Remembering Louanne

One year ago, on July 13, 2011, a kind, beautiful woman was taken away from us when she suffered a sudden hemorrhage in her brain due to an aneurysm.  Her name was Louanne Meekins, and she was Funderland’s face painter.\n\nLouanne and her daughter Allison began their own business, Lillie, LuLu, & Friends, and began face painting in the Sacramento area.  Soon after, Louanne teamed up with Funderland, and started face painting.  She delighted thousands of children with her skills and incredible personality.  Face painting was not merely Louanne’s job, it was something that brought pure joy to her life. She loved the children, putting smiles on their faces, and in the process was able to reveal her vibrant personality… friendly, loving, and fun to be around.  For those of you that had the pleasure of meeting Louanne you knew that a smile always graced her face, and she was always eager to make you feel as though you were sitting down with an old friend.\n\nToday, while her daughter is away at college, and thanks to Louanne’s good friend Kathy, Lillie, LuLu, & Friends is able to continue operating at Funderland.  In honor of her memory we constructed a new planter next to our Red Barons, and planted a Golden Chain tree.  We chose a Golden Train tree so we will always be reminded of her beauty inside and out.  She is missed greatly at the park, but her memories will always be with us.\n\nThis poem was read during her celebration service…\n

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free\nI’m following the path God has laid you see.\nI took His hand when I heard him call\nI turned my back and left it all.

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I could not stay another day\nTo laugh, to love, to work, to play.\nTasks left undone must stay that way\nI found that peace at the close of day.

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If my parting has left a void\nThen fill it with remembered joy.\nA friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss\nOh yes, these things I too will miss.

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Be not burdened with times of sorrow\nI wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.\nMy life’s been full, I savoured much\nGood friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

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Perhaps my time seemed all too brief\nDon’t lengthen it now with undue grief.\nLift up your hearts and peace to thee\nGod wanted me now; He set me free.\n

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Author:  Shannon Lee Moseley