I am a shy performer, but love to sing. In 2003, after singing at a dear friend’s wedding and receiving encouragement to perform more, I heard an inner voice suggest I need to sing for dying people! I was surprised by the idea, curious where it came from since I had never heard of such a thing, and not yet 40 years old, death was not the first thing on my mind.

Soon after, I searched the internet for a cappella choirs in Marin County, where I lived in California, and came across a listing for the Threshold Choir. It said “we are a group of women who have been called to sing at the bedside of dying people.” I nearly spit out my tea. Looked like I had found my choir.

Founded by Kate Munger, the Threshold Choir came about to bring songs of comfort to people facing grief, death or any form of suffering. Now international with over 160 chapters, I was the youngest member in those early days and had the privilege of singing with Kate in one of the original chapters. After a few years, we established a “jail choir” where we sang every Friday with incarcerated women at the Marin County Jail. This enabled me to have a regular weekly Seva practice while I continued to also serve at the bedside when available and the occasion presented itself. I have contributed several songs to the choir and continue to sing when I can, wherever I am.