Contributions to the tribute of Kathryn A. Piccard

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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Tuesday, 19 March 2019 Hello, dear friends. Kathryn and I authored an article of some weight and merit in 1978 (and published in 1979) called, "The Bible and Women: People, Language, Imagery and God." Kathryn came up with the title. Decades later, it wears very well, title and content. It was my first publication and, I believe for Kathryn, her first and last. We aimed for an eighth grade reading level, for a general audience. I could not have written it without her. Kathryn's cutting edge knowledge and scholarship at that time was impressive to me, then a student at Harvard Div. I was grateful to her for her willing and friendly collaboration with me, since I was 5 years her junior. I admired her and looked up to her, though we did not remain in touch after that brief time. I remember she was priest at a local Anglican convent in Cambridge, and I was privileged to attend, on one occasion, her celebration of the eucharist in the convent chapel. I remember, too, her going daily to Radcliffe's main library to pursue her historical Episcopal bishops' project, reaching back to the 13th century, or so she assumed it surely should. Kathryn was determined to ferret out the historical evidence to support her expectation that would pass muster with church historians (of whom I am now one, but in a very different field of interest). I draw my breath to see Kathryn's homegoing service (as we call it, in the community in which I live) was on September 16, 2017, my birthday. That surprised recognition of our connection even in her death has compelled my commitment to share some recollections I have, though I've many more. I must offer a concluding recollection, my meeting Kathryn's grandmother, in advance of Kathryn, at a small public lecture in the Midwest, before my sojourn to school eastward, never imagining I'd author an article with Jeanette's granddaughter, on the very subject about which I made real time and effort to hear Jeanette speak--and was sharply snapped at by her, in response to a question I asked, in Q&A, "So you want me to exegete Paul!" And then she did. May God continue to give comfort to each of you who treasure Kathryn, even as now TheAlmighty is comforting me. +Deborah 1 Thess 5:16-23

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SisDr Deborah McCauley, PhD posted a condolence

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Tuesday, 19 March 2019 Hello, dear friends. Kathryn and I authored an article of some weight and merit in 1978 (and published in 1979) called, "The Bible and Women: People, Language, Imagery and God." Kathryn came up with the title. Decades later, it wears very well, title and content. It was my first publication and, I believe for Kathryn, her first and last. We aimed for an eighth grade reading level, for a general audience. I could not have written it without her. Kathryn's cutting edge knowledge and scholarship at that time was impressive to me, then a student at Harvard Div. I was grateful to her for her willing and friendly collaboration with me, since I was 5 years her junior. I admired her and looked up to her, though we did not remain in touch after that brief time. I remember she was priest at a local Anglican convent in Cambridge, and I was privileged to attend, on one occasion, her celebration of the eucharist in the convent chapel. I remember, too, her going daily to Radcliffe's main library to pursue her historical Episcopal bishops' project, reaching back to the 13th century, or so she assumed it surely should. Kathryn was determined to ferret out the historical evidence to support her expectation that would pass muster with church historians (of whom I am now one, but in a very different field of interest). I draw my breath to see Kathryn's homegoing service (as we call it, in the community in which I live) was on September 16, 2017, my birthday. That surprised recognition of our connection even in her death has compelled my commitment to share some recollections I have, though I've many more. I must offer a concluding recollection, my meeting Kathryn's grandmother, in advance of Kathryn, at a small public lecture in the Midwest, before my sojourn to school eastward, never imagining I'd author an article with Jeanette's granddaughter, on the very subject about which I made real time and effort to hear Jeanette speak--and was sharply snapped at by her, in response to a question I asked, in Q&A, "So you want me to exegete Paul!" And then she did. May God continue to give comfort to each of you who treasure Kathryn, even as now TheAlmighty is now comforting me. +Deborah 1 Thess 5:16-23

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William Harris posted a condolence

Sunday, September 2, 2018

I was so sorry to be so sick myself that I could not attend the funeral. Mother Piccard was my spiritual director and confessor for years. I miss her so much and wish her family peace.

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Eda posted a condolence

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

MJ, I am so sorry! What a beautiful, generous, fun soul she was. I am thinking about you and sending hugs. She was lucky to have such a devoted partner. Love, Eda

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The Rev Kathy Corbett-Welch posted a condolence

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Kathryn was the first woman Priest I ever met. She was so caring. When I became an Episcopalian I was thrilled to remeet her at St John the Evangelist. Ellen and I would drive her to church a lot, her stretched out in the back of our tiny car!! May she rest in the arms of God

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Wilda smith looney posted a condolence

Friday, September 15, 2017

PAT ,ESTEL, JENN and MARSHAL so sorry in the loss of Katherine , may God comfort U now and the time to come ...love U All

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Carole-Jean Smith posted a condolence

Thursday, September 14, 2017

My deepest condolences to your family. It is hard to think of Kathryn no longer here with us. I knew Kathryn for over 40 years and valued her as a teacher and friend. I also valued (I can't believe I'm saying this) her sense of humor. We had many long conversations about stuff and shared many laughs in our time together at St. John's church on Bowdoin Street. May God grant you comfort and peace. Carole-Jean Smith

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Marshall Hicks posted a condolence

Sunday, September 10, 2017

My Aunt, the Reverend Kathryn Piccard, was a religious scholar. She was a feminist. In the 1980’s she took in foster children. Her sense of humor was corny. She was very proper. She wore bright orange socks. And I have trouble picturing her as ever having been young. Two years ago, her forgetfulness was diagnosed as a type of progressing dementia. I saw my Aunt Kathryn when I went home last Christmas. My mom had moved her from Boston to our home in Pennsylvania so she could be looked after. I don’t think she recognized me as her nephew, but rather as some bearded guy in the house. At this point in her decline, she spent a lot of time arranging and rearranging pictures of saints, laying them out on our family hutch in different orders. Probably because I’d seen it done in movies, I thought perhaps I could get a positive reaction out of Aunt Kathryn by showing her some gleeful old timey videos. Once, after dinner, I found a dance routine from an old black and white movie and put it in front of her, hoping that watching a scene of joyous tap dancing would spark something. She didn’t react to it and wandered out of the room. I didn’t even know if that was the kind of thing she was into, or if she had ever enjoyed musical numbers. I had just hoped that if I become incapacitated a loved one will play the Nicholas Brothers’ “Stormy Weather” clip for me. A few days later, my parents tell me that, while I was out, they spent the evening all watching a televised tribute to Carol Burnett. They told me that Aunt Kathryn, whose light had been growing dim, came alive for the program, was entertained by it, and even laughed along with the sketches. It was the joyous bit of entertainment I had failed to find for her in my own attempt. It was Carol Burnett and the gang, cracking up themselves and the studio audience and my parents and, incredibly, my Aunt Kathryn that had put a spark back into her. That was in December. She passed away two days ago, at Taylor Hospital, in the company of loved ones. And so I poked around the internet for a suitable tribute to post. Something from a sketch show that ran during eleven of my Aunt Kathryn’s younger years and, towards the end, brought out her rare laughter. www.youtube.com/watch?v=shp3IQTLxI Marshall Hicks 8/31/17

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Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook posted a condolence

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Rest with the angels Kathryn -- well done, good and faithful servant.

Kathryn A. Piccard

1949 - 2017