Sad Tidings From Concordia
Baroness Eleri of Nefyn, Mistress of the Pelican, and a beloved member of the Barony of Concordia and the East Kingdom for more than 30 years, passed away Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, after a long illness.
Eleri held many offices in her approximately 30 years in the SCA, including Baroness of Concordia alongside Master George Emerson True as Baron from 1994-1998, Central Region Mistress of the Lists, Deputy Mistress of the Lists to Mistress Lylie of Penhill, Kingdom Mistress of the Lists, and, according to Master Angus Pembridge, 4th Baron Concordia, “held just about every Concordian officership available at some point.” Eleri was also in charge of Land staff for Pennsic 41, and was a member of the land staff for many years, helping it to become the well oiled machine it is now.
Eleri’s interests in the SCA spanned from cooking to Arts and Sciences, from running tourneys to just plain carrying things. She had a special love for creme puffs, and would always bring creme puffs for the cooks of any kitchen she would run. On the field, many a fighter would show up to Crown Tourney in a panic, having misplaced his qual card, to see Eleri’s smiling face, list of qualified fighters in hand.
“Eleri was a kind and gentle woman, and she was also one of those people who really made the SCA what it was with her honor and her grace. She was one of those people who was always there, always organizing,” says Master William O’Donovan of Monmouth, a fellow member of the Order of the Pelican. Master Angus Pembridge remembers that “She always had a smile, she was a pillar of strength for the barony.” Throughout the realm, gentles have shared their memories of Eleri, and what she meant to them. “There are a very few folks in her category of exemplar.” Baron Steffan ap Kennydd of Silverwing explains, “You could say to your proteges “Be like Leri” and count that as sufficient instruction. She had a great heart, and she *got* it.”
Eleri also touched those outside of her home kingdom. According to Jarla Dagmar Halvdan, Duchess of Ealdormere and a member of Pennsic land staff, “ELeri touched everyone who came to Pennsic – if she was land one, two or our official historian – she made your day easier and your war better in the smallest of sensible ways. She listened, she organized and generally she left people less frustrated merely because they were truthfully heard even if she couldn’t solve their issue. She was the peer I would like to be some day.”
Baroness Eleri of Nefyn and Baron George Emerson True were invested as Concordia’s second Baron and Baroness at the Barony’s celebration of Bjorn’s Ceilidh, November 12, A.S. XXIX (1994), by Her Majesty of the East in the reign of Gregor and Christance. They held this position until another Bjorn’s Ceilidh, on November 21, AS XXXIII (1998), when Baltasar Mondragon (Munenaga Soiichiro) and Lucia Francesca de Valenciaby were elevated to the position of Baron and Baroness by the hands of Their Majesties Brion and Anna. In May of 2012, at War of the Roses, an effort was made to gather together and memorialize as many of those who had held the title of Baron and Baroness of Concordia as possible. All but two members were present.
The rolls of awards for both the Kingdom of the East and the Barony of Concordia make it clear that Eleri was much loved and recognized for her service and other participation. In addition to being a member of the Order of the Pelican, and a Court Baroness after stepping down as Baroness Concordia, Eleri was recognized as Companion of the Silver Crescent, a companion of the Order of the Manche, a Companion of the Burdened Tyger, and a Companion of the Queen’s Order of Courtesy, recognized by Her Majesty, Queen Elspeth. Within the Barony of Concordia, there is hardly an award she did not have: She was a member of the orders of the Friends, Feather, Saphire, Diamond, and Emerald, as well as a Companion of the Pine and Spoon.
Her Majesty Avelina honored Eleri at Coronation last weekend with an Augmentation of Arms, designed by Master George Emerson True. Countess Avelina remembers Eleri as a teacher and friend for 16 years, and mourns her passing.
Eleri was dear to many in the East Kingdom, and many grieve at her loss. She will live on in the works she contributed to, and in the memory of those who called her friend.
For more information on services, please see the obituary here.
dear sister, we walked the road of survivor, now you go ahead of me, I pray that our numbers will be fewer, that our sisters will not know this monster in the future. And i vow not to let any forget you or those that have gone before. god speed brave one. you reminded us to live each day to its fullest.
Eleri, I am clear that at the moment of your passing, a loss of breath was felt by the Society in that same moment. You are truly one of our angels. I know that you will be watching over us as you always were in life. God speed gentle lady.