WHO WE ARE
Lily Myers Kaplan
Founder & Executive Director
Lily's career has focused on guiding people to build meaning and purpose from the most challenging of life circumstances. With thirty years in private practice, Lily draws from studies in mythology, archetypal psychology, and her experiences as a program director of a modern day mystery-school and hospice volunteer manager. As an ordained non-denominational minister, with a Master's degree in Culture & Spirituality, Lily says that the greatest work of all is the privilege of sharing stories with the people whose paths intersect with hers. Using story as a force for healing in her southern Oregon community is Lily's passion. Serving Spirit of Resh Foundation and providing one-on-one transformational grief retreats at her twenty-acre Sanctuary at Rainbow Ridge is Lily’s way of honoring Ancestors, sharing wisdom gained through hardship, and helping others find beauty in the midst of their losses.
Sally Long
Founder & Board Chair
For Sally, the Spirit of Resh Foundation is a living memorial to the legacy of love left by Lois and Dave. She was both distraught and inspired by Lois and Dave’s extended cancer journey and untimely deaths. Fueled by the two emotions, she imagined a world where renewed life purpose could spring from honoring death. Her knowledge as a long-time educator combined with her non-profit board experience led to co-founding Spirit of Resh with Lily. From the beginning Sally cheered from the background as the emerging Foundation took shape. Now, retired from her multi-faceted career in higher education, she continues to be a creative champion of Resh and is proud to serve as the Board Chair.
Marnie Olena
Board Secretary & Treasurer
It is a deep privilege to serve as Treasurer of Spirit of Resh Foundation. Through my service, I know that I am supporting others as they walk the path of grief and begin to translate their loss into legacy. I know firsthand the value that our programs bring to those in the midst of grief, having experienced losses of close friends and family. I’ve worked in the financial industry for nearly 25 years, and bringing my business skills, as a source of fiscal support to the Spirit of Resh Foundation is a pleasure. Our values, in particular, honesty, love and respect, are core beliefs for me and I am honored to be part of the work that is Resh.
Mary Ann Perry
Director
Mary Ann loves living in and being of service to the Rogue Valley community. With a background in education, youth mentoring, and facilitation, she brings a grounded, calming presence that helps others feel safe and supported. In service as a Certified Home Funeral Guide, hospice respite volunteer, and Spirit of Resh board member, Mary Ann is passionate about the cultural shift that is happening around living and dying. She envisions a community where we all know what to do for each other around death and dying, and says, "I am honored to be part of creating that in the Rogue Valley." As often as possible, you will find this woman out exploring wilderness areas with her husband David and their pooch Cody.
Elizabeth Johnson
Director of The Peaceful Presence Project, Our Sister-Organization in Bend, OR
Elizabeth is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Peaceful Presence Project, our sister-organization in Central Oregon. We are proud to partner with Peaceful Presence on our shared missions, offering mentoring, education and support around end of life. With a Master's degree in Community Planning and Not-for-Profit Management, Elizabeth's travels have taken her around the globe, awakening fascination with the cultural and social contexts which shape human understanding of the mysteries of life and death. This, combined with her own profound and powerful experiences of loss and sorrow, has created her passion for death literacy initiatives in local communities that encourage honest dialogues, exploring complexities of the dying process. Trained as an End of Life Doula, Elizabeth is also a board member for the National End of Life Doula Alliance, serving on their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. She currently lives in Bend, OR with her partner, David, and their dog, Pai.