History of the
UUC Memorial Committee
and Memorial Garden

In December 2001, UUC’s Board approved the creation of a Pastoral Care Resources Committee to oversee the establishment of a file of members' wishes for their memorial services and the planning of a Memorial Garden on the [then] Congregation grounds. In August 2002, the name of the committee was changed to the Memorial Society Committee and a job description was approved by the Board. Enthusiasm for the project was stimulated by a sermon Building the Pyramids, delivered on February 9, 2003 by Fellowship member Isabel Berney. Considerable research was done by the committee members on materials and costs of various options, and they consulted with town officials.

UUC member Margaret Bryant, a professor in Landscape Architecture, used the design of a memorial garden on our property as a lab project in her landscape design class, and the students gave a presentation of their final projects to the committee in April 2004. (At that time we had not acquired the Gross property, so the existing land was where the upper-left parking lot is located. All of the designs were very elaborate, most with water features.)

In February, 2004, the Board approved a designated fund for the memorial garden. Several people had inquired about making contributions, and one member offered to match any contribution up to $2,500. The project was put on hold for the next four years while the UUC focused its attention on a major building expansion.

TIn 2008, an enlarged committee resumed its activitiesn. On November 16, 2008, the title of the Sunday service presentation by Isabel Berney was Facing Mortality. In her introduction to the sermon, Reverend Brownlie noted that we live in a culture that turns away from the reality of death, with the result that many of us neglect the tasks that would assist our survivors — making a difficult time even more stressful. Next, a survey of UUC members and friends about their preferences regarding a memorial garden was completed by the committee; 67 members and friends took part in the survey.

In October 2009, the name of the committee was changed to the UUC Memorial Committee to reflect the fact that its scope had expanded to include the establishment of records of memorials, gifts, and ways to honor members and friends. Bonnie Moreno designed a Memory Book for this purpose. A complimentary book for recording the interment and scattering sites for ashes of UUC members and friends was added. In this book relatives could place pictures or other remembrances of the deceased. The Committee assumed oversight of the construction, maintenance, and policies of the Memorial Garden.

Lori Toliver-Jones, a friend of the Congregation and a landscape architect, agreed to design a garden. We agreed on the “berm” area, above the original building and out of the footprint of a proposed future expansion. In April 2010 the committee was given Board approval to raise $10,000 for construction costs and the policies for the Garden's use was approved. Niches and pavers were sold, and the Memorial Garden structures and landscaping were completed that Winter. Total initial cost was about $21,000.

On May 8, 2011, a dedication ceremony was held commemorating The Memorial Garden's availability for members and friends of the UUC for use as a long-term repository and a peaceful area for meditation and remembrance. At the dedication ceremony, Isabel Berney was recognized for spearheading and tirelessly leading the efforts toward final completion of this most significant project.

Click here for a brief (6 minute) audio history of the Memorial Garden delivered by member Isabel Berney in 2016.

Starting in 2014, committees produced annual reports in June summarizing their activities during the current year. A snapshot of the actions of the Memorial Committee can be seen by reading them: 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017