By Sue Hughes | For The Times-Post
PENDLETON — A chance remark at a funeral set sisters Amy Mercer and Vicki Ashton on a mission.
Mercer, 54, and Ashton, 58, were attending a funeral of a close friend in June when they heard Nina Krisher, 89, say to their dad, “I hate that I only see my people at funerals.”
“That made me sad,” Mercer said.
That night, Mercer came up with the idea to arrange an event that would be a purely joyous occasion.
“I was up all night, and then next morning I called Vicki.”
When Mercer told Ashton her plan, she said, “Let’s do it.”
The sisters are having an old-fashioned formal ladies’ garden luncheon for women who were friends and attended Southern Heights Christian Church around the 1970s and 1980s era.
The church is located on South Madison Avenue in Anderson, but the party is scheduled for next month at the gazebo in Falls Park.
“We are a very special group,” Mercer said. “These people are my family. Our faith and love of Jesus Christ is what connects us.”
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Decades ago, Mercer had such a celebration party for her sister when she got married, and they had so much fun they wanted to do it again, this time for friends.
Their mother gave them china that’s about 60 years old, that they used growing up during special occasions. Mercer was concerned that the set wouldn’t be big enough. In a strange coincidence, she found another complete set at Goodwill, making for a total of 40 complete matching place settings.
The next day, Mercer bought a set of silverware made in 1914 at an estate sale for $20. After being polished it looked new.
The sisters started inviting their older friends. Some asked if they could bring daughters and granddaughters. The number of guests soon grew to almost 40.
They even had men who wanted to attend. However, the group of more than a dozen men will meet at a local restaurant while the luncheon takes place.
The women will be treated to lunch, iced tea and dessert while listening to live music.
Gert Kumi of Pendleton, a Julliard School-trained musician, will play the violin.
Mercer, her daughter, Emmaline, and Ashton made up invitations featuring a photo of Emmaline taken during a photo shoot in southern Indiana; she is wearing a white dress and large sunhat and standing in a field of zinnias. The invitations are printed using an ornate font and the title “Lady” before each guest’s name.
Tracy Lawyer of Lick Creek Flowers is donating the flowers, which will be arranged by Marta King.
“We want them to feel special and honored and bring back memories,” Ashton said.
The attendees range in age from their mid-50s up to about 90. Some still live in the area, but others are coming from farther away, including Montana, Florida, Michigan and Missouri.
Invitees are being encouraged to dress in “formal garden attire,” including hats, something Mercer said has been embraced.
People have been calling each other to find out what they’ll be wearing, reminiscent of times long ago when they were readying for prom.
Already, “it’s just turned out to be a lot of fun,” Mercer said. “And it’s not a funeral.”
