Flowers and Memorial at the Unitarian Church, Sunday, May 29, 2022

Susan Spillane

​Jamestown, N.Y. – Delayed because of COVID restrictions, a memorial recognition for Susan Spillane will be part of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown (UUCJ) hybrid service on Sunday, May 29, 2022, 10:30 a.m. 

Susan’s husband, Maury Spillane, and several members of their family will attend. Anyone present in person or virtually will be welcome to share their memories of Susan. 

The remembrance will be at the beginning of the Flower Ceremony. The inscription will be read from a plaque with her picture that will be hung near the office where she worked as congregational secretary for 20 years. 

Congregant Anne Kenefic will lead the uniquely Unitarian Universalist Flower Ceremony that follows. Initiated in Prague in1923 to honor each person’s individuality while also celebrating community, the ritual was brought to the United States in 1940. 

A Sister of Social Service for more than a decade, Kenefic is a graduate of California State University, Hayward and received her Doctor of the Law from the University of West Los Angeles. After practicing various types of law in California, she moved to Jamestown in 2008, where she worked as a paralegal until her retirement. She has been a UUCJ member since that move and served as a board member for three years.

The Flower Communion, as the Flower Ceremony is also called, is an opportunity for UU congregations to express their commitment to the Sixth Principle they affirm and promote: The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

A social time follows the service.

While not required, vaccines, masks, and appropriate distancing are encouraged for those who take part in the service in person. 

Participation can be at 1255 Prendergast Avenue in Jamestown or online. To join virtually, use the link at UUJamestown.org/calendar.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown is a progressive, liberal religious community serving the southern tier of Western New York and Warren County, Pa. The UUCJ’s mission is to support and celebrate each other, encourage spiritual and individual growth, and serve the wider community.

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