Remembrance Service – Spring 2026

A service of remembrance will close out the first day of our spring conference. We will honor the memory and service of 15 colleagues during the third session of the conference on Monday, April 27. Tom Schade is leading a group of members who will produce the service.

Jan Carlsson-Bull is researching the lives of the deceased and writing the remembrance narratives. She said that the process is like “opening a door to a house of many mansions.” She reflected on her own ministry, “When I led celebrations of life during my ministry, I often asked myself: ‘How many lives did …. live? Surely many more than the years of their life.’ So it is for the lives I am honored to distill for the remembrance service.”

Jan’s process is mindful. “Upon first reading the notice I receive of the passing, I begin. I follow clues such as an obituary posted by a funeral home. If I can find family members, I follow up with them, expressing how our hearts opened with their loss, and asking them to edit and enliven what I write. I am often given a photo that reveals the vitality of their loved one. Incorporating a spoken narrative into a remembrance service seems as fleeting as life itself, but no less precious.

“It is such an honor to open each and every door and step inside.”

In the service we will honor and remember:

Rev. Linda DeSantis
Rev. Dorothy Meek
Rev. Harry C. Green III
Rev. John Fordon
Rev. Patricia Trudeau
Rev. Margaret (“Meg”) Barnhouse
Rev. Michael Douglas O’Kelly
Rev. Walter Frederick Wieder
Rev. Penelope Witte Alderice
Rev. Sandra L. Ingham
Dr. F. Everett Morris
Rev. Lynda Sutherland
Rev. Don Wheat

Our conference theme is “Keeping it Together While Democracy Is Falling Apart,” and will be presented on the second day by the Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout. The conference will feature a minister’s odyssey with the Rev. Diane Miller, and a partner’s odyssey with Barry Finkelstein.

Connecting rooms, where we can interact with others on a deeper level, are planned for three sessions. The last session on Tuesday will feature Dr. Rideout in a concert of music that underscores the theme and inspires us to live into our role in keeping it together in challenging times.

Regional pods and local watch parties offer a way to experience our virtual conference in community. Currently, pods are being developed in Kingston, Massachusetts and Wilmington, Delaware. Some financial aid is available to those who attend pods.

To register, please visit uurmapa.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3106236

Inflation and tariffs finally caught up to us, and we regret that we must raise our fee for the conference to $70. However, if you register before April 6th, your cost will only be $50. Early registrations help us make better plans for the conference.

Help with all things registration is available from Barbro Hansson, the registrar. Scholarships are available if you need help with the fee. If you have never attended a UURMaPA conference, the board happily waives your fee. If you would like a scholarship or you are a newbie, please send a message to conferences@uurmapa.org for more information. You will receive a special code to use when registering.

We look forward to greeting you in April at our spring conference. In the meantime, know that every one of us has a part to play in our struggles for inclusivity and justice. If you live in the USA, you might be a little closer to the heat, but if you are not, you are still here, you are more than a witness, and we’re all in this together.

Larry Allan Squire

Larry Allan Squire, of Fergus, Ontario, passed away following a brief and complex illness on March 26, 2026, in the Intensive Care Unit at Guelph General Hospital (Guelph, Ontario), at the age of 65 (1960-2026).

Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Sept. 22, 1960, Larry was the son of Murray Evan Squire and Anna Elizabeth Allan Squire. He was a loving brother to Sharon Ann Squire (Scott) Hamilton, and beloved husband of The Rev. Felicia Mary Urbanski whom he married in 1993.

Larry grew up in Sarnia, where he enjoyed playing baseball, curling and participating in local Fall Fairs. He attended Sarnia Central Collegiate and graduated from the University of Windsor, with an M.A. and B.A. in Communications Studies. He worked as Communications Assistant for Canadian Pacific Forest Products Ltd., as a Database Technician and Research Coordinator at the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, as a Data Analyst for Dimark Research Inc. and Q2 Consulting, and as an Evaluation Coordinator for the Community Services Council of Tulsa OK.

Prior to retirement he was a Project Manager for the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, where he spearheaded programs for the Ontario Smokers’ Helpline and other Canadian Cancer Society programs.

Larry was an avid volunteer, serving TV Ontario’s Regional Advisory Council as Media Relations Officer for a candidate in a federal election, and as a church board member and newsletter editor. Recently he volunteered for the Ontario Senior Games Association and for the “Bike Buddies” program at Wellington Terrace Long Term Care.

Larry has always lovingly supported his wife Felicia, especially as her career led them to several relocations. They met in Thunder Bay, Ontario, moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, then to Stillwater and Tulsa OK, finally moving back to Waterloo, then to Fergus, Ontario.

Larry loved playing pickleball several times a week, going bicycling with friends, hockey, hiking, snowshoeing, canoeing and fishing. He was a creative writer, completing several original screenplays and other stories. Larry enjoyed watching art films and movies. For 10 years, Larry and Felicia also ran a pet-friendly Airbnb from their home, welcoming travelers and their animals with open arms. He loved spending time at the family cottage in Dorset, Ontario, as well as bringing joy to visits with his wife’s family and friends in Connecticut.

Larry was always supportive, gentle, caring, inquisitive, creative, inventive, and loving. He made us smile and laugh. He will be greatly missed by his family, cousins, and friends.

He is survived by his wife, the Rev. Felicia Mary Urbanski, his sister Sharon Ann Squire Hamilton, his neice Hillary Hamilton Graham, his nephew Evan Hamilton and twin great -nephews, Rory and Henry Graham.

A funeral service was held on April 21, 2026, at Melville United Church, Fergus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital or to Melville United Church.

Odysseys this Spring (2026)

We are happy to present two Odysseys at this spring’s UURMaPA Conference: Barry Finkelstein and the Rev. Diane Miller. Barry shares his story with us on the opening day of the conference, Monday, April 27, and Diane visits with us on the 29th.

Barry says that “Writing brings clarity to my thoughts; it’s a kind of alchemy. I am inspired by Adrienne Rich who said that ‘you must write and read as if your life depended on it.’

“And so far, my Odyssey is having the same effect. I’m drawn to inflection points that helped shape me and yield insights. While the memories evoked are not new to me, their importance is. The odyssey-writing process is pulling important events into a life.

“I love storytelling, and engaging with people, gives me new insights about myself and my place in the world. I grew up in a family of talkers—loud talkers—and things become more real when spoken about.

“I’m hopeful that my story will be valued by others. I feel good about my life, my choices, my good luck, and the help I’ve received. I look forward to sharing my story.”

Diane has lived a full life, so much so that she doesn’t have room for all her memories. She said, “Some people have Proustian memories, and some people have kept diaries and journals. I’m startled at how much of my life is hazy and forgotten, and that I need to look up things to confirm the facts.

“I expected to be the expert about my own life, but I feel more like an unreliable witness. Writing my Odyssey is an exercise in putting the pieces together.

“Being asked to present my Odyssey brings trepidation, anxiety about technology, and deep appreciation for colleagues who are inviting me to tell my story.”

Like many others, Diane has thought about the culture of Odysseys in our tradition. “I wonder when the practice of Odyssey presentations began in our ministry, and how it evolved.”

Diane thought that someone has probably looked into that, but we are glad the tradition has come to us, and we welcome Barry and Diane to our conference.

The conference opens on April 27, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout will present our theme, Keeping It Together When Democracy Is Falling Apart, on the second day of the conference. He will also present a short concert of his music that evening.

Worship services will open and close the conference, and a service of remembrance will honor our colleagues not among us. Breakout rooms have been arranged for each day of the conference, where you will be able to have a closer connection with your friends and colleagues.

To register, please visit: uurmapa.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3106236 The registration fee for the spring conference to $70.00. Save a Jackson! Register before April 6, and your fee is only $50.00.

Scholarships to cover the fee are available, and if you have never attended one of our conferences, the board will happily waive your fee. For assistance with fees or registration questions, please write to Barbro Hansson at conferences@uurmapa.org.

Pods for in-person participation are organized in Wilmington DE and Kingston MA. Write Richard Speck at rgspeck@comcast.net for information about Wilmington or Judy Campbell at revdocmom@comcast.net for information about Kingston.

We hope to see you on April 27!

The Rev. Frank A. Hall

The Rev. Frank A. Hall died on March 17, 2026, at the age of 85 (1940−2026).

Frank is survived by his wife of twenty-nine years Lory Nurenberg; his children Susan Hall and Jonathan Hall (Rosie); his stepchild Carlyn Kessler (Elliot); his grandchildren Alex Hildreth and Hannah O’Brien-Hill (Perry); and his great-grandchild Sofia Hildreth. He is also survived by his siblings William Hall, John Hall, Dorothy Hall, and Gwen Sheehah, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, other extended family members, and his first wife Anita Hall.

A celebration of Frank’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on May 3, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Rd, Westport CT 06880.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 689 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA 02139, or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Lory at lorynurenberg@yahoo.com.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, the Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com.

The Rev. Barbara L. Hebner

The Rev. Barbara L. Hebner died on March 13, 2026, at the age of 90 (1935−2026).

Barbara is survived by her children Laura Peebles, Megan Martin, Laird Cummings, Heather Petit, Margaret Badger, and Michael Petit, as well as many who considered her “Mom.” She is also survived by her niece Deb Fletcher, her nephews Harold Fletcher and Jim Cummings, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark, 420 Willa Rd, Newark DE. Zoom option will be available; please visit the congregation’s website for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UUA Living Tradition Fund, environmental plastics cleanup efforts, local progressive political campaigns –especially those with seat-flip potential, or direct giving to members in need in your community. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry

Notes of condolence may be sent to: The Hebner Family, 206 Grantham Place, Newark DE 19711.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com

The Rev. Lynda J. Sutherland

The Rev. Lynda J. Sutherland died on March 7, 2026, at the age of 73 (1952−2026). Lynda is survived by her children Andrew, Benjamin, Carolyn, David, Eric, Forrest, Greggory, and Holly; her sisters: Dawn, Holly, and Gail; and 19 grandchildren.

A private celebration of life with close friends and family members was held on March 28, 2026, in Brinnon WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/a1d6a9b17. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be sent to:

Lynda Sutherland
c/o David Erickson
1506 Evanston Ct NE
Olympia, WA 98506

The Rev. Donald H. Wheat

The Rev. Donald “Don” H. Wheat died on March 5, 2026, at the age of 92 (1933−2025).

Don is survived by his children Sarah and Andrew; his grandsons Emerson, Foster, Cormac, Micah, and Nicholas; and his daughter-in-law Montse Auso. He was close to his niece, Danita. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann, in 2015, and their son Mark, in 2023.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Third Unitarian Church, 301 N Mayfield, Chicago IL 60644.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Third Unitarian Church or its Austin Scholars Award Program. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com.

The Third Act: Redefining Ourselves as We Age

March 24 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Central)

with Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield

Dr. Elias Ortega, President of Meadville/Lombard Theological School, suggested this FREE program might be of interest to our membership.
https://meadville.edu/event/the-third-act-redefining-ourselves-as-we-age/

Many clergy and other working professionals have been privileged to enjoy long, stimulating, and maybe even impactful careers. Work has brought economic benefits, and it has helped to shape a sense of identity. Retirement—our Third Act—can be liberating but also complex and challenging!

You’re invited to join Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, spiritual director and former executive director of Faith in Place, for a guided and grounded program to begin to look back on what you’ve accomplished and begin to look ahead to what comes next. Clare will lead you through a time of conversation and reflection, and will share about “The Third Act,” a 9-month guided program starting in Fall 2026 of reflection on service, wise discernment, and planning for continued meaning and purpose through retirement and beyond.

Co-sponsored by The Garrett Collective.

Spring 2026 Conference Pods

The spring 2026 conference for UURMaPA members is April 27-29. Our theme is “Keeping It Together While Democracy Is Falling Apart,” and will be presented during the first session on Tuesday, the 28th, by Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout.

Our conference in April is always available via Zoom, but if you have a notion to meet in person, you can participate at one of two locations where you can attend the sessions with your friends and colleagues. This allows you some face-to-face discussion time as well as opportunities to socialize and exercise your tourist muscles. The pod organizers at each location provided the information below so you can better understand the amenities and attractions that await you.

Wilmington, Delaware

One pod is in Wilmington, Delaware, and Richard Speck, the organizer, is justifiably proud of his city. He writes “The world famous Longwood Gardens bring people from all over the world. We also have Winterthur, a large museum dedicated to the American arts of furniture and collections of fascinating objects. The Brandywine River Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science are all nearby and easily accessible. There is much colonial-era history to explore, including Valley Forge and the Brandywine Battlefield.”

The First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, Delaware will be the host for both large presentations and small breakout groups. You might consider bringing a laptop or tablet for use during the breakout sessions. The church has a strong wi-fi signal throughout the building.

The church is about twenty miles south of the Philadelphia airport. Hotels are located 1-2 miles from the church. Some shared meals will be at the church with opportunities to go to area restaurants. Where possible, Richard says that transportation from either location and from the church to the hotels will be provided.

For more information, and to register for the pod, write Richard Speck, rgspeck@comcast.net or call him at 302/239-6286.

Kingston, Massachusetts

If you live in the orbit of Boston MA, or Providence RI, you might make a short Drive to Kingston, MA, where another pod is organized by Judy Campbell. Judy says, “Come to see and hug one another in person after several years of online conferences. Secondly, there are major attractions within an easy drive of the church. Coastal Massachusetts, Kingston and Plymouth, have any number of historic, and cultural attractions, not to mention some wicked good restaurants. The views of the harbor and ocean are stunning. Here is just a short list of attractions to tempt you to come:”

Go to www.Seeplymouth.com The official tourism site of Plymouth County

The Pilgrim Hall Museum offers outstanding early colonial history and a Wampanoag history and culture collection.

The Plymouth Guild for the Arts is a museum of local artists and features an elegant gift shop.

Plimoth Patuxet is the oldest town in New England and their living history museum is fascinating.

We will be meeting just a few miles north of Plymouth center at the First Parish Church in Kingston. More information is available by visiting www.kingstonuu.org. The website has everything you need to know about the location and has a map, directions to the church, and pictures of the buildings.

Contact the organizer, Judy Campbell, at 781/422-6519 or 508/939-1391, or send a message to revdocmom@comcast.net

If you think you might like to organize a pod or a watch party, it’s not too late. Richard Speck has some advice and suggestions. Write him at rgspeck@comcast.net.

The conference will feature a minister’s odyssey with the Rev. Diane Miller, and a partner’s odyssey with Barry Finkelstein. The conference opens and closes with a worship service and a service of remembrance is planned for the evenig session on the first day. Connecting rooms, where we can interact with others on a deeper level, are planned for three sessions.

To register, visit http://uurmapa.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3106236
The fee is $50 until April 6th, thereafter, $70.

Help is available with the registration process and if you need help with the registration fee, scholarships are available. If you just recently retired, or if this is your first UURMaPA conference, the Board is happy to waive your registration fee. For more information about registration or for help, please send a message to Barbro Hansson at conferences@uurmapa.org. Find a one-page PDF of the Pod Financial Aid Request Form HERE.

The Rev. Myron D. Andes

The Rev. Myron D. Andes died on February 27, 2026, at the age of 71 (1954—2026).

Myron is survived by his former partner, the Rev. Shelley Page. He was preceded in death by his parents, Myron D. Andes and Mary Andes, and his sister, Anita Andes.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 10715 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis MN. Colleagues are warmly invited to attend in person or join the livestream on Zoom or YouTube. Clergy are invited to robe and process. There will be an opportunity during the service to share brief memories of Rev. Andes, both in person or online. Those who wish to speak live on Zoom, or plan to robe and process, are asked to contact Shelley Page at shelleypage.imagine@gmail.com.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/3953901346 (Meeting ID: 395 390 1346)
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/GpWnk0QnZ2I

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s own choosing. UURMaPA will contribute to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Rev. Shelley Page, 261 Coddington Rd Apt B, Ithaca NY 14850.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed. It will be published in an upcoming issue of Elderberries and posted on the UURMaPA website.If any readers would wish to contribute information or reminiscences, we would welcome them. Please send them to UURMaPA’s clergy obituary editor, Rev. Kathleen Fowler at kathleenclarkfowler@gmail.com