Nicholas Lembesis “Nicho” (Age 18)
On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, Nicho Lembesis, beloved son of Meghan O’Connell and Paul Lembesis, dear brother of Alex, passed away. He was a loving son, brother, nephew and grandson and a person loved and cherished by many in the Washington Grove community and at his school. Friends gathered with family on Friday, August 9 from 3:30 until early on Saturday at McCathran Hall in the heart of the town of Washington Grove.
A gathering/celebration of Nicho’s life is tentatively scheduled for early May, 2014. We will write to all and post it here when the date and time are set. I think it will be a party as well as a “remembering.”
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to a fund created to help protect and sustain the town forests which Nicho knew well and loved deeply. The fund is called “Nicho’s Trees.” To contribute, send a check made out to The Town of Washington Grove. Note in the memo: “Nicho’s Trees.” Mail the check to Town Clerk, PO Box 216, Washington Grove, MD 20880 ATTN: Nicho’s Trees.
See photos of the wake, friends and family, the Hall decorated by people who wanted to express their grief and love. Many have asked for the poem his Mother wrote and Stacey read at the service on Saturday. It’s here too.
A NOTE FROM MEGHAN:
Many of you have asked for details about the accident. This is what I know: on Tuesday morning, August 6th, Nicho was working in the woods with Steve Werts & Terry Cox. They were felling a very large tree. As the tree came down, a dead part of it, near the top, broke off and hit Nicho with great force throwing him many feet away. I do not know this yet, but believe he died within a few minutes though he was brought to Suburban Hospital by ambulance.
There was no mark on Nicho’s body and when I saw him in the hospital he looked peaceful and beautiful.
I can only say that, from Nicho’s point of view, this was a good death. Nicho was working in the woods he loved with Steve. He loved Steve and considered him “like a father.” Steve reciprocated this feeling. Please hold Steve in your prayers and hearts. Our loss is also his. Paul & I grieve together with Steve and his wife Cynthia, Terry, Nicho’s classmates and all the people who loved him.
Please send a thought about Nicho if you wish.
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08/09/2013 at 10:39 am
Meghan and Paul – I am so full of sorrow at the loss of your son Nicho. There have been few minutes during the past few days that he and you have not been on my mind.
We are on a family vacation in Michigan so I will not see you on Friday. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
08/09/2013 at 10:55 am
My heart is breaking at the loss of Nicho. Over the years, as I watched him grow from infant to young man, I marveled at his fearlessness, his deep connection with his natural surroundings in the Grove, his quiet patience, his love of animals, the care he took with the fish he caught at the lake, his steadfastness and sense of duty while going about his work for the Town, never shirking, always doing his best.
Nicho was beautiful, inside and out. His quiet beauty inside has touched a town in countless ways. His countenance and carriage were a study in beauty itself. So like a fairy-child, lithe and free-spirited.
Come! O, human child!
To the waters and the wild,
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than
you can understand.
Away with us, he’s going,
The solemn-eyed;
He’ll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hill-side.
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast;
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild,
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than
he can understand.
from The Stolen Child by William Butler Yates
08/09/2013 at 10:55 am
Paul and Meghan, My heart is heavy for your loss. My prayers are with you during this difficult time.
08/10/2013 at 11:04 am
This is the Blessing read at Nicho’s Service on Saturday
This is the Comfort of the Good,
that the grave cannot hold them, and that they live as soon as they die.
For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
Death, then, being the way and condition of life,
we cannot love to live if we cannot bear to die.
They that love the beyond the World, cannot be separated by it.
Death cannot kill what never dies.
Nor can Spirits ever be divided that love and live in the same Divine Principle,
the Root and Record of their Friendship.
If absence be not death, neither is theirs.
William Penn, 1693
This is the Farewell from the End of Nicho’s Saturday Service
Mizpah, Nicho. May the Lord watch between you and all of your family and friends while you are absent one from another. And Mizpah to all those gathered here, and to all those everywhere, who know and love you so dearly.
The Mizpah Benediction, Genesis 31:49
(“The Lord watch between you and me, when we are absent one from the other.”)
08/10/2013 at 9:08 pm
I hope it gives you some peace to know that so many of us were changed for the better by knowing Nicho. We are with you in your sadness and will be here if you need anything. Please know you can call on us anytime.
Love,
Paige
08/14/2013 at 10:07 am
Meghan and Paul, I am so sad to hear of your loss. I only received the email today (13th) or I would have definitely attended. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that we were praying about Nicho joining your family. I count it a loss that I never got to know him as an adult..I only remember him as a sweet child!
I Thessalonians 4:13 “We do not want you to be uninformed..about those who are asleep, that
you may not grieve, as do those who have no hope”
Praying that the God of all comfort will bring peace and healing to your wounded hearts!
Love,
Ada
08/14/2013 at 3:42 pm
Meghan, Paul and Alec,
Just this minute I heard the awful news of Nicho’s death from Ada.
We too would have been at his wake had we known about it.
There simply are no words available to me to tell you how awfully sad we are for you all at this time.
May God hold each one of you in the hollow of His hand.
Love,
Mary and Herb
09/12/2013 at 10:25 am
Meg, Paul and Alex,
For the past month I have thought of all of you and Nicho constantly. You are all in my
thoughts and prayers. There are no words that suffice to express how my heart breaks for
you. Though I knew Nicho best through Meg’s beautiful poems, I knew he was a totally
special, unique soul. He will live forever in the hearts and memories of those who love
him. My arms go out to all of you. With love, Liz