Obituary for Belize RPCV Charlene Andrews



Andrews, known internationally for her support of Oregon's Death with Dignity law, wanted to keep helping people even after her death. In lieu of flowers, Andrews had asked people to bring children's books to donate to a library she created while serving in the Peace Corps in Belize.

Obituary for Belize RPCV Charlene Andrews

Memories, books both overflow at memorial service

Friends recall an active woman who helped others

BETH CASPER
Statesman Journal

August 7, 2006

Audio Slideshow: Char Andrews: View and listen to Char talking about key moments in Oregon's Death with Dignity law and her take on life.

Bags, piles and stacks of children's books graced the entrance to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem on Sunday, where more than 200 people attended a memorial for Charlene Andrews.

Andrews, known internationally for her support of Oregon's Death with Dignity law, wanted to keep helping people even after her death. In lieu of flowers, Andrews had asked people to bring children's books to donate to a library she created while serving in the Peace Corps in Belize.

It was just like her to always think of others, her friends and family said during the service.

Andrews died at home Wednesday after fighting breast cancer.

In attendance at the service were people from all aspects of Andrews' life -- her hiking buddies from the Chemeketans, a local outdoors club; survivors from her breast cancer support group; retirees from the Willamette University Institute for Continued Learning; tennis players; churchgoers; right-to-die advocates; and family members.

"As you know," said Rev. Richard Davis, "bringing people together was one of Char's missions."

All of them described Andrews in the same way -- gutsy, caring, determined, honest and selfless.

Her character was apparent in the videos, photographs and memories shared at the memorial service.

A huge bulletin board of photographs showed Andrews climbing mountains, creating packets of material for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, playing tennis and taking her son, Mike, and daughter, Sue, on hikes.

There were her race numbers from her participation in the Hood to Coast 126-mile relay.

Newspaper articles featured Andrews for her staunch support of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act.

"There is so much to put up on the board, we can't fit it," said Vet Smith, who knew Andrews from the breast cancer support group. "We had to just stop putting things up."

Smith was one of a dozen women wearing hot pink T-shirts from various fundraisers for breast-cancer research.

In fact, no one attended her service in somber attire. Friends and family wore lively colors -- just like Andrews, who attended the U.S. Supreme Court's oral arguments in the case defending Oregon's unique law in a pink denim jacket.

Attendees also laughed and had fun, something Andrews specifically told her friends to make sure happened at the service. Andrews planned all the details of her memorial service -- an example of her frank and honest outlook. She even prepared the programs herself.

Friend Hardin King said he admired Andrews for living intentionally and focusing on the good in life.

"We would do well to follow her example," he said.

bcasper@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6994

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2006; COS - Belize; Directory of Belize RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Belize RPCVs; Obituaries; Medicine; Cancer; Oregon

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