Eulogy by her son Benjamin (or in format)

As an artist I was not very encouraging with Theodora's foray into Art. It took me years to see her work, the way she wanted the viewer to see it.
You know how she condemned ‘Modern Painting’, yet she was the most Modern of today’s artists. I'm including Franz Kline, the great American Abstractionist whose description of his own work was "The Gesture”. That also describes Teddy’s work fully.
Theodora’s work was all gesture and pure spirit. There was no craftsmanship, no confusion of the spiritual / vitality. Yet when she painted a night landscape, lit by a full moon with a bouquet of white ground flowers, Lime Green Palm Fronds waving in the night sky, lit only by the full moon, in clear brisk composition. I had to say, "She's done it again".

Theodora was an actress in her younger days. I had the privilege of making a short romantic film with her in the early '60s. It was Theodora’s story, and it was filmed in Fire Island by our mutual friend and host Larry Slade.  It was a fun project, with singing by Edith Piaf
for Theodora's suicide scene which I intrude upon. I'm confronted by Theodora with a double barreled shotgun "Who are you?" demands Theodora. I had just deposited a fresh fish into her kitchen oven, Teddy sees this and breaks up laughing, in comes the Strauss waltz, and gone are all thoughts of suicide.
Theodora’s life was like the script of this short movie.

Blessings and Love
Grace your Journey
Home
My friend
Tall
Loving laughing
Theodora
Your wondrous handiwork
Brilliant naïve vibrant
Colors
Beauty of Mykonos
Slideshow for my eyes
Heartfull goodbye
My borrowed Mom
Thank you for your guidance
Your passion
Grateful prayer
Laughing
Ushered across on Saint Brigid's day
Of creativity and flow
Ancient white oak grove honoring
Elegance grace love
Laughter
BLISS

April 4, 2004. New York City, Palm Sunday, Theodora, in a Spring that is chilly and gray but the Daffodils are out, as they have been all through your life time...

In the Church, palms of peace given into our hands... gentle Christ reaches out to embrace us and you, as now, how suddenly... this time when we part.

How swiftly after all the conversations and loves and disasters and dreams and wishes... all the children and lovers and friends... in this city where we lived our escapades to embrace it all with your passionate, nervous intensity for the moment, your humour, and hilarity, and attachement to your life, to mine, to the life of each single person whose life you touched. You spoke about poetry everywhere...

You were my friend, Theodora... ally, comfort, a harbor in a storm, and perhaps, for you in those moments that comprised the narrative of our friendship, to you, dear messenger for grace and beauty and spirit in your time on this earth.

I miss you. I recollect you dear Theodora...

Be embraced in God's eternal light and love.