Beland Garden

The church has a beautiful memorial garden on the side of Barooshian Chapel known as the Raoul Beland Memorial Rock Garden.

Raoul was the late husband of Barbara Beland, member of our church with the “magic piano fingers!”  Barbara and Raoul were married for thirty-seven years. They joined FCC in 1974. They raised three daughters together, Julie, Dana, and Lesley. Raoul was a construction engineer for Pacific Telephone for thirty-nine years and a talented woodworker who could build anything with wood.

Upon his passing in 1994, Barbara coordinated with the church and a contractor friend of Raoul’s to develop the patio, benches and “meditation” area next to the chapel. Upon completion the Raoul Beland Rock Garden was dedicated the day before Easter 1995.

This peaceful Garden has not only served as an area for the interment of other church members ashes, it has also provided a venue for meditation, small weddings, meetings and prayer groups. 

Thank you, Barbara, for the Rock Garden. You have created a “special place” for people to enjoy for many years to come!
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Written by Bruce Quick, Church Historian