Tribute to +Gloria Clements of Louisiana who passed away on May 21st:

Gloria with her handbag stands proudly here with friends at the 25th anniversary of Dan's ordination in 2009. 

   "Love is indestructible; its holy flame forever burns. From heaven it came; to heaven it returns." Our friend +Gloria from Louisiana echoed these words of love by the enthusiasm in which she lived her life. Dan and I offered our sincere condolences to her children, grandchildren, family and friends. Know how much she loved each one of you, always remembering you in prayer and special occasions of your lives. 
   I first met Gloria, the "undisputed first Church lady of St. Bernadette's community" about 15 years ago. She devoted her life to the service of her Church and community, getting involved in a variety of activities. She was not afraid of being challenged and challenging the organizations she joined. She was a woman of fun with a laughter and a smile that lifted up the world. She had a wicked sense of humor; but, never to demean others. She was a woman of courage, ready to fight for her beliefs in fairness and justice. She loved her country fiercely and was determined to do the right thing. She was an ardent basketball player in her youth and loved to watch football games. She enjoyed Mardi Gras in Houma, La., displaying her uncharacteristic flair for Cajun drama. She was a woman of compassion, standing up for the rights of those of a different color, background, economic or financial status. I will always remember Gloria as a woman of faith, fun, courage and compassion.
   In the years I lived and worked in Louisiana, Gloria joined us on several pilgrimages to Rome. I loved her curiosity about life, people and places beyond her borders. We also traveled to the south of France where she met several southern French people with whom she spoke with ease and comfort. Perhaps one of her most memorable moments was a mystical encounter she experienced as we walked the night procession in Lourdes. She described to me a few weeks later that "Our Lady had engulfed her spirit and renewed every sinew in her body!"
   Gloria was a traveling companion's delight, truly, 'a happy camper' exemplifying the essence of that wonderful Cajun expression: "Lache pas la patate!" We went to Bosnia-Herzegovina; stayed in the ancient city of Dubrovnik, Dan's hometown. She also visited my family in Trinidad and Tobago, even conversing with some elderly French Creoles there. She explored the rural areas where Dan and I ministered on the Prairies of North Dakota, enjoying meeting ranchers and farmers alike. Gloria wanted to impart to her grand children the knowledge and experiences she devoured in her senior years and to remind them, in the words of T.S. Eliot, "never cease from exploration."
   Dan and I will forever remember her with deep affection, recalling numerous stories too many to tell. And so, "from heaven where this soul came, and now to heaven, our Gloria returns." May she rest in peace and in love.  
   {Ron & Dan, your brothers in Fargo, N.D.}