Other Tributes to Edith Messinger

A Snapshot of Edith
by Margie Hanrahan

For the first official property tour, that Edith gave to the Executive Board, I brought along my camcorder. It was a crisp, clear day, the trees were beautiful and the air was fresh. I ran up ahead of everyone and took footage of them walking toward me. Edith was trying hard to ignore the "chick with the camera." She did her best to give the rest of the crew background information on the property, interrupted only when I buzzed around her like a pesky deer fly. Sadie, her dog at the time, and I were busily running up and down the paths and along side everyone. Me taking action shots and Sadie just doing her best to trip me for sport.

Edith described the planting and clearing of the trees, the memorials to her husband and a young fireman, the pond and other noteworthy sites. At one point, she said, "...and over here is a bog...it gets quite wet and mucky. .... " I, not listening at that moment, thought it would make good footage to be slightly below the group as they walked by. So into the bog I went. Within seconds, my boots were sucked up to my calves in mud and I felt like I was in quicksand. I let out a "whoooooaaa!!?. The camera swung towards the ground and then to the trees and then back to the ground as I heard the "swoooccch, swoocccch," as the earth tried to eat my feet. The rest of the gang howled at me, but Edith just smiled and with her polite sense of humor turned and said, "Didn't I just say there was a bog there?" I know she found it quite amusing. Her wit I will miss the most.

I pretty much drove her crazy with my cameras. If it wasn't the camcorder, it was my 35mm or an instamatic. Yet to catch her in action was not an easy feat, and when I did manage to sneak a shot in here or there, it was always a personal victory. With slight annoyance she would tell me "...oh not today, I was digging in the garden," .... or some other excuse she could come up with. But the fact of the matter was, she just plain didn't like any fuss being made over her. It was a special treat this summer, when she actually asked me if I would take a picture of her and her dog Cindy in preparation for this year's Christmas cards. I jumped at the chance to take a nice picture without threat of being a true pain in her behind. "When you get a chance," she said. "How about now?" I said. "Well, I'm really not dressed for it .... ""You look fine ... no time like the present ... I've got my camera, where is Cindy?"

Humoring me, she walked with me to her backyard and I picked out a nice pine tree to use as a backdrop. She wanted me to use her camera, but I burned off a few shots on my own before using hers. "All right, that should be enough...", she said in her polite way. I don't think she had been planning a total photo shoot, and I of course had totally stretched this to the limit. Edith went back to her yard work and I went straight back to the barn. I was totally excited. "1 finally got a great picture of Edith!" I told Noreen. "Really?" Noreen asked. "Yes, she looked like a model, she was sitting on the ground with Cindy." "You made her sit on the ground with the dog?" she asked. "Well, er ...yes," I said, now feeling a tinge of guilt. It was just too easy to think of Edith as anything but young and spry.
As I look at the picture, it is full of memories of that day. As I teased her and we laughed together, I know she was still uncomfortable being put on the spot. It wasn't really because I had made her sit on the ground, but because she was so humble and had a sweet elusive shyness about her. She reminded me of the little birds that she watched out her window. The photograph itself came out wonderfully elegant, but the specialness of it now is only mine. I hadn't realized then, just how much that it would mean to me today.

Edith was a remarkable woman. She had so much spunk and outside interests that she amazed me every time I saw her. This summer, she decided she was going to learn how to use a computer. She went to some computer classes offered at the school. They were pretty basic, so I offered to come over and show her a few things. Between her grandson and myself, we hooked her up with email and word processing. My brother accompanied me for her first lesson. I shell shocked her with as much information as I could, in my usual speedy manner. In the car on the way home, I said to my brother, "Didn't she do great?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Great? She is incredible! Think about it! With YOU as a teacher! That was like strapping her into a rocket and asking, "So have you ever pulled 6 G before?" He was right. She was incredible.This Spring, we will be busy with the mending of our wild friends at Messinger Woods, and again the others and I will traipse across the property she so loved. I'll miss her invites for tea and cookies, the unknown smile she always gave me as I watched her maneuver her golf cart, the answers to the gardening questions I asked her, her clever teasing remarks to me, the hugs she gave to my son, Sean and her waves good-bye as I left the barn. She was as soft as a bending willow tree and yet as strong. She was a wise teacher of what is important and how things in life are. She was also a gentle reminder of how things should be. I never saw her cave to a bad day and I know because of her modesty she would not appreciate excessive tears or sadness on our part. So this Spring, for Edith, I will put on a brave front as I return to Messinger Woods. I will help to carry on what we promised we would do. Not only because of her generosity, but because of her inspiration. And I will attempt to be as stoic, lighthearted and smiling as she always was. But not today.

I will always remember Mrs. Messinger for her open and loving kindness to people and her dedication to and concern for the welfare of all our wild four legged and winged relations. Her sweet countenance and beautiful snowy hair always reminded me of angels and she reinforced that perception by always having a good word and a brilliant smile for you. I like to think that she's part of a heavenly 'rehab' team and that she will continue to look down on us and our efforts with love and her special kind of encouragement.. God bless you Edith! I'll never forget you. You're in my heart and my prayers, forever.

~Mysha Webber-Eakin

Edith Messinger was a small, gentle woman blessed with a profound sense of community and an even greater love of all things wild. My family and I will miss her, yet we will never forget her warmth and kindness.

~Mike Byrnes

Other Tributes to Edith

Edith Our Friend

Dear Edith,

Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your life. I hope you know how much you meant to us. We enjoyed all the times you invited us in for tea and muffins and loved walking with you through the woods, sharing the beauty of nature. Thank you for treating us like family, always holding your arms open to receive a hug from the kids.

We enjoyed sitting on your porch as you told us about all the different species of birds that came to your feeders. Thanks for all the rides in your golf cart and for all the fresh vegetables from your fantastic garden. I’ll never look at green beans again without thinking of you!

We will truly miss your smile and kindness. Please know how appreciative we all are for your generosity. Above all, thanks for being a friend, for your friendship is what we will miss the most.

Love always,
~ Noreen Olek

One of my fondest memories of Edith Messinger was the weekend of September 26-28, 1997 when Jim Fowler from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom came to town to help Messinger Woods raise funds for our medical facility.

On Friday, September 26^th an assembly was held at Holland High School. I’m always at the ready with my trusty camera and captured the moment when Edith and her friend met Jim Fowler. There they were, two naturalists carrying on a conversation - one world renown - the other our Edith known locally by family and close friends of Messinger Woods.

Edith was never comfortable being in the limelight and was shy and embarrassed when Jim Fowler thanked her during his school program for donating her land for such a worthy cause. A twinkle always in her eye and that sweet smile on her face she just waived from her seat, too embarrassed and shy to stand and receive the accolades due her.

Memories of Edith over the years are too many to write about. Right up to this summer I can close my eyes and see Edith climbing up on her tractor and throwing her one leg up and over the steering column like a woman in her 30’s. She thrived outdoors between the property, wildlife and her amazing garden.

That was our Edith and remembering her will always put a warm smile on my face. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to know such an amazing lady.

~ Judy "JC" Cesanti

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SAYING GOODBYE TO EDITH

by Judy Seiler

The call came early Christmas Eve morning. Edith Messinger had left us. Although we knew this call was coming, no one was quite prepared for it. The sadness you feel with the loss of a loved one is overwhelming sometimes, but especially so at this time of year. For those of you who have lost a member of your family during the holidays, you know their loss stays with you longer than any other. Our sympathies go out to her children, grandchildren and family.

Edith Messinger was 84 years old, that's what her birth certificate said, and that's what she told people. I personally think she was 35 years old until the day she died. No one who is 84 years old should have been able to do what she did. She lived every day to the absolute fullest, enjoying her property, seeing beauty in everything. Edith saw the slightest change in a bird's flight pattern, commenting on it with great pride in noticing. Every time we released an animal on the property, Edith was excited with the thought of spotting it on her walks, as if it would provide a special treat for her. She looked at everything positively. What a gift she possessed.

Edith's decision to donate a portion of her property to Messinger Woods fulfilled a desire she shared with her husband to preserve their land for the future. Edith's daily walks on the land, and later, her daily drives in her golf cart, showed her love for that property. She knew every tree, shrub, pothole and bog. She understood every plant and respected it's growth. In shared walks, Edith pointed out trees she had planted and the reason behind it. Somehow, even compost piles took on a different meaning for this exceptional lady. The vegetables she grew were the best, helped along by her special blend of compost. She wasted nothing, and understood the need to give back to the land, to keep everything in balance. This past spring, while raising baby ducks in the barn, she was so excited at the thought of adding all that waste to her compost. She had the look of a scientist on her face with the thought that her compost was going to be richer because of those ducks.

Edith Messinger always had a smile on her face and her gracious mannerisms made you feel welcomed and special. Her great sense of humor was ever present, making statements that would make you laugh over the simplest of issues. She had an exceptional laugh and a giggle that was infectious. We would share rehab stories and get to laughing so hard over some silly thing. Sharing with Edith was easy and I will miss that.

Edith Messinger left a legacy of great love, gentleness and dignity. My last visit with her was filled with sharing, honesty, laughter and great love. She gave me her instructions for opening the rear barn doors for the barn swallows in the spring, stating that she has done that job for years, but in reaching out to touch my hand, turned that torch over to us. She told me that she had a great sense of accomplishment in donating the property to Messinger Woods, knowing that the hospital would be built and we would do great things there. For the peace of mind that gave Edith, I will be eternally grateful.

Next Spring, when we open the rear barn doors, I will be sure to have a smile on my face for Edith. I know her spirit will be with us as we enter a new rehab season. She will be with us with every walk we take on the property, and I know that I will personally feel her arm reach out for mine when I walk up the hill towards her house, only the next time it won't be me helping her get up the hill - it will be her helping me.

When I think of her, I think of Edith ... tooling around on her golf cart ... visiting us at the barn ... with Sadie ... with Cindy ... visiting with her in her yard. She was, and continues to be a great role model for living. People like Edith Messinger never seem "old", because they never stop having interests, learning, and living life to the fullest. She will definitely be missed. This year's rehab season won't be the same without her across the road.

~ Heidi Tschopp

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My Friend Edith ...

What I will always remember about Edith was how she cared about ALL living things. In fact, that is how Edith and I became more than just neighbors, but friends. One morning I discovered my dog, Max, had wandered away from the house. After searching the back of the property, my roommate and I promptly jumped into the car and drove up and down Vermont Hill Road.

While calling for my dog, a woman in her garden came forward and flagged us toward her. "What's the matter," Edith asked, "have you lost your dog?" She wanted to learn as much about Max as possible and opened up her property for an all out search. Her genuine care about the safety of Max somehow quieted my nerves as I thanked her and continued my search with diligence.

Shortly after we did find Max strolling up the road toward home. Thankfully, his adventure was short lived. However, Edith, unaware of the outcome and worried about Max, drove up to the house later that morning. As she got out of her car, she was tickled to find one big, happy dog to greet her. It touched me so that she was so happy for me and Max, two strangers only the day before.

From there our friendship flourished into weekly meetings for a cup of tea and/or a walk. We never lacked for conversation and discovered we both loved to laugh. She was a delight and encouraged me to join some local organizations she was involved in such as: Messinger Woods and Fern Leaf Reading Club.

In such a short time I have many joyous memories of Edith that when I walk my dog, I cannot help but smile to think of her. I can see her property from where I live and dare say the place will never be the same, nor will I. Her pleasant and gracious company warmed my soul and enlightened my life forever. God bless you, Edith, as he blessed me with your brief but powerful presence in my life.

~ Joan Irving