August 5, 2017
August 5, 2017
A short eulogy for my mother, Eleanore Raven-Hamilton (1935-2017)
A Persian carpet is both functional and a work of art. Their colors and patterns, often deep rich reds and blue-grey in fields bounded by rhythmic borders; these carpets were prized and admired by my mother. The carpet’s structure of interwoven warps and wefts is comprised of knots where the threads intersect. Those knots build up the pile of the carpet, to achieve the luxuriant comfort that symbolizes home, hospitality… anchoring us. The more knots, the deeper and stronger is this work of art.
The many people who have been touched by Eleanore’s life are these knots… tied by close and deep friendships and relationships. Her life and career as a diplomat and teacher were woven through with rich threads of friendship and humanity; progressive ideals and global vision; deep intellect and curiosity; sense of adventure; home and hospitality.
One of her friends told me Ellie had a talent for friendship. Recently, my mother tried to meet a friend in a far-off location, who responded, “nothing about the arrangement was remotely practical; but there was no doubting Ellie’s determination”.
Ellie was committed to progressive ideals and global vision, but she joined and believed in our current institutions, preferring to push for change from the inside. Her work with Voice of the Faithful, to push the Catholic Church forward; to envision the ordainment of women priests… or for our country, the election of a woman president of the United States. In the State Department, she was actively engaged in working groups focusing on Iran and Palestinian issues.
Her global curiosity perhaps originated in Brooklyn; where as a child she was attracted to immigrants and visitors from all over the world in the streets and subways of New York City. She told me she often wondered where they were from; what lives they led back home.
Her sense of adventure and deep intellect spurred our global travels together in Europe, the Middle East and Iran. During the mid-1970’s, this single mother and her two teenage boys visited many of the ancient cities and archeological sites in Iran across deserts and over mountains, in our little Peugeot. My brother Rob and I were fortunate to have front row seats on these phases of Ellie’s life; actually Rob was largely in the front seat and I was in the back.
Many of you have enjoyed a delicious meal around the dining room table with Ellie and Michael, filled with conversation and laughter. In a life of travel, home and hospitality was a constant with Ellie; she wove a rich, beautiful and luxuriant carpet for us all.
Jeffrey Raven
Holy Trinity Church, Washington DC, 28 July 2017
A Persian carpet is both functional and a work of art. Their colors and patterns, often deep rich reds and blue-grey in fields bounded by rhythmic borders; these carpets were prized and admired by my mother. The carpet’s structure of interwoven warps and wefts is comprised of knots where the threads intersect. Those knots build up the pile of the carpet, to achieve the luxuriant comfort that symbolizes home, hospitality… anchoring us. The more knots, the deeper and stronger is this work of art.
The many people who have been touched by Eleanore’s life are these knots… tied by close and deep friendships and relationships. Her life and career as a diplomat and teacher were woven through with rich threads of friendship and humanity; progressive ideals and global vision; deep intellect and curiosity; sense of adventure; home and hospitality.
One of her friends told me Ellie had a talent for friendship. Recently, my mother tried to meet a friend in a far-off location, who responded, “nothing about the arrangement was remotely practical; but there was no doubting Ellie’s determination”.
Ellie was committed to progressive ideals and global vision, but she joined and believed in our current institutions, preferring to push for change from the inside. Her work with Voice of the Faithful, to push the Catholic Church forward; to envision the ordainment of women priests… or for our country, the election of a woman president of the United States. In the State Department, she was actively engaged in working groups focusing on Iran and Palestinian issues.
Her global curiosity perhaps originated in Brooklyn; where as a child she was attracted to immigrants and visitors from all over the world in the streets and subways of New York City. She told me she often wondered where they were from; what lives they led back home.
Her sense of adventure and deep intellect spurred our global travels together in Europe, the Middle East and Iran. During the mid-1970’s, this single mother and her two teenage boys visited many of the ancient cities and archeological sites in Iran across deserts and over mountains, in our little Peugeot. My brother Rob and I were fortunate to have front row seats on these phases of Ellie’s life; actually Rob was largely in the front seat and I was in the back.
Many of you have enjoyed a delicious meal around the dining room table with Ellie and Michael, filled with conversation and laughter. In a life of travel, home and hospitality was a constant with Ellie; she wove a rich, beautiful and luxuriant carpet for us all.
Jeffrey Raven
Holy Trinity Church, Washington DC, 28 July 2017