It is with deepest sadness that we must share with you that Caren Cunningham, our reigning Ms. New Jersey Leather 2009, passed away on the morning of December 17, 2008 at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center near her Asbury Park, NJ home. She was 51years old. Caren was an enthusiastic member of the Lesbian Sex Mafia (LSM) co-founder of TRIBE – NJ‘s LeatherDykes, a member of the Sirens MC, a founding member of NJ Andromeda, a close associate of Crusty Old LeatherDykes (COLD), and a very, very good friend. During the past year she also volunteered at several community events including Philadelphia’s Liberty Gay Rodeo, Asbury Park’s First Friday Leather Nights, and served as a DM for The Floating World. She was admitted to the hospital one week ago and diagnosed with advanced cancer. Her fiercely devoted girlfriend Cheryl (LSM’s Party Officer, Sirens MC founding member/incoming VP), and Caren’s mother and brother were with her when she passed. Caren was an expert horsewoman and dog trainer, biker dyke and leather top. She was employed as a chef for The Center in Asbury Park, a voluntary service organization and supportive residential facility for those living with HIV/AIDS. She had a heart of gold and a wonderfully wicked sense of humor. She gave freely of her time and energy to all she knew, loved her friends unquestioningly, and stood her ground against any adversity. She was quoted in the Summer 2008 issue of The Jersey Gaze magazine, published by Jersey Pride, Inc., which featured NJ’s Leather Community on the cover as its lead story… “I have been into leather my entire life, starting in my early teens with motorcycle clubs and the BDSM lifestyle. Over the years, as leather has become more defined in the community for womyn, I have been proud to call myself a leatherdyke. Having come up through the ranks and having earned my leathers, it is an honor to be called a leatherwomyn. I am proud to stand with my Sisters and Brothers in the Leather Community. “ Caren, it was indeed an honor and a privilege to have stood with you.
SUNDAY, DEC. 21, 2008
Buckley Funeral Home
509 2nd Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712,
tel: (732) 775-2455
Visitation:12:30 to 1:30 pm
Memorial Service: 1:30-2:30 pm
A bagpiper will play Caren's favorite song, Amazing Grace, and other selections.
Followed by a reception at Cruisin, 911 Kingsley St., Asbury
Park. tel. (732) 776-7002.
Please join us
and bring a dish to share.
Our heartfelt thanks to Joe & Rob of Cruisin...their official closing date was
12-20-08. Tribe will be accepting donations to help defray expenses.
In lieu of
flowers...
Details are
being worked out for a charity that was near and dear
to Caren's heart, and that she was very excited about launching
as Ms NJ Leather 2009. Caren recently shared her desire to
devote herself to a special charity that she thought would make
a
difference in peoples lives:The Heifer
Project International.She was really
quite enthused about the idea. So, in her memory, we'd like to raise $500 to purchase a
heifer. We'll talk about
it at
LSM's Holiday get-together on Saturday at the legendary
Stonewall Inn in NYC. We'll talk about this again on Sunday at
the
memorial service in Asbury Park. We haven't worked out the
details yet, but together, as leatherdykes, and with the help of
others in our community, we can do this.
For the finer points, click on....
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/
To visit the regular LSM site click here