding. Contributions can also be made through the MBCN website with credit card or PayPal.



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Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding on Easter Day, April 14, 2006, during a visit to Ocala, Florida.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)



Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding on Easter Day, April 14, 2006, during a visit to Ocala, Florida.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)




Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding on Easter Day, April 14, 2006, during a visit to Ocala, Florida.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)




Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding on Easter Day, April 14, 2006, during a visit to Ocala, Florida.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)



Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding, left, with Jannet Walsh,during a visit to Ocala on October 12, 2005.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)



Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding outside of St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida, after her commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding's pastoral medal she received at St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida, at her commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding, center, at St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida, with friend Donna McRee, left and Father Thomas Barrett, currently of Nativity Catholic Church, in Longwood, Florida, at her commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding, left, with Father Thomas Barrett, currently of Nativity Catholic Church, in Longwood, Florida, at St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida. This was Peggy's commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding, right, at St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida, is hugged by is hugged by Donna McRee at her commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


Photo by Jannet Walsh
Peggy Redding, left in blue, at St. James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida, at her commissioning as a pastoral minister on May 19, 2007.
(Please feel free to download the photos of Peggy Redding by right clicking image to save. Credit Jannet Walsh if used for publication.)


By Jannet Walsh
June 4, 2009
Ocala, Florida
Last night I sent a direct message, or a SMS, meaning short message service, to my dear friend Peggy Redding, of Orlando, Florida. I was very tired and had just climbed into bed. I was wondering how she was doing as I knew she was going to start another round of treatment for cancer.

Here's our last messages just after 11pm on June 3, 2009. I wrote, "How you doing?" Moments after, Peggy replied, "Better and ready for bed! Call me about 6pm(Thursday).:-P"





That will be my last communication with Peggy as she passed away in her sleep during the night. I'm certainly glad I messaged Peggy, as tired as I was at that moment.

I met Peggy in 2005 while attending a retreat for the separated and divorced at San Pedro, in Orlando. That was the location our friendship started. We went on to be roommates at the University of Notre Dame a few years, while attending the Ministry of the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, also know as the Catholic Divorced Ministry.. (It's a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' approved organization to help the many that suffer separation and divorce. It's a place to find comfort and healing, not promoting divorce.) This was my place for healing, laughter and making even more great friendships. We shared many stories as late into the night.

Peggy had a way of "involving" me in her activities and before I knew it, finding comfort in the many friendships that developed just from knowing Peggy.

In late April 2009, I visited Peggy at her home. During that visit I told her I thought of her as the sister I never had. I think many people maybe are thinking the same thing.

Peggy is now at peace. We love you and so many will miss you.

View my video from Peggy's Pastoral Commissioning in 2007 at St James Cathedral, Orlando, Florida.

Pastoral Ministry Commissioning - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.



Please feel free to leave a comment in Peggy's honor.


(Will post more photos to slideshow soon. - Jannet)


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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I celebrate Peggy's life today and Praise God that she is at peace in his arms! Thank you Peggy for sharing your daughter with me. Michele

Jannet Walsh said...

My sister in heaven. . .Jannet

terri o'sullivan said...

Thank you, Jannet. It was wonderful to see Peggy's smiling face again. She must be really smiling now!
Terri O'Sullivan

Barbara Nelen said...

I am so grateful that Peggy passed quietly without suffering. I know she is jumping up and down now, grinning, pleased with herself for doing that so darn smooth. As her friend and massage therapist, we shared lots of laughs working together, and worked out lots of earthly concerns as well. I was in my office today when I got the news, and I could feel her right there with me. She will continue to be an inspiration to me in how she handled the journey impeccably, and I know I can call on her energy at any time to help me find the strength to help others. Here's to Sasha, Anastasia (her Thymus) and Peggy. Rock On!
Love Always, BarBar. xoxoxoxoxo

Irene Varley said...

Jannet,
So thankful to you for this wonderful picture. I have a picture of Sasha that I will treasure.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Peggy has joined our risen Christ! Let us rejoice in her peace. She was a gift from God to us all and He gave her that final gift of dying in her sleep before anymore pain came to her.
Alleluia!

Anne Merrill said...

Jannet, thank you for sharing the video. I know the angels in heaven will appreciate Peggy's smiles and laughs, as we all did here. God Bless her!
Anne Merrill

Mabel said...

Jannet thanks for sharing your gift of videography which was so welcomed just to hear and see Peggy as happy as she was, which is the way I've always seen her, no matter what.
I spoke with her on monday morning before she left for one of her treatments and we were supposed to meet later this week to work out some scheduling for her. I was not expecting the news 2 days later.
Her smile was one that just lit up a room and she was truly an inspiration and very courageous and always positive. What a privilege to have known her. As saddened as I am, I am grateful she suffers no more and there is no doubt in my mind, she is home with Our Heavenly Father. May Perpetual Light shine on her Always.

Carl W said...

I first saw Peggy in 1989 at the First Presbyterian Church. She brought her guitar and would lead us in hymns after New Dreams (Divorce Recovery Education Ministry). I didn't become acquainted with her until the following year when the Diocese had a picnic for separated and divorced Catholics at Bennett Park. I was surprised to see her there as I assumed she was Presbyterian. Since then, we have maintained a very good friendship. I will miss her very much.

Donna Peeler said...

I have truly been blessed by God to have such a loving friend as Peggy. We have shared many dinners and laughs together. She
helped me so much when my mother passed of the same cancer. She helped me understand it. Peggy recently met my Dad at Florida Hospital who now volunteers driving the golf cart to help patients. He followed the sign on her car-"Sasha the Clown!" She took time with him and he thought she was such a beautiful lady. She was the BEST! I love my Sasha. She is shining now-and laughing-
To Sasha: You go girl- I'll see you soon-
PS- Meet me at the Gate! I've got an "E" pass! Can't wait to see you!

sheri said...

Peggy was my mom's friend, and through the years, became my friend also. She was loving and cheerful and an inspiration. We love her and will miss her. Thank you, Jannet, for the pictures- they were beautiful.

Susan Jones said...

Peggy was amazing woman with great strength and wisdom. I had the pleasure of getting to know Peggy through MOMS (Ministry of Moms Sharing). She was such a funny woman and what a blessing she was to us. She will be greatly missed!

Bob Zulinski said...

Dear Peggy... We all miss you. But our loss is Heaven's gain — I'm sure it's a much livelier place now that you're there.

Cowboy Andy said...

I knew Peggy from a few brief encounters at Notre Dame. Her spirit warmed mine and I can only imagine what joy she brought to those who knew her more intimately; her family, her friends, her parish and community.

We have been blest
to know a living saint.

Even in the midst of her pain, the Peace of Christ emanates from her eyes and her smile. Thank you Jannet for sharing Peggy with us again in your photos and in your words.

Peace be with you, Peggy, my friend. We shall meet again!

Andy Cannizzaro