Celebration of Life at Pennsic

July 5, 2022 Posted inIn Memoriam, Pennsic

The Crown Province of Ostgardr invites you to attend a Celebration of Life ceremony to honor the lives and contributions of our SCA friends and family now passed on.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how we live and work, limiting our ability to interact with others and freely move about in the world and also affecting our ability to pay tribute to loved ones who have passed on. But instead of grief, we choose to pay respect to our departed loved ones’ remarkable and joyful lives.

The ceremony will begin with an opening poem, a moment of silence, share stories, poems, or words of remembrance around the fire, and end with a song. The ceremony will be an hour long. If you would like to continue to share stories after the ceremony has concluded, you are welcome to do so.

The Ceremony of Life will begin after our Potluck dinner and Court, scheduled for 5:30 pm at the Ostgardr encampment at Pennsic, Thursday of War Week (August 11th). Ostgardr Camp is at Block E04, on Chandler’s Lane, a few feet from the intersection of Chandler’s Road/High Road/Brewer’s Road/Via Chingis Path.

If you would like your loved one memorialized at the ceremony:

  • Email a picture of your loved one, preferably in garb. The picture will be framed for display.
  • If you are attending Pennsic and would like to share a story, poem, or words of remembrance, please let me know so I can add you to the schedule.
  • If you are not attending Pennsic but would like to have a story or poem read out loud, please forward the information to me.

Please send all information to: 206055@members.eastkingdom.org.

We hope to see you there.

Yours in Service,

Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, OL

Coordinator

In Memoriam for Sir Edward: A Comet Pierces Eastern Skies Tonight

July 15, 2020 Posted inIn Memoriam

[This poem was composed by M. Ana de Guzmán, OL on the passing of Viscount Edward Zifran of Gendy, a beloved figure who had given much to Østgarðr. Our thanks to Mistress Ana for sharing it with us.]

A comet pierces Eastern skies tonight,
the likes of which we shall not see again.
The passing of a giant among men
is heralded with its celestial flight.

One blessed with skill, with puissance, with great might,
adept likewise with needle and with pen,
now makes a journey far beyond our ken
with bravery, our simple country knight.

The evil that men do lives after them?
We know this is not altogether true.
For we have seen the good this man has done.

His wisdom like unto a precious gem,
he mended fences, quarrels not a few.
Recall his light, now Edward’s race is run.

Ana de Guzmán
XV July AS LV

For Sir Edward: “The Scriptures Say: Build Not Your House on Sand”

August 22, 2018 Posted inIn Memoriam

[This poem was composed in August 2018 by Dorigen of the Grey Gate in honor of Viscount Edward Zifran of Gendy, a beloved figure who gave much to Østgarðr. Our thanks to Mistress Dorigen for sharing it with us.]

The Scriptures say: build not your house on sand,
but on a rock, a strong foundation find.
Behold the East, a fair and blessed land,
which, past the time of memory or mind,

has built — nay, leaned — on Edward Zifran’s word,
his counsel wise, and most of all his deeds
(too numerous to mention), seen and heard;
the Eastrealm gladly follows where he leads.

Laurel and Knight and Pelican is he,
and bearer of a Viscount’s coronet;
of custom, law, and of diplomacy
his knowledge stands, nor has been equaled yet.

Through many realms his steadfast name is known:
Edward of Gendy, strong foundation-stone.

~Dorigen of the Grey Gate, 8/22/18

Madeleine Pelner Cosman passed

March 19, 2006 Posted inIn Memoriam, What's new
  • March 19, 2006: Madeleine Pelner Cosman, author of Fabulous Feasts (among other books), passed away. She wasn’t a member of the SCA, and this book has been superseded by subsequent research, but for many years it was the only easily-accessible book on medieval cooking, and as such it got a lot of SCA cooks started.