Last week we sadly lost one of our dear friends. Doreen was 95 years old (maybe even 96) and one of our greatest supporters through emails and prayers especially after the girls were born. Before she went to live with family, she lived around the corner from my parents. My first memories of her were around her wonderful paintings, her vivid stories of growing up in South Africa, her beautiful flowers, the yummiest way of cooking carrots (which I've tried several times unsuccessfully since!), knitting granny squares for orphaned children, and her warm, dancing eyes as she talked and told stories. Since I left NZ much of our correspondence turned into emails. She was an extrordinary person - one in a million. She'd tell me off for saying it, I can just imagine her :o) But she humbly lived a full, joyful life - right to the end. Age was never really an excuse to hold her back. As her sight gave in she resorted to touch-typing her emails (apologising for the mistakes, though I never noticed any!). Years ago she taught people who were quadriplegic how to paint by holding the brushes in their mouths. They produced incredible pieces of artwork which were printed onto cards and made beautiful gifts. She wrote poems and had a number published. In the last couple of years she even had a book of her poems published. She always had a story to tell, full of the humour, twinkling eyes and love that marked her life. One, which gives you an idea of her great heart for others, she shared with me in an email last year:
"I have been saddened sometimes because I see people in wheelchairs just being pushed up a corner somewhere while the "carer" walks off and leaves them - sometimes they look so lost and lonely. The other day I took the bull by the horns and spoke to a man in a wheelchair, who had been left up a corner. His face just lightened up when I asked him whether he minded my talking to him. Explained that I worked with quads etc. Ramaliah-the figgerrence in his face! He had looked so sad, but went off with two woman who came for him chatting and waving his arms round. So I felt that I had given him something new to think about! Its easy for me, being ninetyfour years of age. No-one could possibly feel I had designs on them! Anyway-that's given you an idea of what I am doing..."
We were really spoilt to enjoy a visit from Doreen and her daughter last year when we were back in New Zealand for a few weeks, during which time the above photo was taken. She was so thrilled to meet the two precious girls she had spent so much time praying for. She leaves a great hole, but a bigger legacy. A life fully lived. Nearer the end she was more than ready to go and meet her Creator, the greatest Lover of her life, so there with Him she now is.
Doreen, I have so many fond memories of you. I look forward to seeing you again one day and exchanging more stories and laughs together!
I was just talking to mum on skype, who was about to head out the door to Doreen's celebration of life, which my dad is officiating. She was looking for a couple of Doreen's poems to read during the service. After the call I went upstairs to look for my copy, and I'd like to share one with you by our dear friend...
My friends
My friends
are like
a packet of
sweets.
Some hard,
some soft
some inbetween
some, have been
just a taste
some last forever
Some thoughtful
and kind
suffering my funny ways
I love them all
and wonder sometimes,
what am I?
Hard, soft, longlasting
I wish I knew
Well, you were one of the most longlasting, colourful, sweetest of them all, Doreen!
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