The rest of the story

(Be sure to read the complete story in the post following this post.)

JOAN DICKENS and the Celebration of Life

At 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday January 2nd, my wife Helen received a phone call from
Anne and Warren Pearson.

“On Wednesday, Jan. 2nd 2008, at 7:30 a.m., Joan Dickens was taken ‘home’ to meet the Lord.”

Later that morning Michael Dickens, Greg’s brother, called the office of the warden at the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC). He advised them of his mother’s death, and asked that his brother Greg be informed.

Michael was told call back later—that they would arrange for Michael to speak directly with Greg. Michael and Greg did speak for a lengthy period, with no time restrictions placed upon the call.

Before the conversation ended, the person representing the warden asked to speak with Michael. She said, “Mr. Dickens, we extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.”

Anne Pearson told Helen that on January 11th, at Carlsbad’s beach, which Joan Dickens loved so much, there will be a celebration of life service.

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Because I am in the early stages of some pandemic malady (a dramatic way of saying that I have a cold), I had been napping when Helen and Anne were conversing. When Helen heard me shuffling around, she called me to the phone.

Anne repeated the news, to me, and told me that two days before Joan’s death, she had been able to speak with her. Anne said that Joan seemed joyful, and spoke repeatedly about the fact that she was to be allowed to be with Greg. This thought brought her solace and comfort in her final hours.

The following day, Joan Dickens became comatose and died shortly thereafter.

“Oh death, where is thy victory; oh death, where is thy sting?” It tells us volumes about faith and hope that the service for Joan Dickens, who died suddenly from cancer, and whose son Greg sits on death-row at the Eyman facility of Florence State Prison, is to be a “Celebration of Life.”

The Joy of the Lord is our strength.
Frank Maguire