Virginia is Gone
On Friday, September 2, 2005, Virginia Donahey died peacefully at her home at Sunward. This followed an illness of several months. It was her wish to die at her home.
Virginia's five grown children, their spouses, and her two grandchildren were near her often, and many of her Sunward neighbors were frequently on hand to take her to appointments and errands and stop by for visits. It almost seems that many of her family have become part of the community. We will miss them, and we will strongly miss Virginia.
She lived much of her life in Ann Arbor, and was a very early member of the Sunward community, joining as a regular member many months before our homes were ready to occupy. She always took part in the things that were going on here, preparing lunch for work detail crews, and taking care of Sunward records for several years, and helping to create a nurturing quilt for each of the babies born or adopted onto the community.
Virginia felt that a funeral was usually a time of celebrating a person's life, when many nice things were said about the central figure, (the deceased). She decided that she didn't want to miss out on all of the gathering of loved ones and friends, the celebration and the compliments, and decided to have her celebratory event while she was still here to enjoy it. So with the help of family and community members, she made detailed plans for her "party". There was a very large tent canopy with lots of tables and chairs, two musical groups for entertainment, catering of a meal, and another caterer for the custom-made banana splits. Friends and relatives from all over came to enjoy and greet and visit. Virginia sat throughout the party in an easy chair, festooned with balloons and greeted her guests. Her family had done a wonderful job of carrying out all of her detailed plans for the party, right down to following her requested ingredients for the potato salad. What a fine time people had!
A few weeks later, on September 2, she slipped away. That morning, the bell that we have on the common house to ring to summon people to come, was tolled for 83 rings. This marked her leaving us. We will miss you Virginia.
“A more sustainable community recognizes and supports people's evolving sense of well-being, which includes a sense of belonging, a sense of place, a sense of self worth, a sense of safety, and a sense of connection with nature.” -Elizabeth Klein
