PEACE for iflitifloat

[sabrelady]

The memorial info is contained on the New York Times Paid Notices
section in the obits. I can't link cos I ran out of my 10 free visits. I believe it is Jun 24 in NJ

[JbaraFan1]

Diva, thoughts and prayers for your sister.

Although I won't be able to attend, I'm glad that some from the board here plan to be at Rachel's memorial. I hope (and trust) that there will be a good turn-out, and although a sad occasion, I also trust that it will be a very lovely memorial for a very lovely woman.

[metaphorical]

The Packanack Lake Clubhouse is located at 52 Lake Drive West, Wayne, N.J. 07470. We will open the doors at 3:30 and start memorializing at 4:00.

[sonofgunn25]

Very sad to hear this news...

She was one of the BWWers I respected most. She was always warm and kind in my interactions with her and was a great person to turn to for advice. She also knew how to stick to her guns when she really believed in something.

I hope her family finds peace in the fact that she is no longer in pain. Though I only come back to BroadwayWorld every once in a great while, it was always good to see that she still would post on occasion. I wish I could have had the chance to meet her in person. I'm sending thoughts and good vibes up to everyone who knew and loved her. May her memory live on in each of them.

[Auggie27]

Posting to help bump the thread. Looking forward to seeing Rachel's legion of friends there tomorrow afternoon.

[YouWantitWhen????]

I will not be there in person, but definitely will be there in spirit.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Sending love and good wishes

[mominator]

Will be leaving soon for Rachel's memorial. A beautiful day to remember a beautiful person.

[PalJoey]

See you there, Mom.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

What a lovely, irreverent, funny and joyous send-off for a woman who was all of those things and more.

[MotorTink]

An afternoon of amazing stories, laughter and tears.... truly fitting for a woman full of life and love!

[NYadgal]

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?


Iflit's daughter sang a beautiful arrangement of this today. What a gift...

A truly special day.
It was an inspiration.

[mominator]

What a beautiful service. Laughter, and tears but happy tears. Our sweet iflit left us all a wee bit better people simply by being our "imaginary" friend.

[PalJoey]

Iflit's daughter sang the song gorgeously. She has a beautiful voice and she sang the lyrics simply and honestly and delivered the song with direct and appropriate emotion. Iflit would have been beaming.

If Iflit were here right now, I'd say to her, "Hey! Have you ever seen the first TV version Garland did of the song, from her first TV special in 1955? It's a little over-the-top, but I think you'll like it, although it might make you cry."

And I think she'd think about it and say "Awesome" and tell me to go ahead and play it.

At any rate, I need a good cry before I go to bed, so here goes.

http://youtu.be/ss49euDqwHA

[SueleenGay]

Thanks for the eyewitness accounts. It sounds much like the memorial I played in my head, except that Juli sang I GOT LIFE from Hair, instead of Over the Rainbow, but still...
So wish I could have been there with all of Rachel's family and friends.

[PalJoey]

You were there, in spirit.

Especially when RobbieJ got us to speak...

[SueleenGay]

Oh, lardy. What did that ho say? And who let HIM speak? Did the family forget to hire bouncers?

[metaphorical]

That would have been a good choice, Sueleen. In fact, we thought about Hair, but the deciding factor was that Juliane's first starring role, in 6th grade, was Dorothy. (The other highlight of the show, besides Over the Rainbow, was Miss Gulch running over the stuffed toy Toto with her bicycle after it fell out of the bike's handlebar basket.)

Thank you to everyone who came, and especially thank you to our two "imaginary friend" representatives from BWW who spoke. And thank you to everyone who would have come, and everyone else for your kind messages here these past few weeks and these past few years.

[NYadgal]

To everyone who has shared a message, a note, a picture or a memory in this thread: it has made a difference.

Rachel's husband mentioned it during his "Remembrances". He talked about how special the outpouring of love and support has been, and he and the family are so moved by realizing how many people Rachel touched in all aspects of her life.

He quoted from SOMMS's post about the time he met Iflit.
Perfect.

Keep the memories and stories coming. This will be an ongoing celebration of a woman who was truly 'Outstanding'!

[NYadgal]

...well, talk about timing!

I was typing out my message as you were posting yours, metaphorical.

It was my honor to be included in the program yesterday. My true honor.
xox

[Broadwayboobs]

It was beautiful to see the love in that room for a woman who gave and taught so much to all of us. The stories I got to hear from her husband and son truly summed up who Rachel was. An inspiring woman who told it like it was with her own quirkiness. I will miss my friend dearly, but the memories we shared will live on forever. We were all lucky to have been touched by this sweet, gentle, kindred spirit.

[SueleenGay]

Over the Rainbow makes perfect sense in that context, especially if someone was re-enacting the Miss Gulch/Toto debacle.
Please tell me there were puppets involved somewhere in this celebration.

[Bluemoon]

Well, some have described Robbie J as a muppet on speed, so in that sense...sure. Seriously, I hope Robbie's tribute will end up on YouTube - a true masterpiece.

[mominator]

"Outstanding" may be another way to describe Robbie's tribute.
Simply wonderful.

[SueleenGay]

Wait, so there is video somewhere????

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Yep!