One such recent event was the dying, death, and funeral of Rosemary Hanlon. Rosemary was and is both a part of Madonna House and a part of the local area. She is the mother of one of the staff, Chris Hanlon, and lived in Combermere. She and her son James, his wife, and their four children moved here eight and a half years ago.

The Hanlons are typical of some of the people who have moved into the area in recent years—people choosing to live in a place where they can more easily live a simple, God-centered life.

In the past little while, as Rosemary was slowly, gradually, dying at home, as we were very aware of her and of all the Hanlons, we were getting glimpses into the beauty of the faith and quiet strength of this woman.

About a week before she died, Rosemary said to her sons, "Boys, it’s about time to get out the wood." So Chris and James, who is a carpenter, came to the carpentry shop in Madonna House and started building their mother’s coffin.

The night before she died, Dr. John Scott, a doctor formerly in palliative care and a friend of MH, visited the family. He later said that what he saw in that home was one of the most beautiful scenes he had ever witnessed in his career, "the way it should be for all people."

The whole family was gathered around Rosemary. James was sitting next to her rubbing her arm and talking to her even though she was unconscious. One of the children was reading a book, and two were playing chess. At one point James said, "We are rebirthing my mother into eternity."

Rosemary died very peacefully on Thursday morning, surrounded by her family.

On Friday afternoon, the family received visitors, and a good many staff and people from the parish and area stopped in.

The atmosphere was loving and peaceful. The children were in and out of the room where Rosemary’s body lay, coming in to hold hands with and look at Grandma, while adults prayed there quietly. Elsewhere throughout the house, groups of people were visiting together.

More than one person felt that something special was happening, and that what was being lived out in its small way was something that Catherine Doherty had dreamed of—a new society, a renewal of culture.

One person, on his way out, said to himself, "This is the kingdom of God."

The wake service was held in our chapel at St. Mary’s, and since Rosemary had been a Third Order Franciscan, it was her fellow tertiaries from the area, rather than Madonna House, who organized and led the service—a Fransican one. It was beautifully prayerful, and afterwards St. Mary’s hosted a simple reception with coffee and cookies. Karen Hanlon, James’s wife, said that people had been at their house morning, noon, and night, and that she was grateful to be here, especially for the coffee.

The funeral Mass was held at the parish church, and the church was overflowing. Some of the staff helped with the singing, and, according to Rosemary’s request, Fr. Louis Labrecque of Madonna House said the Mass and gave the homily.

"Why Combermere?" Fr. Louis asked in his homily. "It’s as good a place as any to live a life hidden in Christ…. Serving in a family is as good a place as any. And living in Madonna House as a staff worker is as good a place as any. Thank you, Rosemary, for living the hidden life so beautifully."

About 70 carloads of people went to the burial site, and even the two-year-olds were throwing handfuls of earth on the coffin. Many attended the reception afterwards.

Yes, many people have said, something precious happened during this time when the Madonna House family and members of the parish together surrounded the Hanlon family with love and celebrated the gift of Rosemary’s life and her going home to God.