Aunt Katy 1924-2008

My Aunt Katy passed away this morning, Mar. 5, although it is the 6th here. My heart is grieved, and yet I feel peace, as she was suffering in the end, and her body was failing her. She is whole now, and in the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

She was more than an inspiration to many, and most certainly to her family, who loved her dearly. She never married, never had children. She devoted her life to God, being a nurse, and served God's people in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a majority of her adult life.

She was devoted to her brothers and sisters (she is my dad's sister), and to all of us nieces and nephews. She radiated her love and concern for us. I am only one of many, but she had a way of making me feel like I was the only niece she had when she was with me. Before every mission trip I made, she called me, wrote me, sent support money. She gave spiritual encouragement when I got married and again when my first son was born. She called and talked on the phone before we moved out to Victoria. At this point (summer, 2005), she was already too ill to live on her own, but made a point of calling me. She was always there with encouraging scripture and unceasing prayer. I'm sad I never got a chance to see her, as she wasn't very far away, in Kelowna.

She wrote two books, one a very detailed history of our family, the other, called "Diamonds in the Sand", her own memoirs, her life and experiences in The Democratic Republic of Congo. She dedicated this book to her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. In the preface of the book, she talks about The Democratic Republic of Congo being rich in diamond deposits. This was not discovered until the 1970s. This brought much change there. If I may, I will quote a small portion of her preface:

The major portion of my time has been spent in mundane things such as sleeping, eating, preparing food, maintaining hygiene, walking, working or having fun. Unless we are deprived in some area, we seldom mention these activities. They form the sand in which are hidden grains of another color, quality and size, diamonds that give weight, value and beauty to our lives.

As time has passed, as my hair has turned silver and my step slowed a bit, much of the sand in the hourglass of my life has quietly filtered through, leaving here and there in its wake diamonds. The diamonds needed cutting and polishing, just as experiences have challenged my character, personality, values and attitudes. Many beautiful people have honed and polished me and together we have polished one another. These experiences and people fill the pages of this book. The size, cut and polish of the diamonds has varied. Some are beautifully sparkling with brilliance and luster, others rough and coarse and need more polishing, still others may have deep flaws. With the apostle Paul we say, "not that we have already attained or been made perfect, but we press on so that the beauty of Christ may shine forth in us."

Come with me through these pages and enjoy the beauty of these diamonds.

Aunt Katy, you are a diamond. You sparkle in a brilliance I can't even describe. Great is your reward in Heaven. You will be forever in the hearts of our family, of everyone who knew and loved you. You will be deeply missed.