RACINE - Nancy and Gerald Buck have both been involved with the music at First Presbyterian Church for many years. They passed their love of music onto their four children, who all played in the church's handbell choir.

As their kids grew up and moved away, only their daughter Suzanne Buck Chaffee stayed in town and continued to play the handbells under her mother's direction.

Seven months ago, the Bucks lost their 46-year-old daughter to a sudden heart attack. In her memory, the First Presbyterian handbell choir has quite literally turned the tragic loss of Suzanne into something beautiful and celebratory.

The handbell choir that Suzanne was a part of for 16 years has commissioned a piece of music by one of their favorite composers and dedicated it to her memory.

On Sunday, which would have been Suzanne's 47th birthday, First Presbyterian's handbell choir will play the premiere performance of "Celebration Tapestry." The musical piece is "Dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of Suzanne Buck Chaffee."

"It features the bells that she rang when she was a member," Nancy Buck said of the music.

Suzanne's death was very unexpected, her parents said.

She was a graduate of Horlick High School and a member of the Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, where she met her husband, Mark Chaffee. Suzanne and Mark had two children, Christopher and Michelle.

"She was devoted to her family," Nancy said.

Suzanne worked as an inspector at the emissions department at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

"She loved music," her mother said. "It wasn't her vocation, but it was part of her."

For many decades, church was the place the family could express their love of music. Gerald has been the organist at First Presbyterian for 39 years, and Nancy has been the director of the handbell choir since 1991.

The family's shared passion for music makes the handbell piece commissioned in Suzanne's memory all the more special.

The piece was commissioned by the 13-member handbell choir and composed by Kevin McChesney. The members came up with the $1,500 cost of the music.

McChesney has composed more than 400 arrangements and original works for handbells. He conducts the popular community handbell ensemble The Pikes Peak Ringers in Colorado. McChesney is also a music editor for Jeffers Handbell Supply and Ringing Word.

"We have played many of his compositions," Nancy said.

The group also met McChesney during a concert by 25 Milwaukee-area handbell choirs. "We liked working with him in addition to liking his music."

Suzanne's family and the handbell choir are hoping the piece will be published in coming years, so that the song can be played in churches all over. "I want other people to play it," Nancy said.

The first performance of "Celebration Tapestry," will be at First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave. on Sunday at the 9:30 a.m. service.