Mabel Dennison, of Temple, Maine, died while hiking in Cape Breton, Sept. 6, 2001.

"There is a slogan in AA: 'God is not finished with me yet.' I believe God must have finished with Mabel when she was quite young, but let her stay with us for our benefit.

"When I think of Mabel, a solid, somewhat uninteresting word keeps occurring. Integrated. Mabel always seemed to me to be the most integrated person I have ever known. Most of us act kindly, or do generous things. But Mabel was kind and she was generous. Most of us hold back a few trumps in the game of life; Mabel always committed all her resources. Everything Mabel did was whole hearted and lasting. And, to me most remarkable, it was never sentimental. The wonderful thing about Mabel’s friendships and her projects is that her commitments were made in full knowledge of the frailty of the people and the endeavors she loved and supported. She had such faith.

"I believe saints have the sort of faith Mabel had. And when the saints come marching in, Mabel will be one of their number. I hope I’ll be there with her. That all of us will be." -- excerpted from Karen Saum's remarks at a funeral service held for Mabel on Saturday, September 15 in Temple.

Mabel worked actively all her life for social justice, economic parity and a nuclear-free world and went to prison for demonstrating for disarmament. More recently she participated in protests against WTO globalization in Seattle and against FTAA in Quebec City. She opened her home in Temple to many activist groups and individuals, housing 40 members of Let Cuba Live and Pastors for Peace on their way to deliver medical supplies to Cuba this summer. For 35 years, Mabel was an active member of the Bread and Puppet Theater.
 

Contributions in Mabel's memory may be made to the Maine Chapter of Alliance for Democracy, P.O. Box 538, Temple 04984.
 

Mabel is a force -- and a saint. Her active presence in Maine's peace and justice community will be sadly missd. But her authentic loving spirit still inspires and informs the lives that she touched. Mabel Dennison, presente!
 

[prepared by Peter Robbins]