Remembrance bench for Joanne and Richard.

Cara Cardon is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

My family is raising money for a remembrance bench for my parents. The bench will be located inside a local nature park in, Oregon. While the bench will hold special meaning to my family it will benefit the community that uses the park. Please read on to learn why this bench is important to us.

Thank you for reading my story and request for funding

About Me

My name is Cara. I have lived in Oregon most my life. My parents were the ones who helped my kids and I get established in our beautiful community. My parents and I have seen our town change and grow.

My parents had their favorite restaurants and parks they loved going to.

Sadly, I have lost both my parents recently. The pandemic has made it difficult to bring families together in honoring them. While walking through our local nature park, the idea came to me to ask if we could place a remembrance bench in the park. I found out that it was quite expensive. Since this remembrance bench will also serve others, I decided to ask for help funding it.

Asking for help

To honor my parents, my family and I are asking for help to buy a new bench with a remembrance plaque to be placed in our local nature Park here in Oregon. My mom died at the beginning of the pandemic in December 2020, and my stepdad was moved out of the area after my mom’s death, making it difficult to see him. He past in May 2023.

This bench will bring the two back together in spirit and allow family members to visit a park my parents loved. This gift of a new bench will benefit the community by providing the public with a place to sit and enjoy nature without traveling out of the city. The money donated will go towards Parks and Recreation to purchase a bench, remembrance plaque, and installation costs.

About my parents who inspired the remembrance bench

Joanne , 82, of Redmond, Oregon, passed away on December 13, 2020, from pancreatic cancer. Her ashes were spread in the Willamette Valley Wilderness area.

She was born September 9, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in Livingston, California. She fell in love with and married Ivan in 1956. They raised one son and four daughters in Eugene, Oregon. Ivan had taken ill at a young age and passed away on January 24, 1980.

Richard , 87, of Redmond, Oregon, passed away in Visalia, California, on May 31, 2023. His ashes were spread in Loreto Mexico.

He was born March 28, 1936, in Oxnard, California, and raised a son and daughter in Visalia, California. After finding himself divorced, he began attending single groups and dances.

Found love once again

Joanne and Richard found each other at a dance in Visalia, California. They both were smitten with one another and soon the two were married in 1991.

Joanne and Richard welcomed each other’s families into their lives, including all their kids and grandkids. Joanne and Richard last lived in Redmond, Oregon.

They built houses, traveled the US in their motorhome, as well as traveling overseas for adventure. They always made sure their travels included visiting kids and grandkids and attending any special occasions family had.

Things they enjoyed

Joanne and Richard loved ballroom dancing and being part of their community when they were home. They loved being outdoors, family camping at Waldo Lake, kayaking in Central Oregon, and swimming anywhere possible, to name a few.

Family gatherings were important to them. They loved hosting events such as Thanksgiving and Christmas in their home. They are famous for hosting tea parties with the grandkids. At the tea parties, grandkids would dig through Joanne’s dress-up clothes and get into character for the party. After a few rounds of savory tea snacks, Joanne and Richard would turn up the music and start dancing. They loved inviting everyone to the dance floor (kitchen), and teaching ballroom dancing steps.

What they were known for

Joanne and Richard were known for their compassionate spirits and willingness to help others. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a joy in their lives. Their kind energy, passion for adventure, and zest for life will never be forgotten.

Joanne and Richard are greatly missed but are not forgotten. They are survived by 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

Remembrance

Joanne and Richard have been a positive part of so many lives. They enjoyed many walks at our local nature park while visiting us in, Oregon. Since both have their ashes scattered in distant places, I have chosen to bring their memories together, in spirit, with a remembrance bench and plaque. This bench will not only be for honoring them but also to give back to the community for a place they can sit and enjoy nature, as my parents did.

The bench will look like the one they are sitting on in the front picture.

The plaque that will be placed on the bench will read:

Come and sit by my side if you love me.

Joanne 9/09/1938 – 12/13/2020

Richard 3/28/1936 – 5/31/2023

Caring Benevolent Explorers

Meaning behind the words on the plaque

• First line of plaque, “Come and sit by my side if you love me,” comes from one of their favorite songs: Red River Valley

• Definition of Caring used as an adjective: displaying kindness and concern for others.

• Definition of Benevolent used as an adjective: intending or showing goodwill; kindly; friendly.

• Definition of Explorers: Those who travel to places about which very little is known, to discover what is there.

Thank you for reading our story. Whether you can financially contribute or not, sharing this with others is greatly appreciated. We plan on having a dedication of the bench once it is complete.

Joanne and Richard walking the trails at our local nature Park with granddaughter and great granddaughter.