We are deeply sorry for your loss - the staff at Evanston Funeral & Cremation
Alain Rogers Van Kirk, beloved spouse/partner, sister, mother, grandmother & great grandmother passed away January 8th, 2022. She will be greatly missed by her family and community. You may celebrate Alain's wonderful life by sharing a memory post and/or by contributing in the memory of Alain Van Kirk to the following organizations :
Syda Foundation, https://www.siddhayoga.org/practices/dakshina/online-dakshina-offering
St. Judes Hospital, https://stjude.org/
Sierra Club, https://sierraclub.org
Save the Children Foundation, https://www.savethechildren.org
A Tribute from Jeff (Spouse / Life-long Partner)
My life-long love, Alain Van Kirk, was destined throughout history. Alain's aunt when finding out my last name was Emans (sometimes spelled Emmans, Emmons, Emons, Emon and Van Emmon), told us that the Emans' have been chasing and marrying the Van Kirk's throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and New England for centuries. Although, when I attempted to correct her by saying just the opposite, Alain corrected me and stated even more emphatically the Emans' did the chasing and they wore down the Van Kirks and that's what led to all those marriages. I believe it's beyond coincidence that Alain Van Kirk and Jeff Emans were neighbors in a city 7 million in 1972. At our first encounter, sparks flew.
My life-long partner/spouse/angel is the kindest, most loving person I know. What she saw in a drugged-out former hippie was her love and kindred soulmate. She knew that one day, we would be that fully complete loving couple.
Although it was destined, it took Alain's loving, kindness, and sometimes stern frankness to turn me and us into a complete loving relationship. We have been in this loving relationship for 50 years, although Alain might say 48 as she refused to talk to me unless it was through a closed door between us for 2 of those years. All of this was due to my bad behavior. (She told me many years later, even though she refused to see me during this time, she still loved me). She was molding me from my roughness into the gem she saw in me, that even I didn't see. All of this was so we could be combined into an even more beautiful gem.
I will miss you: spouse, great lady, dancer and as some of you know Kitty. You are the other part of me as I am with you. Alain Rogers Van Kirk, I will love you always and completely - past, present, and forever.
Your Love Forever, Jeff
A Tribute from Dorothy Van Kirk Wotan (Sister)
Alain has been my guide through life. She took care of me as a baby until I was four years old. She loved me and my brother so much and always kept us safe. She was spiritual as a young girl and I know my sister's spirit will stay with us all for forever and her love will surround us.
I believe she is now with my brother and grandmother who loved her so much.
I can't tell you how deeply I will miss her, but I will carry her with me to my forever.
I will love you forever, my dear and funny and deep and most loving sister, Alain.
Dorothy
A Tribute from MiMi Alain (Daughter)
I am your daughter
Who stands at the edge
Of the Ocean
Barefoot and Wild
A wave crashing so fierce, so Eternal
As a Heart might be in it’s Glory
I am your daughter
Wild haired
Watching ships sail
Into some beckoning distance
Wandering out to Sea
I am your daughter
As I follow you into the Expanse
Far from the Land of Questioning
To the places where our Spirits Roam
And are Free
I am your daughter
As the sun gazes upon the Earth
A wide mouthed Chant
Filled with every speckle of Star Dust
A path towards Light
As far as our Eyes could ever See
There are unspeakable words that Resound
In the Waves
As they return over and over again
To the Shores.
They Shout!!
Thank You!!! I Love You!!! It is Eternal!!!
The Blue Heron flew today in perfect murmurs
And formation
Flying Soldiers who knew only Peace.
Pantomimed prayers and diving for fish
I am your daughter
And I know you know what I mean.
Barefoot, whose Teardrops fell
Looking
Stumbling, tripping, laughing
Over the Wonderment of Seaglass
I am your daughter
As you held her
And Ever so gently
You Rocked her back to sleep
I am your daughter
And I know you know what I mean
The ways our hearts are Eternally intertwined.
Love MiMi
MaMa. You have been my Greatest Good Fortune.
I love you more than love you more than love you...
With all of my Heart and our Eternal Love.
Thank You for being my MaMa
I am forever grateful.
You are Exquisite.
( and yes, I am weeping.)
A Tribute from Lise Barrett (Daughter)
For Mom:
This Mourning
I walked into the hills
Carrying You with me
They knew You were gone
And wrapped the mist around
My shoulders like a blanket
Dawn wouldn't come this morning
She too cloaked
In the darkness of Her Grief
Surrounded by silence
Even the air
Caught in death's grip
Falling to my knees in the canyon
Hands clutching a Heart
That has broken open
You Are Gone
I am Lost
And So Far From Home
_________________________________________
I Loved Mom Deeply...
Life has a way of tossing us about, challenges can make or break us, we lose sight of the things that truly matter, we lose sight of each other.
Great challenges, Great Blessings.
Things said or unsaid none of these things
matter Now.
What matters is Love:
I remember Mom's Beauty.
Her efforts to take care great of us,
My Sister Mimi
Her Husband Jeff
Her Grandson Barrett
All of us Her Living Hope & Wishes.
I remember dancing down the street in Chicago singing songs with my Mom & Sister, on our way to the beach for a day of play and a respite from regular Life & Schedules.
Her Love for us palatable even to a toddler.
Knowing that my Love of the water and any coastline I touch stems from these earliest of memories.
The way the orange juice tasted at Sunrise sitting in the sand.
The way a bran muffin fell apart in my hand as I tried to eat it.
Her Laughing & Loving so full of Life and the Optimism of a new day.
I remember her working so hard to make Christmas Beautiful and she did.
Her pleasure when we and her Grandson were thrilled and surprised by Santa and the Magic of The Season.
I remember her Love of Beauty...
Color, Art, Books, The Poetry of Rumi, Flowers, Her incredible batik & tie-dye clothing-Living Art.
I remember these moments...
I remember Her...
She came to me in a dream last night, radiant, peaceful and content.
Her only Desire that we-
Each of us-
Live Life Fully
Whatever That Means For Each Of Us.
I Believe That In So Doing We Honour Those Who Have Left Before Us...we Honour Her.
And so, today we begin again.
Prayers in our Hearts that we at long last let Love In, Let Love Lead, and most importantly let Love Live with her memory travelling with us.
I Love You Mom
Fly High Sweet One..
You Are Free.
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Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alain Rogers Van Kirk, please visit our floral store.
We are deeply sorry for your loss - the staff at Evanston Funeral & Cremation