On my calendar I have made a note that this is "Hell time", based on an annual circumstance of stressful events that seem to happen about this time of year. Although I'm referring to personal things it seems Hell has expanded to a global significance this year. Fires, hurricanes, wars, floods, excessive heat... But honestly it's not just this time of year. Hell is happening all the time somewhere.
But life is happening too.
Today we celebrated my mom's birthday even though it's not until Sunday. She thought it was yesterday. She's been bedridden for about two months and I'm leaving in the morning for three weeks and taking a piece to Burning Man.
I guess it takes a lot of hedonistic and egotistical sludge to try to justify such an action. But I don't try to justify it. I can't. I just know I have to do it.
The piece is about celebrating our temporary existence, in spite of all the brutal and harsh and unlivable environments we are subjected to.
I know that celebration may be manifest by the simple act of caring for my Mom or planting a seed in the soil instead of planting giant fairy shrimp on the barren Playa, but I am driven to do it.
And tomorrow we drive to it.
Love you Mom. See you when I return.
Hang in there.
Mary Jean Quinn
ReplyDelete20 August 1936 - 2 September 2023
Mrs. Mary Jean Quinn of Beech Grove, Tennessee passed away peacefully at home on September 2, 2023. Mary Jean was born on August 20, 1936 in Birmingham, Alabama to her late parents and first generation Hungarian immigrants Julia and Leopold Dunnie. The youngest of eleven siblings, Jean is survived by one brother, Tommy Dunnie of Wylam, Alabama.
Mary Jean graduated from Wylam High School in 1953 and soon after married Paul M. Quinn Sr. with whom she lived and loved until his passing in 2016. During their 62 years together Jean and Mike raised 3 children, traveled the world, and devoted their lives to their church families, most recently and lovingly the congregation of Temple Baptist Church in Manchester, Tennessee.
In addition to her travels, Jean loved to cook, sew, knit, crochet and garden. She gifted many of her friends and family with her beautiful creations.
Mary Jean is survived by two sons, P. Michael Quinn (Priscilla Van Tries), and David Quinn, her daughter Dianna Quinn; grandchildren Ian Quinn, Parker Quinn (Lindsay Duncan) and Megan Peacher (Luke Campbell); and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved dearly.
The family would like to acknowledge the devotion and care given to Mrs. Quinn during the past 3 years by Jaquelyn Vaughn of Manchester Tennessee, and the more recent care given by Alive Hospice and Michelle Teal.
Visitation and services for Mrs. Quinn will be held at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Visitation is on Saturday, September 16, from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm, with a service in celebration of Mary Jean held immediately afterwards in the Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ALIVE Hospice, 1807 Patterson St., Nashville, TN, 37203; Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001; or the charity of your choice.