We didn't want a funeral, so we ended up calling it a Rememberance. Greg's spirit and soul are still with us, but body was cremated, and the service was to be a celebration of his life. There were approximately 300 people there. The assembly ranged from his family, to his friends, to his family's friends, neighbors, and to two members of his favorite local band, Lftrpllr.
The service was led by Toni Ferdelman, who is an ordained minister, and a co-worker with my ex husband. A song by Greg's band, Unleaded X, was played. First, my daughter Evelyn spoke. She went up with her best friend, Michelle, for support. Then Lowell went up with a group of Greg's friends, Jarick Losey, Kayon Nottingham, Matt Jackson, Chase Goodman, and Tony Rosen. It was very brave of Lowell to speak, because he had lost his brother and best friend.I sat there and just cried, there was no way I could have spoken. Next was a song selected by Evelyn, called I'll see you in Heaven, by Guardian. Fred, my ex spoke next, fighting back his tears. Then a Lftrpllr song, To Live and Die in LBI, was played. Greg said it was the only song that would wake him up. Toni asked for rememberances from the assembly, and Wendy Paur read a poem she'd written, called "Everyone Loves Pearl Jam", which is something Greg used to joke about. Sharon Smith, a family friend, then spoke. And last was Craig Finn, the lead singer of lftrpllr. He told about how he had met Greg at some of his concerts, and how Greg was curious about his music. Greg was wearing a hat he had specially made with the band's name on it. That began an email correspondance that continued to the end of Greg's life. He told about how at one concert, the lead guitarist broke his guitar, and that Greg had taken the biggest chunk of it. He offered it back to the guitarist, who said no, Greg could keep it. It hangs on his ceiling in his room. Craig, too, was touched by knowing Greg. The service concluded with the song, Like a Child, by Jars of Clay.
There were so many people there, I didn't get to see or thank everyone I wanted
to for attending. I was glad that many of my old friends took the time to attend, like Anne and Wes Jung, who I hadn't seen
in ages. Many of my friends from the organizations i belonged to also came to support me. Most of the day
passed in a fog so I'm glad I have this to remind me of one of the worst days of my life.
Gregory Kendall Hundt, age 17, of Edina, after courageously battling
cancer. Greg is survived by his mother, Sharon of Prescott, Arizona;
his father, Fred of Edina; his sister, Evelyn, and his brother, Lowell.
Greg would have been a senior this fall at Edina High School, and
worked at Value Vision in Eden Prairie. Greg loved playing electric
bass and guitar, and had been in several alternative rock bands. He
was a computer enthusiast, a golfer and a frisbee golfer. Memorials
preferred to the Children's Cancer Research Fund (612-893-9355).
Their address is 4930 West 77th Street, Edina, MN 55435. Memorial
service Tuesday, July 13, 1 pm at Cremation Society of Minnesota,
Edina Chapel, 7110 France Avenue South. 612-924-4100
published Jul 09, 1999
This is the story that accompanied his obituary.
Published Friday, July 9, 1999
Teenager faced his disease but focused on life
Warren Wolfe / Star Tribune
Greg Hundt knew that his battle with cancer meant he might not live a long life, so he concentrated on living a full one.
Age 17 and about to start his senior year at Edina High School, he played bass guitar with the alternative rock band Unleaded X, designed Internet Web pages for several bands, played Frisbee golf and kept up with his music and his friends.
"He taught me so much about courage," his father, Fred, said Thursday. "At a time when it's so easy to bemoan the problems of young people, Greg showed us just how strong and resilient young people really are".
"Like a lot of kids struggling with cancer, he was really a hero -- dealing with the disease, but focusing on life."
Greg Hundt died Wednesday during an operation to remove a tumor from his kidney. Since he was diagnosed with condra sarcoma at age 13, he had had surgery to remove his shoulder blade and tumors on both lungs. He had been attending summer school to catch up with school work missed after an operation in January to remove a brain tumor.
""He never said, 'Why me?' and never complained about what was happening,""his father said. "When he got bad news, you could see him get that steely look on his face and ask the doctor, 'OK, so what do we do next?' "
Greg talked some about death and dying -- "men don't talk much, and teenage men talk less," his dad said -- but that was never the focus of his life.
"He was always concerned about making sure Fairview-University Hospital got as much research information and learning as possible from his condition," his father said. "He'd talk with the doctors and medical students and stayed involved with his treatment decisions. He was in it to get better, but he also was in it to help the doctors help other patients."
In addition to his father, Greg is survived by his mother, Sharon; sister, Evelyn, and brother, Lowell. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Cremation Society of Minnesota Edina Chapel. Memorials to the Children's Cancer Research Fund are preferred.
© Copyright 1999 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
I added the copies of the speeches made by his father, sister and
brother and friends when I receive them. All in all, it was a wonderful and moving
celebration of an ordinary, yet remarkable, young man. I am proud to be his mother.
Please send any comments or suggestions to me. Thank you.
