| Notes |
- Dear family,
I am certain you have received the news of Mother's death. Last Friday I sent an email to my friends, telling them about it. I have received some lovely responses. I want to share it with you as well. Love, Normie
December 14, 2000.
My dear friends, I am writing to let you know that my mother, Margaret Warren, died yesterday morning. She was 94. Many of you know that I spoke to her late afternoon, every day, for the last four years. This maternal/daughter connection was rich with laughter, discussions of current events and reports of the biographies that she voraciously read. We spoke extensively about the human condition, the meaning of life as well as reflecting on her life's journey.
Mother consciously prepared for her death both on a spiritual level as well as a practical level, as evidenced by arranging, three decades ago, to donate her body to the Medical School at the University of Cincinnati. In recent months, she spoke frequently about being ready for that trip.
Due to her donation, there was no funeral. My sisters and I will select a future date, after the fashion of Quakers, for her memorial service, to honor her life and contributions, which touched so many lives. Mother was alert and lucid up until the last 72 hours, when she slept almost around the clock and became unable to speak.
We are all grateful that my two oldest sisters, Allie and Flo were able to visit with her the week before she died. I did deep breathing with her to help her relax after the recent extraction of four molars. It gave me great pleasure to sing songs to her that she taught me in my childhood. I also frequently used visualization and imagery. I used to say, "Mother, I'm putting little kisses on your eyelids, pulling the sheet up under your chin, fluffing your pillow and wishing you the sweetest of dreams, my Darling." I also told her, "When your sweet soul sours through the universe, I will bless you on your journey, and every afternoon after that, I will remember the special times that we shared at day's end."
I am most grateful that my friend, Karen Phillips, was visiting from Clearwater, when I learned of Mother's death. I appreciate my friends 'holding Mother in the Light' and for sending good wishes for her comfort and ease in passing.
Love, Normie
Wilmington OH News Journal, 15 Dec 2000
Margaret Warren 1906-2000
Margaret Draughon Francis Winder Warren, 94, of Wilmington, died 8:44 a.m Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at Wilminton Nursing and Rehabilitation.
She was born April 26, 1906, at the Elms in Edgecomb County, N.C., daughter of the late Lyman Latham and Florence Rux Draughon. She received her bachelor's degree from Duke University and did graduate work at William & Mary School of Social Work. In 1932, she married Harold Edmund Francis. To that union, three daughters were born. Five years after Mr. Francis' death, and at the age of 55, she married Steve Winder. Mr. Winder was a widower with eight children, six of whom were still living at home (the youngest was 7 years old). Mr. Winder preceded her in death in 1974. She would eventually move to Wilminton and marry Luther Warren. Their marriage took place in 1984 when she was 79 and Mr. Warren was 93. Mr Warren preceded her in death in April 1997 at the age of 106.
Over the years, Margaret was an active member of the Religious Society of Friends in Washington, D.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio and Wilmington, Ohio.
She worked and volunteered in many areas of social concern including poverty, alcoholism, mental health and civil rights. For years her home was open to many people including foreign students, Quakers and friends. She worked for several years to help create the Peace House at Wilmington College.
She is survived by three daughters, Allie (David) Neff of Cleveland, Flo Friender of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Normie Kane of Miami, Fla; stepchildren Robert (Kathy) Winder of Phoenix, Ariz., Ann (Ron) Winder of Texas, Allan (Theresa) Winder of Iowa City, Iowa, Tom (Carolyn) Winder of Ashville, N.C., Dr. Mary Winder of British Columbia, Carl (Mimi) Winder of Little Hook, N.H., Paul Winder of Ann Arbor, Mich., Normie (Thomas) Rockwell of Barnesville, Ohio, Bob (Bea) Warren of Wilmington, Ohio, and Bill (Kay) Warren of Livonia, Mich; 29 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
At her request, her body was bequeathed to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. The Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington is serving the family.
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1906 - 2000 (94 years)
