Memorial Garden on the Move: How It Took Root at South Penn
By Ed Busch, Church Archivist
It’s hard to believe our first service at the South Lansing location was nine years ago — on June 5, 2016.
This week I’m following up on my earlier blog about the Memorial Garden at our old East Lansing building, with the story of its meaningful move to our new home at 5509 South Pennsylvania Avenue.
From the 2016-2017 annual report, I found the Board created a Grounds Planning Group (GPG) in 2015 to initiate development of a site plan for the 9 acres of land, as I mentioned in an earlier blog post. The GPG was charged with recommending options, after consultation with congregants, about management and use of the grounds, including playground spaces, plantings, and in conjunction with the minister, the Memorial Garden .
Several sub-groups grew out of the GPG’s efforts. The Memorial Garden sub-group was one of these. This group was a collaborative effort between members of our congregation with a deep interest in the Memorial Garden and members of the GPG Core group. Their goal was to have the Memorial Garden space ready to be dedicated in the fall of 2017.
Our congregation’s last worship services on Grove Street took place on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, led by Rev. Kathryn Bert. Fittingly, the Order of Service that day included a moment called Memorial Garden on the Move. But the emotional and physical transition actually began the day before.
On Saturday, March 26, members and friends gathered in the Grove Street garden for a quiet, moving ceremony. Together, those present spoke the names of those whose ashes were interred there, and with care, they collected earth to bring with us. They later transported that soil — and their memory — to the new site, where we later held a rededication ritual. Among those present was Tadd Rosa, son of Clarence Rosa, who had made the original Memorial Garden possible through a generous gift in memory of his wife, Marcella Orr Rosa. A plaque in the garden reads, “The Unitarian Universalist Memorial Garden dedicated in memory of Marcella Orr Rosa.” In the Grove Street building, a wall-mounted plaque displayed the names of those interred — beginning with Marion M. Vaughn, who was also honored through the naming of the Marion Vaughn Parlour. These physical markers — both inside and out — served as enduring reminders of the lives held dear by the congregation.
Rev. Bert at Memorial Garden, March 26, 2016. (Photograph by Deb Mosher.)
Rev. Bert with Tad Rosa at the Memorial Garden, March 26, 2016. (Photograph by Deb Mosher.)
Marcella Orr Rosa plaque at the Memorial Garden, March 26, 2016. (Photograph by Deb Mosher.)
Names plaque at the Memorial Garden, March 26, 2016. (Photograph by Deb Mosher.)
Behind the scenes, our Building and Grounds Committee worked hard. As reported in the 2015–2016 Annual Report, they prepared planters with ivy and soil from Grove Street and moved rooted plant samples like ground peony and rhododendron to the care of church gardeners, ready to be replanted in the new space. Though the Memorial Garden wouldn’t fully take shape until the design and landscaping were completed in 2017, the spiritual groundwork had been laid.
By June 2017, major earthwork was underway at our new home on South Penn: removing soil to a depth of 8 inches, installing underground drain tile, replacing topsoil, and preparing for an ADA-accessible walkway to connect the Memorial Garden Lobby doors with both the Sanctuary rear door and a door to the West Wing. The culmination came on October 8, 2017, when the congregation gathered after service to dedicate the new Memorial Garden led by our Interim Minister, Rev. John Marsh — a beautiful tribute to those who had gone before us and a welcoming, peaceful space for remembrance.
Do you have photographs or memories of the move from Grove Street or the dedication at South Penn? I’d love to hear your stories! I’d be honored if you share them with me by email.
Our church is seeking volunteers to assist with spring planting and ongoing garden maintenance—no experience necessary, just willing hands and an open heart. Reach out to Steve Pueppke or Margo Smith to learn more about how you can help nurture this living tribute.
I’ll be traveling most of June, but stay tuned — I look forward to connecting with you when I return in July! In the meantime, let me know if there is something you want to learn more about in our church history.
Memorial Garden, 2018. [Photograph by Evy Jackson, ]
Memorial Garden, 2018. [Photograph by Evy Jackson, ]
[With editing support from ChatGPT AI.]
Sources:
Order of Service March 27, 2016
Newsletter, Spring 2016
Annual Report, 2015-2016
Newsletter, June 2017
Weekly Email News, October 2, 2017
Annual Report, 2017-2018
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About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.
I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and IT.
My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.
I look forward to connecting with you through these blog posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.