DeidreCurrie.com

Deidre Currie Festival

2008-05-13T07:32:00.002-04:00

The Deidre Currie Festival promises to be an event filled day focusing on good food, good health, shared knowledge and a celebration of Deidre Currie's life. The health based festival will host four of the top names in holistic nutrition -

Sally Fallon, President Weston A Price Foundation, Author of Nourishing
Traditions
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome
Jerry Brunetti, one of nation's foremost experts on food, farming and health
Karen Lubbers, Michigan farmer, teacher, environmentalist

http://www.deidrecurriefestival.com/

Message from Archie

2008-02-23T07:54:00.006-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

After the beautiful service for Dee in Clarkston, Michigan, flying to New Zealand for her service and burial in Dunedin, I then traveled to Sydney, Australia to attend a memorial luncheon with many of Dee’s friends in Sydney. It was an emotional setting as Dee was very close to her friends in Sydney. Many beautiful and touching stories of Dee were shared. I want to thank Dee’s cousin Shara and her husband Kim for hosting the luncheon at your gorgeous home in Avalon (north of Sydney).

While in Sydney I had dinner at the Bayswater Brasserie where Dee took me to dinner the very first night I arrived in Sydney in 2005. Two of Dee’s close friends, Warren and Suzi Skinner, were kind enough to let me stay at their place in North Sydney and take me to the restaurant where we met up with Jan Thomas, another close friend of Dee’s and a fellow Kiwi. The four of us had a toast to Dee and enjoyed some wine and oysters (Dee’s favorite). I’ve never met anyone with as many close friends as Dee had established over her lifetime. Her spirit is definitely alive and well fervently carried within the hearts of so many good people. I feel fortunate that Dee introduced me to them and that I am a part of their lives too.

Suzi, Warren and I spent the next day walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge into the city. Where you see the sail boats in the picture is about where Dee and I sat on a boat for the New Year’s Eve fireworks -- our first official date on December 31st, 2005. The fireworks were spectacular but paled in comparison to the fireworks between Dee and me.

We also strolled past the Sydney Opera House and the pier where the ferries come and go. Stopped at Dee’s old apartment in Potts Point, a neighborhood in Sydney where Dee was living when I first came to visit her. All in all we spent four hours walking through the city. The next day I spent some alone time at Bondi Beach and Icebergs Restaurant where I sat and had a terrific view of the beach and shore line while eating oysters and drinking a glass of Pinot Noir wine from Central Otago NZ (also Dee’s favorite). I then went to Whole Foods House in Woollara where Dee and I used to shop for organic produce and purchase raw milk to make beautiful meals at Dee’s apartment. While I was there, I decided to purchase some fresh food to make Suzi and Warren a nice homemade meal and some mushroom soup, a small thank you for their hospitality.

I flew back to Michigan on February 2nd. The flight was exceedingly long and lonely. Upon my arrival, I was driven straight from the airport to my niece Maria’s house where Jack is being well cared for. Maria, her husband Craig, my sister Janet and her husband Bruce have been giving Jack around the clock care and all of the love he can handle. Another niece, Christina Soutar ran out and bought everything Jack needed when it was decided by the doctors at the hospital that he would come home early. He was only in the hospital 10 days and went to Maria’s while I was in New Zealand and Australia. Maria has worked as a neonatal care nurse for eighteen year and is a fantastic mother to her three children. Jack is in great hands. It’s a house full of people. Being from a family of six children I always enjoyed the buzz of a large family and I’m sure Jack does too. He never lacks for attention. My brother Henry remodeled a room at our house for Jack. I’m busy trying to move my offices to the house so I can work and take care of him at the same time. Jack Dee (JD) will stay at Maria’s until everything is in place at the house and I’m emotionally prepared. Jim Cameron who is a close friend of mine drove me from the airport to see Jack. Jim and his wife Karen loved Dee as she seemed to cast her spell on everyone she met no matter where in the world she lived. When Dee first arrived in Michigan she was introduced as Archie’s wife. After a few months of getting to know everyone she became the gorgeous Dee with that guy who always seems to be hanging around her.

During my absence, Jim has been driving all over Michigan to collect donated mother’s breast milk for Jack. Thankfully he has never had to have formula. A host of mothers have stepped up and offered their breast milk on a regular basis. Before Irene, Noel and I left for New Zealand to bring Dee home, Shantana, a mother who lives an hour and a half away drove the distance to deliver Jack’s first meal of breast milk. She gave us all a hug, refused to accept money for petrol and then turned around and drove home. She’s been delivering milk to Jack via a raw cow’s milk route ever since. She’s been a god send. Julie LaPorte, another key to this unbelievable chain of events has been screening the mothers on their diets and if they have taken any medications or drugs. Many others have done a great deal to help out in different capacities. I have no idea how to repay everyone for their kindness. Dee must surely be smiling to see her son drinking healthy mother’s milk.

I went to work today for the first time to assess the business. My nephew Brent and his wife Becky Widlak are instrumental in helping me with the business as Dee was such an integral part by running the books. I was overwhelmed with the amount of work that must be done to get the business back on track. I’m fine with the challenges of the business and raising Jack, my biggest hurdle is the sadness that I carry with me day in and day out.

Coming home to Dee’s things has been upsetting. On the other hand it’s also been comforting in that I feel her presence. I especially feel her presence when I hold our son Jack. Dee hung on so that Jack could live and he has that same fighting spirit. He even gets that same furrowed brow of determination that Dee would get. Maria sometimes drapes him over the arm rest of the couch with his legs extended onto the seat cushion. He works so hard to lift his head. His head would bobble while he checks out the room for a moment and then rests his head on his hands before giving it another shot. For being premature, he’s strong, feeds very well and is alert. I’m proud of him and I’m proud of Dee for taking such good care of herself and feeding him all of the right foods during her pregnancy.

I’m devastated that Dee was not able to see her son and I’m hurt by the fact that Jack’s birthday is the same day that his mum died. You can bet that when he gets old enough to understand the connection I’ll be telling him about what a hero his mum is. He also has “aunties” and “uncles” all over the world that he can visit that will gladly fill him in on the life and times of his gorgeous mum.

Noel and Irene are looking into whether I can gain entry into New Zealand to live. Jack will automatically have duel citizenship however I’m not so fortunate. I’m hoping that since I’m Jack’s dad they’ll let me in. Jack would have a very good life in Dunedin. I would struggle for awhile but if Dee can come to the US and accept the struggles of adjusting, I can do likewise. Naturally it would have been easier to make the adjustment to NZ life with Dee helping me but thankfully there is family in Dunedin that will help me with the transition. Then again they may be so preoccupied with Jack they’ll leave me to my own devices. Archie who? Just being around where Dee was raised and where I can go visit her at the cemetery will be comfort enough for me, I’ll figure the rest out as I go along. New Zealand is a beautiful country. Jack will enjoy a high quality of life as a Kiwi. Jack has his grandparents, his aunt Sonya and her partner Ian, great aunts and uncles, Dee’s school mates, and a host of others just waiting for him to land his mum’s homeland. Depending on whether they will let me live in New Zealand and how soon I can make the move, it will be interesting to see what kind of accent Jack ends up with. I’m hoping he’ll end up with the same charming Kiwi accent as his mum.

Jack has two older sisters, Rachel and Heather who live in the states. Rachel is 21 and Heather is 19. They are an absolute joy and I am so proud of them. While I was in Sydney for the memorial luncheon for Dee, Rachel happened to be backpacking in Australia near Brisbane. When she heard the news about Dee and that I would be in Sydney she changed her plans to come visit me. She really lifted my spirits. Rachel only met Dee once and Heather only a couple of times but they both have so many of the same qualities as Dee – beautiful, pure heart, funny, smart, down to earth, genuine, committed to their friends and their passions...... Over time Dee, Rachel and Heather would have become great friends.

I went to Dee’s yoga class on Tuesday night. I took her little yoga matt in the nice carrying case she bought, filled her stainless steel water bottle (no plastic for the Deester) and showed up to class. The classes are held in the basement of the yoga instructor’s home. The lights are low, there’s soft music and chanting on the CD player and they have a heater on that makes you sweat and loosens up your muscles. I used to go to the yoga classes with Dee for about three months last spring. I think she got a kick out of watching me struggle through all of the different twists, turns and self inflicted torture. I felt as though she were watching over me Tuesday night laughing at my attempts at yoga. I must admit that what I was doing compared to the rest of the class was not yoga by anyone’s definition but I’ll stick with the classes for now as they seem to put me at ease and I feel Dee is right there with me.

It’s been a month now since Dee has left us. Life will never be the same for me, I’m completely heart broken. Having lost a sister at a young age and both of my parents, I know that time is the greatest healer. I don’t know if I have enough time left on this earth to heal from this wound. What keeps me centered is our son, keeping the momentum Dee has created in her nutritional work moving forward, the move to New Zealand and the knowledge that someday she and I will be reunited.

I do want to thank everyone that attended Dee’s service in all three countries or left a message on this website. Your support has been a big help to Dee’s family and me. I see great things ahead for Jack. With all that Dee had accomplished in this world in such a short span of time I’ve come to the conclusion that her greatest accomplishment was bringing Jack into the world. And my mission, with help from all of Jack’s family and friends, will be to prepare him to follow in his mum’s footsteps. From the epic love story that became Dee and me to the tragedy from which he was born, Jack already has a storybook life with so much more to come. Like his mum, I’m sure he will live life to the fullest.

Love,
Archie

Baby Shower

2008-02-15T12:17:00.005-05:00

A baby shower was scheduled for February and as a result there is nothing for baby Jack. So if you are still looking for away to show your support consider this a "shower invitation"

Everything is needed!

Heidi Allen has graciously agreed to coordinate this effort. Please call her if you have gently used items or new, that you would like baby Jack to have. She will also pool cash donations together for the larger items if that suites you.

Heidi Allen's telephone number is 248-684-7777
Please only call during 9:00am - 5:00pm Eastern Time.

Current Eastern Time

Archie, from New Zealand

2008-01-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Today is Monday January 21 in New Zealand, nearly two weeks after Deidre’s passing and the birth of our son Jack. I still have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that she is gone. The funeral service in New Zealand went very well. While Kiwis usually have a closed casket, normally don’t file past to pay their last respects and would more often than not play traditional music at their funeral, we sort of diced things up a bit. Dee never walked the beaten path, certainly her funeral service needed to be reflective of her life. Instead we had an open casket, played songs from U2, Tracey Chapman, James Blount and the Finn Brothers (NZ group) and filed past Dee to pay our last respects. A lot of people enjoyed the change and found it much more open and emotional.

Dee looked gorgeous as she always does. A Maori (NZ native) chanted a prayer over Dee and his children sang a traditional Maori song. It was quite moving. Once the family paid there last respects and I gave Dee our last kiss, they closed the casket for the last time and we drove about five miles down to Port Chalmers Cemetery where we laid Dee to rest. About fifty people made the drive. We were greeted by a bagpiper who played a traditional funeral march as we carried Dee down to her grave site. Dee’s grave overlooks the Careys Bay and the mountains in a spectacular setting that is fitting for such a beautiful soul. We lowered her casket down by ropes. The grave was dug deep as it is a double plot which means that when I die I will actually be buried on top of Dee. I had never heard of having two plots (one on top of the other) though it is common in New Zealand for a husband and wife to be buried in this manner. In retrospect it seems fitting that Dee will once again have to carry me as she did so during our life together. She always made me look good.

A Maori woman sang a beautiful song to Dee as we stood among the trees on a cool partly cloudy afternoon. I followed the song with a final tribute to Dee which spoke of how we will miss her, how she touched so many people, her commitment to nature, health and people’s well-being, her gentle ways and how she packed in more in her 38 years than most people do in 90 years. I finished with the following words:

“Let us commit Dee’s body to the earth and her spirit to our hearts. Let us be thankful that we walked this earth at the same time she did, that she graced our lives. Today we bury you my love and along with you my heart. Watch over us and our beautiful son. He will know you and will seek a better world just as you did. I can’t find the words to say good-bye so I won’t. I don’t believe this is a final good-bye. You have taken off on yet another adventure waiting for us to meet you, waiting to tell us of your experiences. So I’ll simply say ‘Cheers my love, until we meet again’.”

No sooner had I finished speaking when the sun came out from behind the clouds and lit up the entire cemetery. You could feel Dee’s presence as the sun warmed our bodies and the trees rustled. I couldn’t have scripted a better setting. Afterward we headed down to a café where we enjoyed wine, beer and nibbles, told stories of Dee and lamented the passing of a truly great person.

On Thursday I will leave Dunedin and fly to Sydney Australia for a few days. There are a lot of Dee’s friends in Sydney that could not make it to New Zealand for the service so they have communicated with each other and are planning a luncheon in her memory. I’m looking forward to being there and hearing more stories and seeing lots of pictures of my Dee.

From Sydney I fly directly home where I will meet up with Jack. I hope I recognize him, he’s nearly two weeks old and I’ve been gone for nearly half his life. I’ve asked Irene to come to Sydney with me however she prefers to stay home and have some alone time. Something I will need when I return to the states.

Archie

Baby Jack Photos - Jan 18, 2008

2008-01-19T15:15:00.001-05:00

Hmmm! Where we goin? Looks like I've busted outta the hospital! Looking forward to some home cookin! Well, I guess, some good breastmilk will do for now.

Message from Archie

2008-01-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

Irene, Noel, Sonya, Steve and I would like to thank everyone who has posted a message on this site and for those attending her service in Michigan. Your words cradle our hearts and lift our spirits. The out pouring of sentiment is amazing and a true testament of just how many people Deidre touched during her life. The website has been a beacon of light during this dark time.

Jack D. Currie-Welch is doing very well. He is off the monitors, feeding tubes and breathing apparatus. The nurses are feeding him breast milk from a bottle. The number of mothers that have stepped up to donate breast milk for Jack's feeding has left us speechless. There are a lot of amazing people in this world. Jack has progressed so well that the nurses said he may come home much sooner than projected. Though born five weeks premature, he is as healthy as most full term babies and the most beautiful baby boy I have ever seen (naturally I'm a bit partial). I'm not surprised at his rapid growth and tremendous health. Dee took fantastic care of herself which is why her passing is even more shocking to us.

While Jack remains in the hospital for now, I have taken this opportunity to travel with Dee's parents Irene and Noel back to New Zealand to properly bury my loving bride and their beautiful daughter in her birth country. It has been a long and difficult journey for the entire family but we have arrived and want to continue to celebrate Dee's life. Returning to Michigan and leaving Dee behind will be devastating to me however I must be strong and turn my attention to Jack and his well being. Dee wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm not sure how or exactly when but it is my desire to return to Dunedin NZ with Jack when he is a bit older and stronger to show him his mother's heritage and to live there. It will be good for Jack, good for Dee's parents and family to watch Jack grow and good for me to be near Dee. Lot's to do to make that scenario happen but it is my goal never the less.

For now however my focus is laying my gorgeous wife to rest. We will bury her in Port Chalmers where she grew up. Her final resting place over looks the ocean with a spectacular view in a truly magical part of the world. There she will rest and when the time comes for me to leave this world, I will be buried next to her. Dee's spirit remains in all of us to carry on her passion for food, travel, friends/family and the celebration of life.

When I return to Michigan and have time to reflect (in between changing Jack's diapers) I would like to post a more detailed account of Dee's life as I know it and to properly thank each and everyone of you. Your kind words help us more than you'll ever know.

Take care, love,

Archie

Jack Photos Taken on Jan. 14

2008-01-14T19:26:00.001-05:00

Donations

2008-01-10T11:40:00.001-05:00

There are three ways to donate money.

Donations can be made towards the care of beautiful baby Jack:
1. There will be envelopes for that purpose at the funeral home.
2. Donations can be made online by clicking on the donate button

If you have any trouble with the online donation, you can mail your check to:

Jim Cameron
25698 Arcadia Dr.
Novi, MI 48374-2441

Please make the check payable to "Archie Welch".

Donations can also be made to the Weston A Price Foundation.

The "Deidre Currie Memorial Scholarship Fund" will support international students that need financial assistance to attend the annual WAPF conference. This will honor Deidre’s work as a WAPF Chapter Leader, and the fact that she and Archie met at the WAPF conference years ago.

Weston A. Price Foundation
Deidre Currie Memorial Scholarship Fund
4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW
PMB 106-380
Washington, DC 20016

Or call 202-363-4394

We can accept credit cards (VISA and MC), checks or money orders.

Welcome Jack Welch

2008-01-10T11:04:00.001-05:00

Little "Jack" met his Grandparents from New Zealand last night. They and Archie decided on "Jack" for his name. They were able to touch and feel Jack. Jack was grabbing their fingers, kicking his legs and moving his arms. The nursing staff is delighted with his progress.

Sorry for the marginal quality. I was using a cell phone camera and I had a hard time getting into a good position as Dad, Grandma and Grandpa were hogging the prime locations.

Funeral

2008-01-10T01:14:00.000-05:00

Visitation Friday, January 11, 2008 3:00-9:00pm
Funeral Saturday, January 12, 2008 12:30pm

Dawn DiVitto is coordinating a Nourishing Traditions meal for the luncheon after.

Lewis E. Wint and Son Funeral Home
5929 South Main Street
Clarkston, MI 48346
Phone: (248) 625-5231
Fax: (248) 625-3837
http://www.wintfuneralhome.com/

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