Alain Rogers Van Kirk

Obituary

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