Condolence: My sincerest sympathy to all of the family of Virginia. Cheryl, your mom was always kind, thoughtful and generous. She was always a lot of fun with the youth group. I''m thinking of you and sending you hugs.

Condolence: To the family, friends, and loved ones of Virginia Hamm,

I only spent a short time as a colleague, fellow traveler and friend of Virginia, but it was enough time to love her. My thoughts are with all those who loved her. I was fortunate to visit Jerry and Virginia this past July and I wrote this poem in her honour when I learned she was sick:

Thunder Bay Revisited

There is a sleeping giant in the lake
That would be a sea.
So many ships have drowned here,
Dragging men to the depths,
But right now that means nothing to me.

The museums have nothing to show me today,
No myth or fantasy to take me away,
For there is one spirit,
One soul,
One woman,
One friend,
One mother of the prairies,
Mother of all blessed to know her,
Who is in grave pain.

I am not one for prayer, or church kneeling,
But today I will pray for her.
From across this country, this world, this shared mind,
Pray that your pain is eased,
That you rest well,
For there is a time for passionate living,
As you have lived, such an inspired life of giving,
And there is a time for rest,
And it is now.

I pray that you recognize well,
The many thousand hearts who have known you,
And been touched,
And are better for it,
Who are here now to defend you,
Just as the stubborn knight who stands now,
Restless and devoted at your bedside,
With love,
And memories carried like sacred shells,
Calming the sea,
Long after the pain has stopped,
And the thunder has cleared over the bay.