The Adele Richards
Chapel and Columbarium

Eternal rest grant them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on them.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.


COLUMBARIUMS____________________

Establishing a columbarium within a church is an old tradition in the Episcopal Church and is a means of providing comfort to those who want their remains to be in the church that sustained them during their life on this earth.

The columbarium is a multi-unit structure that holds the ash remains of persons who are now with their heavenly Father.

Proximitiy makes it convenient for visits by loved ones, and for periods of meditation and reflection.

Also, the cost of internment in a columbarium is usually considerably less than the cost of burial at a cemetery.

Other factors that may enter into your decision are concerns about the environment and space availability at a cemetery. The area in which remains are interred are called niches and must be reserved through the Parish.

Above, Father Jim Hamilton blesses the columbarium during a service on May 1, 2011.

ADELE RICHARDS____________________

 Adele Mitchell Richards was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 2, 1929 and died in Houston, Texas on July 23, 2009. She was married to Bill Richards in New York City and moved to Houston shortly thereafter.

Adele was a long-time devoted Episcopalian and served her church faithfully. She served as a member on the board of the East Harris County Convocation of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) for a number of years.

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church was the spiritual home of Adele and her wish was to have her ashes inurned inthe church upon her deeath. Her husband, Bill, has graciously made this wish possible.

The Adele Richards Memorial Chapel and Columbarium was dedicated to God on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in front of friends and family of Adele and parishioners from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. Father Jim Hamilton, rector for the parish, led the service and dedication.

At left, Bill and Adele Richards.





COMMON QUESTIONS____________________

 May more than two people be interred in a niche?
No. The space is reserved for only one or two people.

Do I supply my own urn?
No. The box is supplied as part of your purchase of the niche. The urn would be taken to the funeral home and they would fill it with the ashes of your loved one.

May I decorate the area near my niche with flowers?
No. The chapel does not have the room or budget for the maintenance of such remembrances, however, it will be maintained in a serene, holy and edifying manner.

How are niches assigned?
The niches are assigned in sequential order. A list of the niches that have been purchased is available in the Parish Secretary’s office or from a Columbarium Committee member.

I’m interested in purchasing a niche. What’s the next step?
Contact the Rector or a member of the Columbarium Committee and they will furnish you a copy of the contract.

You have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God.
But when Christ is revealed — and he is your life — you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
Colossians 3:3-4
 

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
13125 Indianapolis
Houston, Texas  77015
713-451-2909 or www.sttimhouston.com

COLUMBARIUM COMMITTEE MEMBERS are Mark Hegman, Lois Cooper, Rev. Jim Hamilton and David Taylor.

Click HERE to go to Document Downloads to view the contract.

 

      The Bill and Adele Richards family, May 1 in the Year of Our Lord 2011


These are the remarks by Elizabeth Richards at the dedication of a
Memorial Chapel and Columbarium to her grandmother, Adele Mitchell Richards,
at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church on May 2, 2011.

“To have a place named after you to the glory of God is an honor; one that many people do not experience while they are living.  Personally knowing that individual is very special.  So, for this prayer chapel and columbarium to be named after my grandmother, my namesake, and my family member is a very special occasion.
 
I grew up at St. Timothy’s with my family including my mother, my father, my sister and my grandparents.  I remember Easter Sundays and flowering the cross, spaghetti dinners, potlucks, pancake suppers at Lent, EYC, Sunday school, sitting on Santa’s lap (a.k.a. Bruce Cooper) at Christmas, and I have seen buildings knocked down and rebuilt.
 
My grandmother Adele loved St. Timothy’s and the Episcopal Church.  She willingly and lovingly gave of her time, talents and resources to the church during her life.  It was simply a natural thing to do for her.  She knew so many friends here who are gone now and others who still remain.  There are a lot of new faces who didn’t personally know my grandmother, and even for those of you who did I feel it very befitting that if a place of peaceful prayer and burial of loved ones is being given in her honor, I would like to share a few things regarding her that my family loved so much.
 
My grandmother worked for Shell Oil Company for 22 years and she wore a gold seashell around her neck for as long as I can remember. She loved her time at Shell and made many longtime friends there. 
 
One of her greatest contributions to the Episcopal community and to St. Timothy’s was the time she gave volunteering and participating in the Episcopal Church Women (ECW).  In the early 80’s she was chosen East Harris County Coordinator for the Diocesan ECW which put her in a position of great responsibility for imparting information to local ECW Chapters.  She did this faithfully and beautifully and made more friends in the process. Friendship was very important to her. 
 
During the summer time, my grandmother took my sister Mary and me to Vacation Bible School in Galveston where my grandparents had built a bay house.  It was held at Trinity Episcopal Church, and when she would come to pick us up each day she always took us to Wendy’s Restaurant on the Seawall which remains there now. I can still remember the smell of the old church and making cut outs of shepherds and their flocks.
 
Also, Gran was a great person to divulge your secrets to and she knew a few of those from my sister and me before our parents did!
 
She had an amazing green thumb and there are a few backyards in Houston that can give proof to her sharing of plants and knowledge.   Her gardenia plants bloom faithfully and fragrantly to this day, and in fact, are blooming now. 
 
Gran was a voracious reader and loved to pass information along in the form of paper clippings.  I received one like clockwork every Friday while in college with a little money in it to “get a healthy meal!”  She had quite a way with animals.  I think they could sense her peace and loved to sit in her lap for a good scratch. 
 
My grandmother was a survivor, a tough old gal, who was not beat by breast cancer.   She brought her Lithuanian traditions to the family with pride in the form of food, a traditional egg smashing contest on Easter where the winner whose egg stayed perfect was said to have good luck for the next year and there were lots of little Lithuanian sayings I catch myself muttering to this day.
 
She loved her family deeply; her husband Bill, her only son Michael and his wife Beth (my mom and dad), my sister Mary and me, her granddaughters,  her siblings who  have all passed from this life now with her, and many treasured nieces and nephews; several of whom are with us today.
 
My grandmother really had it all in life.  She had a career, adventures, love and passion, many dear friendships, loss and renewal, and a strong, unswerving relationship with God her maker.  I believe that she is smiling down on all of us now and is absolutely delighted that her name will live on at St. Timothy’s in this prayer chapel and place of peace.  Thank you for this.”

To print these remarks, click HERE.

Chapel Cross dedicated

In a beautiful service on October 17, 2011 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Rev. Jim Hamilton dedicated a beautiful cross from celebrated artist Jean Tudor of Edgewood, Washington. The cross was donated by Tudor, the sister of church member Lois Cooper, to hang in the new Chapel and Columbarium at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. Tudor is a world-renowned enamelist and used her talented hands to create the beautiful cross that perfectly matches the Columbarium. Following the dedicatory service, the cross was hung in the Chapel for all to see.


       


The Tudor and Cooper family members Erick Holmes, Bill Tudor, John Holmes, Katharine Holmes, Katie Holmes, Jean Tudor,Evelyn Cooper, Jackson Cooper, Lois Cooper, Bruce Cooper, Margaret Cooper, Cameron Holmes, Jason Cooper together in the Columbarium in front of the beautiful Chapel Cross.

The Chapel Cross was featured in Vol. 31, No. 2 of the national magazine Glass On Metal--The Enamelist's Magazine. The April 2012 edition featured the story written by Jean Tudor on how the cross was constructed, her thought process in selecting the colors and ultimately the location of the cross. The four-page spread detailed the intricacies of the process. The parish of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church is forever grateful for such a beautiful contribution to such a reverent, elegant space.

To read the story, click on this link and download and print out each page.