GOG members and friends....

Joanne Siwak-Ward, a longtime friend of Grove of the Other Gods, passed away on March 3rd, 2007, after a heroic six-year battle with cancer. Joanne was active in the central NJ Pagan community for nearly twenty years, and we will miss her beautiful voice, her eloquent words, her common sense, her analytical skepticism, and her sense of humor. (And I imagine we will also miss her weatherworking.) You may have met her at GOG rituals, at the HOC Pagan Picnic, Pagan Pride Day, or at the Free Spirit Festival.

For her obituary click here.

Click here for her Service and Eulogies.

Click here for the Gravesite Service.

Click here for a eulogy from Joanne's brother-in-law, Gary Ward.

Click here for the poem Ed read for Joanne.

Joanne was a devotee of Yemaya, the Santeria ocean Goddess. Deb made an offering in Joanne's name at the beach the Friday after the service. Click here.

Joanne requested that a special drumming service be held at the beach sometime this summer for her. We'll post that information on the website later this year when it's all arranged.

blessings and peace,
-norma and ed for GOG, ADF