Friends (commonly called Quakers) believe that there is that of God within every person. We worship together in silence because this allows us to listen for the quiet voice of God within. A Memorial Meeting, like any other Meeting for Worship, begins with an extended period of silence for the gathered congregation to center down and open itself to the quiet voice of God. A typical weekly Meeting will often center down in silence for twenty minutes or more, though Memorial Meetings and Weddings understandably tend to have a slightly shorter period of initial silence.

During the Meeting, anyone present may be moved by the Spirit to stand and speak from the silence. After the gathered Meeting has had some time to center again into the silence and consider the message that has been shared, another worshiper may be moved to speak. The Meeting follows in this way, with all those present listening together – listening to the messages of those who are moved to speak and listening for the Spirit within themselves during the spaces of silence. Eventually, two Friends, who are chosen ahead of time, will sense that the Meeting is coming to a close and will clasp hands to signal others to greet their neighbors likewise.

It is not easy to know when the sharing of a message is appropriate. Anyone who feels deeply moved to express a feeling should not hesitate to follow this leading, even if speaking before a group is uncomfortable. There are no rules to follow, although experience has shown that brief and simple messages are best and some silence between messages is essential to keep the Meeting centered. It is also important to stand and speak clearly so that everyone can hear the message.

Let us join now to worship in thankfulness for the life that has been lived among us and that has touched so many. May we pray that God will inspire us to carry on the work which our Friend, Kennan, has laid down.

Memorial Meeting for Kennan Garvey at Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW)
February 23, 2008

To listen to the message as delivered, click on the track number, to read a transcription of the message, click on the person’s name.

Track 1	“My Shepherd Shall Supply My Need” Arr. by Virgil Thompson
Track 2	Jackie DeCarlo, Head of Meeting
Track 3	Nancy Beiter, member of FMW
Track 4	Len Funk, Fairlington neighbor
Track 5	Dan Dozier, member of FMW
Track 6	Maureen O’Connor, Kennan’s sister
Track 7	Mary Jean Kane, friend of 30 years
Track 8	Alan Abramson, EPA colleague
Track 9	Craig Olson, Fairlington neighbor
Track 10	J.E. McNeil, member of FMW
Track 11	Judy Garvey, Kennan’s sister
Track 12	Katie McDonald, childhood friend
Track 13	not identified
Track 14	Patrick Hynes, family friend
Track 15	Frank Wilson, School Board colleague of Libby’s
Track 16	Brenna O’Connor, niece
Track 17	Rita Bourland, Kennan’s sister
Track 18	Norb Garvey, Kennan’s brother
Track 19	Brother Tom Dillman, Kennan’s uncle
Track 20	Amber Garvey, niece
Track 21	Doug Weik, EPA colleague
Track 22	Zeb Garvey, nephew
Track 23	Grant Thompson, member of FMW
Track 24	Connie Francis, Fairlington neighbor
Track 25	Susan Lepper, member of FMW
Track 26	Federico Frum, friend of Kennan’s daughter
Track 27	Sepehr Haddad
Track 28	Mary Hynes, School Board colleague of Libby’s
Track 29	Pat Byram, family friend
Track 30	Debby Churchman, member of FMW
Track 31	Mac Test, Libby’s brother
Track 32	Luz Camarena Test, sister-in-law
Track 33	Ruth Garvey, daughter
Track 34	Norma Jean Lawton, Fairlington neighbor
Track 35	David Atwood, Peace Corps friend and neighbor
Track 36	Robin Appleberry, member of FMW
Track 37	Shannon Hughes, daughter
Track 38	Joe Duncan, husband of college friend
Track 39	Marti Garvey, sister-in-law
Track 40	Sudie McGahuey, music colleague and Fairlington neighbor
Track 41	Lou Brown, handball partner
Track 42	Bob Wilson, Fairlington neighbor
Track 43	Graeme Frelich, Peace Corps friend
Track 44	Jackie DeCarlo, Head of Meeting

Kennan and Libby's daughters, Shannon Hughes and Ruth Garvey, wrote the below for the Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW), the family's religious community, and would like to share it with you.

Our family is deeply touched by the many tributes, calls, and visits we have received in the past few days from the FMW community. Our father's work with FMW over the decades has truly been his ministry.

Dad played in a handball tournament Saturday morning, which he had really been looking forward to. When he came home, he wasn't feeling his usual self, but he enjoyed an afternoon playing with his grandson, Jeremiah. That evening, Mom and Dad cooked dinner, had their favorite cheap champagne and talked about all that they were planning to do in Dad's retirement, which he had just announced this week. Dad told Mom that he was so pleased Jeremiah had wanted to sit with him and read a book that afternoon. And they had played a little music together, too -- Jeremiah on the piano and Dad on his recorder. Jeremiah has been growing up lately and often wanting to be out playing with friends rather than doing more quiet things with his Abuelo, so this afternoon was very special to Dad. After dinner, Dad's sister called and they had a nice long talk about life and family. The conversation ended abruptly when Dad gasped and fell back. Mom knew immediately he'd had a heart attack, called 911 and began pumping his chest. The medics arrived quickly, but Mom was sure Dad was gone already. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Mom is sure he did not suffer.

We are incredibly thankful and constantly remember our amazing luck to have had Dad in our lives. He and Mom have enjoyed nearly 35 wonderful years of marriage. They have shared together the joy of welcoming 3 grandchildren into the world. They have made music together, ridden 5,000 miles on their tandem bike, enjoyed many candlelit dinners, and many days full to the brim with Life and Light.

We are deeply grateful that Dad's last day with us was so full of joy and love and that, for him, his passing was quick and easy, and he was with our Mom, his best friend and the love of his life. Our family is also very blessed that we have been able to spend a great deal of time together, especially in the last few months. Through seemingly random quirks of fate, we are all together at this extremely difficult but important time, and that blessing only deepens our faith. Again, we deeply appreciate the support, love and prayers everyone is giving our family.

In the Light,
Shannon Hughes and Ruth Garvey

The following letter provides an account of messages given about Kennan at Sunday's Meeting for Worship

Dear Libby, Shannon and Ruth, and all in the Garvey Family.

Thank you for so generously sharing this account of Kennan's last day. It is a beautiful, affirming description of one day in a life well-lived.

As promised, here are some messages that were given about Kennan on Sunday in the part of Meeting for Worship that I attended; Mark and I arrived at 10:50 after food delivery for the MLK event. I am also including some notes on messages offered during Trustees.

During Meeting for Business, Molly Tully rose to speak of her profound shock and grief over Kennan's death and asked Friends to hold him and your family in the Light. Molly reminded Friends of Kennan's years of service to the Meeting, including as Clerk of FMW and as Clerk of Trustees. Molly spoke gentlyy out of the spirit and it was clear that many Friends had not been aware of Kennan's death. Deep, gathered silence followed as Friends held all of you in the Light. Another Friend spoke from the Facing Bench about the fact that messages were so naturally and appropriately alternating between Martin Luther King and Kennan Garvey, and the lessons we might learn from both these lives. I spoke about remembering how proud Kennan was of his grandchildren and looked over to the place where he and Jeremiah would often sit in the Meeting room. I reminded Friends of the beautiful message that Kennan gave a few months ago about a conversation he had had with Jeremiah about evolution and where human beings might have come from. Kennan explained with obvious delight that Jeremiah had then asked him, "What comes after us?" I noted that in Kennan's case, "what comes after" has been described in the Beautitudes, where those who are peacemakers and those who hunger and thirst for justice's sake shall see God. We need not worry if Kennan is now with God; he surely is, but we also come after him and can reflect on the way he lived his faith. I said that to have served on a committee with Kennan was a privilege, a lesson in how to truly listen, and an opportunity to observe Kennan's kind nature and generosity in his dealings and patience with others. I added that to have watched Kennan clerk Meeting for Worship was an opportunity to really see who we are and what we stand for as Quakers.

During Trustees, Friends spoke of their shock and grief over losing our Friend, over our care and concern for Libby, about how Jeremiah was doing, and how we would all reach out to your family as we were led. I spoke of two recollections I had of Kennan. First, that when Carol would get particularly agitated or cause Friends to lose all patience with her, Kennan would gently remind us of how on the occasion of Shannon's wedding, Carol came to shovel snow, how she had stepped in without being asked, and how much she wanted to be part of the FMW community. This was the way that Kennan would gently elder. I also remembered Christmas eve when we were singing Good King Wenseslas and I looked over to observe his obvious delight in hearing the singing and his daughter who knew all the verses!

My deep love and condolences go out to all your family. Thank you for having shared Kennan with all of us. He was truly a great, gentle man.

In peace,
Elise

Click Here to Read More Tributes to Kennan