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Saint
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Arlene Van
Deventer: She Brought Music to St. Giles Arlene
Helen Carhart Van Deventer, St. Giles organist and music director for
over 25 years, died February 6, 2008, at her home, with her husband
George and daughter Susan at her side.
Born November 15, 1937, in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of Herman R. and Esther (French) Carhart. She graduated with a bachelor of science in education in 1959 from Newark (NJ) State College (now Kean University) and married George V. Van Deventer on February 24, 1965, in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Jersey City, NJ. She was an avid reader, with literary tastes ranging from Agatha Christie to Carl Sagan, from C.S. Lewis to Tolkien, and she much enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor of Dr. Who. Arlene taught elementary school for 31 years, 13 years in New Jersey, 18 in Warren. Arlene and George supported the operation of Snow Drift Farm, and she was recognized in 1982 by the Maine Ayrshire Club for her outstanding service to the organization. They also operated Snow Drift Bed & Breakfast for 11 years until they retired to Bristol. Music was central to Arlene’s life. She directed St. Giles musical programs for over 25 years. Before moving to Maine, she sang with the Masterwork Chorus at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. She also sang with the Down East Singers and Sheepscot Valley Chorus. She served in various capacities as church organist, pianist and choir director for children’s and adult choirs in New Jersey and Maine from 1950 to 2008. For the last 25 years, she served as organist and choir director at St. Giles Episcopal Church. In addition to George, she is survived by daughter Susan and her husband Yale; granddaughter Mia; and three siblings, Ruth Rowe, Maryann Santinelli and Dave Carhart. The family requested that memorial donations be made to St. Giles Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 34, Jefferson, ME 04348-0034. These funds will be dedicated to the music program at St. Giles. (Adapted from obituary appearing in the Kennebec Journal, Village Soup, Lincoln Country News, and other papers.) Excerpts from a Homily delivered by the Rev. Richard Bamforth on the occasion of a Celebration of the Life of Arlene Van Deventer, February 16, 2008, St. Giles’ Church It (is) a special privilege to presume to speak on the occasion when the departed is a church musician who led the worshippers in this house in hymns of praise until a few short weeks ago, and whose beloved spouse is both a poet and a chorister. How many of you have known a loving couple who built a new house centered on a special room designed expressly for musicales and the public reading of poetry? It is hard enough to imagine the survival of the marriage of an accomplished musician and a published poet under the same roof, especially when the poet is the solitary tenor in the organist’s Sunday choir…The very existence of such a marriage is a sacrament and a model of the impossible possibilities of mutual appreciation and cooperation where each brings out the best in the other. In a sonnet, the 17th century poet, Richard Barnwell, wrote: “If Music and sweet Poetry agree,
As they must needs (the Sister and the Brother,) Then must the love be great ‘twixt thee and me, Because thou lov’st the one, and I the other.” It has been said that the role of the poet involves transporting the hearer from one realm to another. In a similar way, the church musician plays a leading role in making it possible for the worshipper to move from here to there…The process..is mysteriously charismatic, a gift from the creator. In the case of Arlene, it was a gift combined with the heroic efforts, that few ever appreciate, of choosing music and hymnody appropriate to the liturgical calendar and the appointed readings, as well as careful practicing in order to lead others to lift voices in song, while also corralling intransigent choristers, including George, away from social hours, to the hard but joyful work of rehearsing. …One of my most vivid memories of Arlene goes back to a parish supper, perhaps 18 months ago, when she appeared in full Bishop’s regalia: pectoral cross, and pastoral staff, with cope and mitre carefully crafted from someone’s elegant window drapes. In her most prelatial leadership role, she then led us in singing a slightly off-color chorus which, I am sure, a poet named George had a hand in. …This Saturday of the first week in Lent is called an Ember Day on which we are asked to pray “for all members of God’s holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve God.” So this day we celebrate the vocation and ministry, the life and giftedness, the love and leadership of that glowing ember, Arlene Helen Carhart Van Deventer, as we send her on her way to the larger life, and as we life up her family in love and faith and hope. Remarks by Bill Murdoch, former rector of St. Giles, delivered by John Atwood Arlene’s answer was always, “Yes.” Arlene’s answer was always “Yes!” I would ask her, “Can you do...?” “Yes.” “How about we do...?” “Sure!” She and I worked together here for many yers and I never had a doubt that she would not be here Sundays ready and willing and able to play. And that is a very nice feeling for a rector to have! Now, don’t get me wrong! Arlene always said, “Yes, sure.” but she was by no means a ‘yes woman,’ but sh wascapable, strong, self-assured and knowledgeable. And her smile! Arlene had a BEAMING kind of smile! She just lit up! Here in church, or in the grocery store, in her home! “Sure, we can do that!” And she did. Arlene taught school most of our time together at St. Giles. I’ll bet she was a fun teacher. Strong, no-nonsense, expected results and always the smile. She was the prime example of the “can-do” person. I remember a sermon that somehow got around to the old 1940s song, “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess around with Mr. In-Between.” When I got to that place in the sermon and invited those who were old enough to remember the song to sing it with me, Arlene, with no notice that I might do such a thing, picked up the tune quickly and accompanied our singing. As I think about the song, it could easily have been her theme song. “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess around with Mr. In-Between.” Oh, yeah! Sounds like Arlene to me. And all the people said, “Amen.” So be it! A
Celebration of Arlene's life was held on February 16, 2008 at St. Giles.
Arlene and George planned the service before her death
Arlene's obituary as it appeared in The
Village Soup Fresh Fresh You're better than liver. — George Van Deventer
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