Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 29, 2021 -- THREE
Obituaries
Bernice Lucille Lott
Bernice Lucille Lott,
9 4 , o f H e p p n e r, d i e d
Wednesday, September 22,
2021, at Pioneer Memorial
Long Term Care in Hep-
pner. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be held at 11
a.m. on Friday, October 8,
2021, at St. Patrick Catholic
Church in Heppner with
recitation of the Holy Ro-
sary at 10:30 a.m., also at
St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Concluding service with
burial will follow at the
Heppner Masonic Ceme-
tery.
She was born February
25, 1927, at Hernden, Kan-
sas, the daughter of William
and Francis Pitner Kenne-
dy. Bernice was raised and
attended school at Hernden
until the family moved to
Walla Walla, WA in 1940.
She attended and graduated
from St. Patrick’s Catholic
School in Walla Walla.
After high school Bernice
worked at JC Penny in
Walla Walla.
On August 16, 1946,
Bernice married Randolph
“Randy” Lott at Walla
Walla. In 1948 the cou-
ple moved to
Lexington, OR
where Ran-
dy worked for
Redd Lenoard
at Lexington
Implement. In
1958 Randy and
Bernice opened
Lott’s Electric in Heppner.
She assisted Randy at the
store as well as raising their
three children.
Bernice was a member
of the Willow Creek Coun-
try Club and St. Patrick
Catholic Church where she
taught Catechism for the
youth. Bernice spent many
hours donating her time
to the March of Dimes.
Her favorite pastimes were
gardening and anything to
do with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her
daughter, Patti Lott Pappas;
grandchildren, Lance Lott,
Jenessa Lott Mauer, Conner
Pappas, Emily Pappas and
siblings, Shirley Kennedy
Manual of College Place,
WA, and Roger Kennedy
of Dalles, TX.
Bernice was preceded
in death by
her hus -
band, Ran-
dy Lott;
sons, Don-
ald Lott
and Mi -
Bernice
chael Lott;
Lucille Lott
siblings,
Deloris Kennedy and Rob-
ert Kennedy and her par-
ents, William and Francis
Kennedy
Memorial contributions
may be made to St. Patrick
Altar Society, PO Box 633,
Heppner, OR 97836, or to
Morrow Co. Health Dis-
trict, Long Term Care, PO
Box 9, Heppner, OR 97836
or to Willow Creek Terrace,
400 Frank Gilliam Drive,
Heppner, OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of
Heppner is in care of ar-
rangements. The online
condolence book is avail-
able at www.sweeneymor-
tuary.com.
Alma Darlene Drake
Alma Darlene (Con- high school teachers wives
nor) Drake of Portland, OR club, enjoyed sewing and
passed away peacefully on quilting and collected ele-
Saturday, May 29, 2021, at phants of every shape and
the age of 78. Darlene was size.
born January 20, 1938, in
Travel was Darlene’s
Heppner, OR to Albert
joy; the more
and Mary (Morgan) Con-
exotic the loca-
nor.
tion, the better.
While growing up
Skin diving in
in Heppner, Darlene
Hawaii, whale
was active in many lo-
watching and
cal groups and clubs. Darlene
hummingbird
An outstanding student, Drake
sightings in
she lettered in band four
Alaska and ex-
times and was the band ploring the Czech Republic
president her junior year. were especially memorable
She was a member of the trips.
National Honor Society and
Darlene returned to
won honors for her work in Portland in 2019.
student journalism and the
A devoted wife and
Model UN program. She mother, Darlene was always
graduated from Ione High ready to do anything to sup-
School in June 1956.
port her children, grandchil-
Darlene married Er- dren and great-grandchil-
nest Drake of Heppner in dren. The many hurts fixed,
1955 in Boise, ID. They tears dried, and thousands
moved to Fairfield, CA in of cookies baked were con-
the mid-1960s when Ernie crete demonstrations of
was hired at Armijo High her love for her family.
School. While in Fairfield, She made a house a home
Darlene was active in the for all.
Spiritually Speaking
What God has joined let no man separate
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
The readings today speak to us about
the creation of man and woman and talk
about the bond of love that marriage
creates between a man and a woman, a
bond that God does not seek to be broken.
But unfortunately, through our selfish-
ness and isolationism, we often do break
it. Marriage. We have just witnessed Fr. Thankachan
and will be taking part in a marriage Joseph
celebration this weekend, to understand
and relive the marriage covenant that some of you have
already embarked upon. Today, speaking about marriage
is difficult because our culture is against the Christian
idea of marriage. We come to the Eucharist as isolated
individuals, but the Eucharist, properly understood and
celebrated, creates a bond of love between us.
The reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis
2:18-24) speaks of the creation of the first woman of the
world. The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to
be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” So, He
created woman as the partner for man, to be with him and
to support, encourage and assist him in all his endeavors.
“I will make a helper suited to him’” (Gen 2:18). Man be-
comes complete only when he is joined with the woman,
and the bond that joins them is love. Love is not just an
emotion. It is a lifelong decision and a commitment to
another one to live together through thick and thin, “for
better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and
in health,” until death. This union of man and woman is
best expressed in the conjugal union. This act naturally
brings forth children who ensure the posterity of mankind.
Soon we are going to celebrate the wedding jubilarians
of our church, and every time I celebrate the Mass for
the Wedding Jubilee Anniversaries of couples, I always
look at their original wedding photo. What I invariably
notice is that on the day of their wedding, they looked
totally different. But after 25, 50, 75 years of living to-
gether, everybody can see that they now look almost like
brother and sister. This is what our Lord said: “They are
no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has
joined together, no human being must separate.” (Mk
10:8-9). Jesus made it clear that from the very beginning
of creation, God has never allowed divorce.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (2:9-11)
addresses the target group of people who are in all prob-
ability converts from Judaism, many of whom may also
have been priests or Levites. After becoming Christians,
because of the difficult circumstances of the time, they
had to abandon Jerusalem, the holy city, and seek refuge
elsewhere. In their exile, they look back with nostalgia
on the splendor of the cult they played a part in prior to
their conversion. They feel deceived and are tempted to
give up their new faith, in which they are not yet well
grounded. In addition to this, they are discontented by
the persecution they suffer because of their new faith.
Obviously, they are in need of help, and in particular, of
clear doctrine to bolster their faith and enable them to
cope with temptation to infidelity.
The Gospel reading from St. Mark (10:2-16) brings us
the importance of the sacrament of marriage. Through His
exhortation, Jesus wants us to understand that divorce is
not acceptable in the plan of God. It is important that we
recognize again that Jesus was arguing against a culture
in which divorce was easy and not challenged, which is
very similar to the modern scenario in which we live.
For Jesus, marriage is clearly a gift from God. Marriage
is between a man and a woman. Marriage is also about
having children. Not just for coming together and living
together. Progeny is an important aspect of marriage.
Nowadays some people are going against the plan of
God envisaged for man and woman. We people who live
and understand Christ’s values have an enormous task of
evangelization to do in our modern world. Even simply
to state the truth about how our Holy Scriptures and our
Christian tradition see marriage is highly offensive to
many people. Our challenge is first to live the teachings
of Jesus and the Church and then to speak fearlessly
about God’s plan for marriage and children. Let us walk
with the Lord.
Always game for any-
thing, she enjoyed movies,
mystery novels, dancing
and red wine (with an ice
cube). Her drive to enjoy
life was timeless, just as
strong in her 80s as in her
teens.
Darlene is survived by
her sister, Collene Williams
of Portland, OR; her daugh-
ters, Kathy Lambrecht and
Becky Bega of Portland,
OR; son, Scott Drake of
Portland, OR; five grand-
children, Jason and Sean
Lambrecht, Ellen Bega,
Ryan and Connor Drake;
and four great-grandchil-
dren. She was preceded in
death by her husband of
61 years, Ernie Drake; her
parents; her siblings, Keith,
Morgan, Gary, Nelson and
Dean; and grandson, Fer-
nando Bega.
Family and friends are
invited to attend a celebra-
tion of life at the Pavilion of
Hager Park in Heppner on
Saturday, October 2, 2021,
at 3 p.m.
Chamber meeting
scheduled
The Heppner Cham-
ber of Commerce monthly
meeting will be held Octo-
ber 7, 2021, at noon at the
Gilliam and Bisbee Build-
ing. Lunch will be catered
by Upper Place Conces-
sions for $10 per person.
Lunch will consist of a
choice of a ham or turkey
bagel sandwich with pasta
salad and brownie. RSVPs
with bagel choice are re-
quired by Monday October
4. Contact heppnercham-
ber@gmail.com or call
541-676-5336 to RSVP.
Live Music by Frank Carlson
Saturday, October 2nd
Dinner - 5:00 pm
Pork Loin, Potatoes & Salad
Music from 7 to 11
HEPPNER ELKS 358
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