Dennis's family asked me to relay that there will be a memorial service in honor of Dennis's life at 2pm on Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Guthrie Center.

This is from me - and I don't mean to be indelicate - But may I suggest that if you would like to bring some form of refreshments or food - it would probably be very much appreciated.

Any questions - please contact me at RegFaith@msn.com, not George, the Guthrie Center or Fitzy. Thanks.
Reg

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately we can't be there but we will be thinking of him & everyone. Alot of churches ask folks to bring food for after a service so nothing indelicate or unusual there. Prayers & vibes just sent...

I'll have to be sure to set a moment aside at 2 tomorrow to say a prayer to join those who can be there

Sending my thoughts and prayers to Dennis and all of you who love him.

I'm sorry I won't be able to make it today at the service. I just have too much going on at once with my medical issues. I send out my prayers and thoughts to Arlo and his family, Dennis' family, and Fitzy.
I will be there in spirit.

Peace and Love,
Lorie

I'm there now in spirit as well.

We truly had as best a celebration of Dennis' life as we could have under the circumstances. The church was packed with family, friends, co-workers, and we sang some songs and heard some "Dennis" stories that will be told for a long time.

We missed all those who couldn't be there and thought of all of you. I'll leave the details to anyone who was there, but know that you were in all our hearts. Deb was wonderful - it'd be hard enough for her even under the best of times to be standing up in front of a crowd, let alone under these. But her thoughts were absorbed into the hearts of everyone there.

All I can say is that I think George and the folks who helped put this thing together did a wonderful thing for our old friend. It was moving, funny, sad, and even educational. There were a lot of wonderful memories. Tim Sears remembered one of those typical Dennis dyslexic sayings... "You lay down with fleas - you get up with dogs," Dennis said.

With moments like those, the somber mood felt at the beginning inexorably moved to a Dennis kind of feeling and lifted us out from the gloom of missing him. The band played, the songs were sung, his life was cherished... That was about the best we could do.

adg

Thanks for the info, hon. We were there in spirit. It's just so hard to believe this has happened to him. Love, prayers and vibes to al...

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing with those of us who couldn't be there.

I thank you also for sharing this with such beautiful words.

Arlo, ditto Cheryl, Terrie, and Brigitte. It was such a shame I could not be there to be of support at the celebration.

The Memorial was a wonderful tribute to Dennis and I thank EVERYONE who has kept Dennis in their thoughts whether they were actually physically present or not. It truly does help ease some of the pain to know how many people Dennis touched in his life.

After my grandson Brody died, I was driving home from Virginia when I heard the most beautiful song on the radio...I don't own the cd and could only hear it on youtube...until recently. You can find the song at Don Conoscenti's myspace page. The lyrics touched me so much and they seem even more appropriate now:

The Other Side

I'm over on the other side. Where life and death softly divide. I left my skin and bones behind, now I'm over on the other side.

Can you feel me there with you? My breath is gone by I'm not through. Loved you then and I still do from over on the other side.

I can fly...really fly, below the earth, all through the sky. Tell em all I did not die, I'm just over on the other side.

Its good here on the other side. The sweetest songs, the bluest skies. Thank you for the tears you've cried, but its good here on the other side.

I can fly...really fly, below the earth, all through the sky. Tell em all I did not die, I'm just over on the other side.

The world is smaller than a needle's eye. Where life and death softly divide. When you leave your skin and bones behinds, I'll be waiting on the other side.

I can fly...really fly. Below the earth and through the sky. Tell em all I did not die. I'm just over on the other side.

Wow, those are neat lyrics. Prayers & vibes sent your way...

Deb - I'm so glad you found this song. I first heard it when Don Con played at the Church - I guess it was about five years ago. It is truly comforting in a time of sorrow.

Please know that I've been thinking of you, and sending many heart-healing blundervibes. Dennis was truly special, and we are all fortunate to have him (and the memory of him) in our lives.

It is sad news indeed that I read that Dennis has passed on. He was always fun to be with at Carnegie each year. He will be missed in his earthly presence, but not in spirit.