Guiding Thresholds

03/01/2025

I was honored with officiating the memorial service yesterday for Mary Kay. She leaves a hole in many hearts however all of them have a lifetime of memories and love from her to help fill that space. As she advised in life, “It will be okay, just take it one day at a time and don’t worry it’s okay to cry.”

View Mary Kay Doran's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/02/2025

Honored to officiate Steve’s memorial service tomorrow. I thought Steve was a complete stranger, but life is funny that way. My mom rarely asks specifics on the services I do but she happened to ask about this one and turns out Steve and my mom worked together at Rkfd Career College and he coordinated for us when our family business cleaned at the college as well. Proof that he touched more lives than we knew. Rest easy now Steve.

View Steven W. Abney's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/01/2024

I had the incredible honor of being the celebrant for Larry Hildebrand’s service yesterday. What an amazing soul who was devoted family man and was always smiling, full of life and love. Rest well, Larry, REALLLY!!

Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home
https://www.facebook.com/share/nrB3DQXFYthJUaCZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe

06/23/2024

Incredibly honored to have been the celebrant for this extraordinary woman and the long full life she lived.

View Lillian O. McNames's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/04/2024

The family and FHG entrusted me with the honor to be the celebrant for Krissy’s memorial service on Sunday. A beautiful soul now at rest in the quiet and quaint Mouth of Stillman Cemetery.

View Kristine Marie Hedegaard's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/25/2024

Over the last 4 days I have had the honor and privilege to officiate the funeral services for these 3 beautiful humans at Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home & 1 marriage ceremony for the newly wed Mr & Mrs Dinderman. I am so grateful to do this service for others and their families. And also a heartfelt thank you to those families that had to forgive my laryngitis and Jessica Bowen for being my voice & contingency plan and performed her first wedding with me. 😊

08/27/2023

Congrats to Mr & Mrs Jacobs! Thank you for the honor of officiating your big day!

05/25/2023

Rest in peace Ed. Thank you for the honor of officiating the service. You have a beautiful family and the values you instilled in them are so very evident in their humor and kindness.

Ed was devoted to giving blood, over 10 gallons worth. From 5/29-6/3, you can choose to donate in honor of Ed at any Rock River Valley Blood Center or sponsored drive. Just tell them you are there to donate in honor of Ed Beck.

04/17/2023

As some of you may have noticed, I’ve decided to change the name from Weddings & Events by Bowen to Guiding Thresholds. With the growing requests for memorial services I wanted a name that honored all the officiant services I provide.

In life, whether it be crossing the threshold of their home as married couple or experiencing the grief and loss as a love one passes the threshold to the here after, these are some biggest transitions we as humans experience. I am honored to guide people in creating memorable ceremonies and to then officiate these life changing moments.

04/13/2023

Yesterday I had the honor of officiating the celebration of life service at Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home & graveside ceremony for CJ Larson. May CJ rest in peace, and his loved ones find solace in their memories of him. 🙏🏽🎸🎨

03/30/2023

I had the honor of officiating the memorial service for Marlana (Marley) Tollett-McFarland with the assistance of the Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home
& the Jarrett Prairie Center. What a beautiful soul, gone too soon. Her legacy of love and generosity will not be forgotten. She touched the lives of her children, family, friends and the community (especially through Rockford Crunchy Ladies). Sending prayers of peace and love as they now adjust to life embracing the memories of this amazingly wonderful human. ’May a choir of angels sing thee to thy rest.’ Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home

09/13/2022

Sending out over 50 envelopes to are venues and funeral homes regarding my services. Looking forward to providing my professionalism, expertise and passion to those needing a ceremony or memorial. I am even starting month of & day of wedding coordinating/managing. Thanks again to all my part couple and families that have trusted me to be part of some of their life’s biggest moments.
🕯 💒

09/10/2022

Today I was honored with officiating the marriage ceremony for a wonderful couple. Congratulations To the new Mr. and Mrs. Tyler and Jamie Black! Thank you again for having me be part of your special day!

08/06/2022

This afternoon I had the honor of Celebrant for the memorial service for Mr. Gary Christensen of Oregon,IL. A lovely human with a beautiful family. He will be greatly missed.

I couldn’t find a poem or reading that fit so I wrote one in honor of Gary. Farewell kind sir.

A shepherd is one who guides,
To maybe find a sheep who hides,
Or lead others on a journey to find,
Ancient rocks and fossils waiting to be mined.
They may es**rt people to a wonder,
Like the great redwoods and then drive under.
Along the expeditions always telling a story,
Or willing to patiently hear a tale of others glory.
A shepherd is one who faithfully attends,
Not just sheep or rocks but turns strangers into friends.