Share this pageJune K. Berg's Gifts of Redeemer Women's Christmas Dinners
- Details
- Published on Friday, 20 February 2009 18:36
- Written by Stanton O. Berg
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The Redeemer Lutheran Church sponsors an annual Christmas Event for the ladies of the church. This event is called the "Women's Christmas Dinner."
June K. Berg has been a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church for over 50 years. June was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in January of 1998. For many years June had been a very active amd loving member of the Redeemer Church. When June's life was taken over by Alzheimer's, her church participation gradually diminished. Finally on March 16th of 2005, June had to be placed in the care of an Alzheimer's facility. After a long, weary and exhausting battle with Alzheimer's that lasted almost 12 years, God finally took June to her heavenly home on 23 October 2008.
June loved Christmas with all her heart. She used to say: "I wish Christmas would come twice a year."
June attended the annual Women's Christmas dinners at Redeemer Lutheran Church...June attended her last Redeemer Women's Christmas dinner in December of 2004 shortly before being admitted to an Alzheimer's facility for further care! This was the menu for June's last Christmas Dinner at Redeemer...
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Redeemer’s Annual
Woman’s Christmas Dinner
December 6th, 2004
6:30 p.m.
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Sauteed Chicken Breasts
Juicy Chicken Breasts seasond and sautéed to a Golden Brown
Cavatappi Pasta with Aurora Sauce
Fun Pasta served with a delicate Aurora Sauce that accompanies the
Sauteed Chicken perfectly
Roasted Zucchini, Squash and Red Onions
Herb Roasted Zucchini, Yellow Squash and Onions Al Dente
Classic Sid’s Caesar Salad
Romaine Lettuce, Roma Tomatoes, Croutons and a Classic Caesar Dressing
Garlic Bread
French Bread with Garlic Butter
Raspberry Lemonade Fizz
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade with a Raspberry Twist that’s even refreshing in December
Dessert – Chef’s Choice
Flamed Bananas and Pecans in a Orange, Lemon Sauce on Crepes
With Ginger Whipped Cream
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(This menu was bordered on all four sides with little green Christmas trees)
The back side of the menu contained recipe's for the Crepes, the Flamed Bananas and Pecans and the Ginger whipped cream.
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*This 2004 Women’s Christmas Dinner menu was found among some of June’s papers in our bedroom dresser…it was only about 3 months after June attended this dinner that June was admitted into an Alzheimer’s facility for further care…as her Alzheimer’s entered the late stages…16 March 2008…and I entered the darkest period of our marriage. Stan
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2008 - 2009 - The Redeemer Women's Christmas Dinner is an event that enables June to show her love for the women of the congregation. June was able to participate in the 2008 and the 2009 Redeemer Christmas Dinners by way of love gifts of funds to the Redeemer Lutheran Church to enable Redeemer Lutheran to award dinner tickets to to any Redeemer Lady who was economically disadvantaged and could not otherwise afford to go to the event.
2010 - 2011 - June again was happy to participate in the 2010 and the 2011 Redeemer Ladies Christmas Dinners. The 2010 Dinner was held on Tuesday December 7th, 2010. The 2010 Dinner also provided a special music group and entertainment by Greta Grosch and the Looney Lutherans. (Three actresses from the local hit musical the Church Basement Ladies.) The 2011 Dinner was held on Tuesday December 6th and described as: "Featuring a talent show with many talented members and/or friends of Redeemer". Again as in the past events, complimentary tickets from June were provided to the economically disadvantaged. The administration of this program is done by the Redeemer Lutheran Church using funding provided by June's donations through Stan Berg as June's earthly agent. (June's funds come from her half of June and Stan's lifetime savings.)
2012 - June participated in the 2012 Ladies Christmast Dinner held at Redeemer Lutheran's Fridley Campus on December 4th at 6 PM...Special guests included Partner's in Praise and Con Brio Girls Choirs..
2013 - June participated in the 2013 Ladies Christmas Dinner described as "a delicious dinner and Christmas Presence, a joyful weaving together of festive music, light-hearted poems, tender Christmas stories and audience participation, presented by Pati Kachel of The Parable Fund."
2014 - Once again June participated in the 2014 Ladies Christmas Dinner described as "Women and friends of Redeemer, enjoy a delicious dinner and get ready for Christmas with the energy and inspiration of the performing Trio Sister. These Norwegian women bring all of their love for small towns,Scandinavian heritage and the Lutheran church to the stage in a warm, inviting, harmonious, humorous and sincere presentation."
2015 - Once again June participated in the 2015 Ladies Christmas Dinner described as "Come and be a part of this exciting event Dinner and Desert prepared by Redeemer Member Chef Jeff Bieniek, served by men from the congregation. Following the diner, experience "Drawn to the Word" program with Artist and Pastor Paul Orman. As we watch her will paint a large mural highlighting God's faithfulness through the ages..."
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*As in all past and current events, June is making the tickets available to "anyone having economic hardships or budget difficulties, as a love gift form June Berg and as a reflection of God's love."
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June and Stan were both appointed as Purple Angel World Dementia Ambassadors (October 2013) for the purpose of promoting world wide awareness of Alzheimer's and the dementia diseases. Such an awareness will in turn promote funding for research to find a cure and to promote proper care practices. June was appointed an honorary Purple Angel Ambassador with Stan as her representative in order to promote her many charitable programs that all have an Alzheimer's and dementia awareness connection. June is the only resident of Heaven to have received this honor...and who actually lives among the Angels...The Purple Angel world headquarters is in Devon, United Kingdom.
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June's participation in Ladies Christmas Dinner Event Log
1. Tuesday December 2nd, 2008.
2. Tuesday December 8th, 2009.
3. Tuesday December 7th, 2010.
4. Tuesday December 6th, 2011.
5. Tuesday December 4th, 2012.
6. Tuesday December 10th, 2013.
7. Tuesday December 9th, 2014.
8. Tuesday December 8th, 2015.
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Reader's Comments
Kelly Dee Ramos - Laveen, Arizona - (2 November 2014): "Such a beautiful, beautiful thing."
Athena Chakiris Hoque - Los Angeles, California - (2 November 2014): "Wow, what a great, great thing to do!!"
Louise Ann Howard - Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia - (3 November 2014): "So lovely."
Bertha Dusenberry - Ohio - (3 November 2014): "How sweet and thoughtful ..."
Holly Lozada - Fridley, Minnesota - (3 November 2014): "Very generous for these to be given by and for June."
Lis Webster - Bury, St. Edmunds, United Kingdom - (4 November 2014): "amazing...Your eternal love for your wife so obviously shines out through not only your words but your actions. A real inspiration."
James Whanley - New Brighton, Minnesota - (14 December 2015): "Stan June is a very pretty lady- thanks for all the great pictures. Concerning the gift to those women who otherwise could not attend the Christmas dinner:..."God does not need our good works- but our neighbor does."...Blessings to you and June who keep the star of Bethlehem shining...Jim."
Dianne Cogar - Springfield, Ohio - (14 December 2015): "
The Ladies Annual Christmas Dinner
Sharing A Holiday Meal With June Berg
by Dianne Cogar - 2015
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Her inviting conversations
Her sweet alluring kind smile too
The sisterhood all in gathering
The loyal friendship that she knew
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The house in which she worshiped
The praise she had for the Lord
Her yearning to serve humanity
Never was she settled or bored
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Her faith could move a mountain
Her hugs could warm a frigid heart
The twinkle in her trusting eyes
Was as lovely as a delicate art
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And now that she lives happily
In the eternal heavens high above
Her kindness, compassion, and commitment
Proceeds with joy through her Stan's love
Bertha Dusenberry - West Lafayette, Ohio - (14 December 2015): "You have done... much .... to continue on what June would have done. What a blessing she must have been ,so active in giving and doing for others. You both are a blessing in my eyes. heart emoticon I love this picture of June...what a beautiful lady ...You ... to continue on Stan what she would have wanted you to do. God Bless you."
Lis Webster - Bury, St. Edmunds, United Kingdom - (14 December, 2015):"June, with your help as her earthly agent at this time, continues to be such a blessing to others, sharing God's love & many blessings."
Lorrain Russell - London, United Kingdom - (15 December 2015): "What a stunning beautiful Lady Stan with a big heart. Kindness shines from your lovely wife's face. God bless June."
Susan Day - Dayton, Ohio - (15 December 2015):"Everything about June was beautiful - her person, her heart and her mission. She sent kindness and caring into the communities that surrounded her and she left a legacy of love behind."
Cindy Palewicz - Erie, Pennsylvania - (15 December 2015): "Stanton...sometimes when I read your posts about your wife June and all that she did to make others lives better..I am touched beyond words. I read about how her legacy lives on in all the things you do and I have no words. So sometimes all I can do is like something or simply comment beautiful. You made quite a team. It is an honor to read about the life you and June had together. The genuineness of your love spilled out to so many other lives. Dementia may have taken her but her heart lives on in all the things you do in her memory. Never stop telling those stories. They make me think and inspire me to understand another's world. ....a world that so few take the time to even give a second thought to. I may not have said this very well....but I so look forward to reading your posts...and June's site is so well done...the deep love between you is reflected there. May God continue to allow you to share here with us...I know I am much richer in knowing you and June through reading you here".
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June's Passing
After an almost 12 year journey into the shadows of Alzheimer's, early one morning in late October 2008, an exhausted June felt God's gentle touch on her shoulder and heard the words: "Come Home June!" As June lay like a wounded soldier on a battlefield, it was God's Angels that ushered June into a Heavenly Kingdom to the sound of a chorus of Angels...and into June's new home, a "Mansion on the Hilltop", where there is no pain, nor illness nor tears...June's funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website in the drop down menu under the "In Memoriam" label - just Click on:
"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam"