Agata Hrafnasveltir
Agata Hrafnasveltir
mka: Lori Bechtold
awards:
Award of Arms - Oct 26 AS 37 / 2002
born: August 11, 1954
died: November 10, 2003
Memoria:
I had the delight of introducing Lady Agata (Lori Bechtold) and M’ lord Drago Ravenspeace (her lord the late Harry Goodnight) to the SCA. From the time I met this pair of “old hippies” I knew that they would be right at home in the world that we call SCA. The first event that they attended was September Crown XXXIV. From this first event I knew I had them hooked.
Not only did they like the SCA they loved it. They loved the merchants, the fighting, and the gentle world of An Tir. They were very proud when their son, now Lord Nicholas Hrafnasveltir, won a chivalry prize in his first boffer tourney. At her first tournament she found a truly chivalric Knight who took the Silver Rose that day. She thought he was so chivalric that she chose the name of Augusta Ravenspeace. She had chosen this name being a peaceful person and wanting to show honor to this chivalric man that was at that time called Jarl Skapti Ravensfury.
Agata attended the very next shire business meeting; by her second meeting she had accepted the office of shire chronicler. She was very busy the first two years and did not miss an edition. The Ambergardian was recommended for a Blackfox Award during this time. Her second year she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and began treatment. By her third year as chronicler she had to slow down a bit, and cut the issues to three a year. This last year she found that the office of chronicler was a little too difficult for her. She traded and held the office of Chatelaine until her illness made her quit.
Agata was always very active in the shire and helped do everything she could. She autocrated the annual shire event War in the Oasis, just as she was finishing up her first set of treatments. Agata liked the wonderful hats that she could ware in the SCA, to cover her temporary baldness. She really loved the beautiful dress and hats that the HL Triona made for her. The bottom line is that you could always find her helping with anything the shire took on. Agata was able to travel to many events and loved them all. She also loved to watch the rapier fighting and had hoped to try it herself someday.
Two years ago while in remission she chose the name of Agata Hrafnasveltir, which was the closest period name she could find that, would still be Ravenspeace in her heart. She still continued to work and help with everything. She will always be known as the head soup cook within the shire, which was something she loved. I remember how happy she was when she was able to go to events and people knew her (and not always because of me).
Agata had her SCA dream come true when at a May Crown I was finally able to introduce her to Duke Skapti. What really made her day was finding out that he was as big of a Cubs fan as she was. That is how he became “Her Duke.” She was thrilled to hear that he had won crown and would be King again.
From her first event she wanted nothing more than to receive her Award of Arms and be a real Lady. She was just beaming when on October 26, 2002 at the first shire Harvest Celebration she was awarded her AoA. She also was overwhelmed when her son also received his AoA at the same event. Lady Agata loved the SCA so much that she was doing anything she could to attend events right up to the end.
I had the pleasure of sharing a special friendship with this wonderful lady. When she found out that she was terminal, and her time was running short we had very precious moments to talk. She loved the SCA and the many friends she made. She felt that the shire was more than friends, but that she had a family within the SCA. She wanted me to make sure to tell you all that you made her feel very special. She was very happy to have been able to meet and hug Their Royal Majesties Gunnarr and Gabriell at this years’ Harvest Celebration II. I will miss my dear friend very much as many of us will. She wanted me to remind you all that she will never be to far from us, and she was a better person for knowing us all. I find that to be ironic as most people who met her felt that they were much better off for knowing her. She carried many happy memories and much love with her to her next existence.
I promised Lady Agata that I would buy a luminary and walk a lap in her memory at the next American Cancer Society Relay for Life. I plan on doing this in garb/costume and invite the Kingdom to walk a lap with me in your area. I also plan on making this a yearly tribute to Agata.
Mistress Olivia Visconti
This gentle's name has been entered on the Scroll of Honor - An Tir Remembers.