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Bench Dedicated to Memory of Norm Graichen in the Church Memory Garden, June 1, 2008 -- Related: Tribute to Norm Graichen
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Members of Norm's family (center of photo) attend the service led by Pastor Beverly |
At right, Jay Hickey speaks in behalf of the Men's Breakfast group which led the memorial tribute to Norm |
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For Norm -- Under a canopy of trees, the Memory Garden is located on the church grounds and is dedicated to the lives of Priscilla Teeden, Sue Sams and Norm Graichen |
Tribute
to Norm Graichen
By Larry Price
Published May 11, 2007
Where do you begin to tell the story of Norm Graichen – his gentleness, his kindness, what he meant to our church? He’s been an usher at a weekly worship service for as long as I can remember. He never turned down a request to help. Whether it was offering his truck to carry something for a church event, painting a room at the church, or being a friend to someone in need, Norm was always there.
He had his share of suffering in the past few years. He lost a wife, a son, and then fought a courageous and graceful fight with cancer. He was loved. Love always found him because of his gentle nature and kindness. Norm's faith was strong even when his body was weak. His eyes sparkled even when they hid his pain.
We were blessed several years ago when The Reverend F. Richard Garland, a retired pastor, chose to become a very active member of this church. Dick keeps a personal journal and he shared this entry from Sunday, August 20, 2006:
"Rainy morning - went to the early service. Paula Martasian preached - a faithful, articulate, intelligent sermon on wisdom - very special. "One thing was very touching - just before the Service, Kathy was playing the Prelude, a lovely variation on "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross." Norm Graichen, as he often does when we don't have a youth acolyte, came forward with the light. In the past year he has lost his wife and a son. Stooped with his battle with cancer and chemo therapy, he walked with reverence, and as he walked he was humming the chorus of the hymn: 'In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find, rest beyond the river.' Very moving!"
Norm had many friends at North Kingstown UMC and our heart goes out to all of them who are feeling his loss. Lee Cone, his long-time co-usher, prayed for him daily. His weekly golfing buddy, Syd Gledhill, looked after him and visited him daily. After work each day, Richard Dunne stopped by to see Norm at the nursing home where Norm spent his final weeks, and Richard then made a point to keep the congregation informed on Norm's condition. The list of friends is endless. John Kohler, once a member of this church who moved to Delaware several years ago, made a special trip back this past week to say what he knew would be his good-bye to Norm.
Visions of heaven are different for everyone, but if I were to picture Norm in paradise it would be the loveliest, greenest golf course on the sunniest day you could imagine. He would be smiling after a tee shot that landed but a few feet from the pin. And he would be surrounded by loving family and friends who had gone before him. And His Lord would say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. And the tee shot was good too. Welcome home.”
PHOTOS OF NORM GRAICHEN WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
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 At right, Norm with his late wife Louise and a surviving son, Michael At left, Lee Cone, The Rev. Richard Davis, Norm and Larry Price during a trip to Cape Cod to visit Pastor Dick, a former minister at NKUMC |
 Norm with close friend Lee Cone at a church celebration luncheon |
 Ushers Kirk MacGregor, Lee and Norm |
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At left, Lee Cone, former NKUMC Pastor Dick Davis, Norm and John Kohler, a former member of our church who moved to Delaware several years ago. John traveled to Rhode Island this past week to say good-bye to his good friend Norm. |
