Message from Patricia Monaghan's Husband, Michael McDermott

The following is from Michael McDermott, the late Patricia Monaghan's spouse. He has asked it be distributed widely. I learned of this on a mailing list I'm on and received permission to reprint it here. The "informal ceremony" mentioned in the next to last paragraph has already taken place. However, the "formal ceremony" and Quaker Service announced in the last paragraph will take place on Dec. 1 in Wisconsin. Brigit Rest is Patricia and Michael's farm near Black Earth, Wisconsin.

From Michael McDermott:
I am devastated by the loss of my beloved wife and partner in all things, Patricia.  I am also filled with gratitude and love for all the wonderful things said about Patricia.  She has left our lives and yet she will live long.  There is a huge hollow in me and in the life and all the things that Patricia and I did and will do.

She traveled a journey with cancer these last 2 years.  It was a journey of hope and disappointment. It was a journey that included her work, whether it was finishing the paperback version of Goddesses and Heroines, how to strengthen the Black Earth Institute, the decorating scheme for the Wisconsin house after we moved from Chicago, or how to control the temperature in the new root cellar.
She was concerned that we had not yet put the dried beans from the garden. On Friday evening we were working on editing a manuscript until 11:30 at night.She died at home in my arms on Sunday morning at 3:45 AM.

She didn't like to be called brave though she was.  She didn't at all like being called a force of nature but she was. She didn't like it when people said, "How can you do so much?", but she "did" from morn 'till night.  W would work hard all day on many things and then say, "Well at least we got a little but done."

Patricia was a scholar, artist, spiritual practitioner and leader and political activist.  She was a gardener and literally a path creator. One of my favorite memories is of her pulling our large honey suckle bushes in the wet spring soil to create a path in our woods.  This creation she carried into all things, whether leading us to the goddess, to a land ethic or to the struggle for a more just society.

There will be an informal get together at Brigit Rest this Saturday from 2 PM to 7 PM.  More like a potluck where in addition to covered dishes bring memories or mementos of Patricia.  (Bring the covered dish, deserts and libations as well.)

A formal ceremony will be held on Saturday December 1 at Brigit Rest as well. There will be a service at the Madison meeting hall of the Society of Friends (Quakers) likely the same day.

Let us all honor Patricia for all the things she was and will be.

Michael McDermott