Hales, Farewell!

The Hales are moving to Massachusetts.
Updated Monday, March 22, 2010
by Reverend Tom Lenhart 

Last Sunday, March 21, after the morning worship service, The First Congregational Church held a special brunch to say goodbye to Gordon and Marj Hale, long-time residents of Chappaqua and members of the church since 1953. 

They have been active in the life of the church over six decades, enriching this church community through participation in the church choir and the Hims of Faith (a male singing group); helping to organize our annual Barn Sale, serving on boards and committees, assisting with worship, and joining in Bible Study and other discussion and social groups, among many activities.  Their many friends will be wishing them Godspeed and great happiness as they relocate to the Boston area.

Christmas in Chappaqua with my grandparents, Gordon and Marj Hale

by Emily Reid  

Christmas when I was a child always revolved around traveling from wherever my family was to the old house on the hill in Chappaqua. No matter which state we lived in, we always tried to return to our grandparents’ for Christmas. It was the stone bridge in town that always announced our arrival, and my brother, sister and I would eagerly look up to the yellow house overlooking the town. Chappaqua always welcomed us back. 

We’d watch the lighting of the Greeley Christmas tree from the deck of the house every year. The First Congregational Church opened its doors to us every year and the services by candlelight will live on in my memory. I do not remember many Christmases without them, and their laughter and joking. Though leaving is bittersweet for my grandparents they will take with them the memories of raising their children and their grandchildren in the yellow house on the hill that they built.

As the years have passed, those children and grandchildren have spread out all over the East coast. Next week my grandparents will begin a journey to a new place closest to their youngest grandson, Jack Norton. 

If you would like to contact my grandparents, to say good-bye or to ask them how they like the Boston area, I have made an email address for them: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

Emily Reid is a granddaughter of Gordon and Marjorie Hale and an aspiring writer.