In Memoriam

#1 · January 2, 2008, 3:28 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on January 2, 2008, 3:28 pm
Posted by: hopechestnews <hopechestnews@...>
In Memoriam

Early this morning, my daughter Mary called with the distressing news that a very dear friend of mine, Shelley, died in a car accident last night. I am still in shock, and I know many of you who know and love her will be, too. I don't have the final funeral information yet (I think it is tentatively set for Friday afternoon at Northland), but you can e-mail me for more information. Shelley is survived by her husband and their four daughters, who are ages 9 to 20.

I met Shelley about 13 or 14 years ago at Northland Community Church when we were both rookie home school moms.  Gifted with organization and encouragement, she was one of our home school support group leaders for many years. We were involved in co-op classes together, as well as a Rubies and Roses mother-daughter club that we founded when our oldest daughters started middle school. Shelley and her husband were also active in pre-marital mentoring, and she took her younger daughters to minister at a nursing home each week. Whenever we had a baby, Shelley showed up with a hot meal. I have also really appreciated the little e-mail notes she has sent me every so often just to cheer me on.

A few memories of Shelley are especially vivid:

Many years ago, as I was talking to her on the phone, she sensed from my voice that something wasn't quite right. She showed up on my doorstep within an hour to pray for me personally. This was so typical of her. I can't count how many times Shelley has prayed with me and listened without lecturing. She was so real and authentic. I treasure the times we had talking with one another wherever we happened to be, though this didn't happen nearly as often as I would have liked, especially in more recent years.

Another time was almost exactly a year ago. Last January 4, Shelley and our mutual friend Cheryl and I met at Panera Bread for dinner, which was Shelley's treat to us. We so enjoyed catching up with one another after not seeing each other much for a long time, and our fellowship was both deep and sweet. I remember being so grateful for her then.

I bumped into her while shopping a couple of months ago.   I had several of my children with me, but we stopped to chat for a few minutes. As always, she was so sincere in her affirmation of our friendship, and of her love for my family, and even sent me an e-mail a few days later to let me know how much she had enjoyed seeing me. She was a true friend who will be forever remembered by my whole family.

I would like to encourage you to cherish your friendships while you can, and always be ready to minister one-on-one to others who might need a word of hope and prayer, as Shelley did for me.

~~~

I am not only grieving Shelley's death, but also that my 98 year old grandmother, Margaret Driggs, is dying in a hospice in Denver, Colorado. My parents flew out yesterday to be with her, since she probably will not live more than another week.  Our family drove up to Maryland two weeks ago to spend Christmas with my family and celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary.   (Our adult daughters Mary and Julia flew up.) Most of us left there last Thursday, but Mary postponed her return flight until this coming Saturday so she could stay and care for my other grandparents while my parents are gone. Please pray for our family during this very difficult time.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles
-- To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected] Visit my web site at www.VirginiaKnowles.com  

Posted by: hopechestnews <hopechestnews@...>

In Memoriam

Early this morning, my daughter Mary called with the distressing news that a very dear friend of mine, Shelley, died in a car accident last night. I am still in shock, and I know many of you who know and love her will be, too. I don't have the final funeral information yet (I think it is tentatively set for Friday afternoon at Northland), but you can e-mail me for more information. Shelley is survived by her husband and their four daughters, who are ages 9 to 20.

I met Shelley about 13 or 14 years ago at Northland Community Church when we were both rookie home school moms. Gifted with organization and encouragement, she was one of our home school support group leaders for many years. We were involved in co-op classes together, as well as a Rubies and Roses mother-daughter club that we founded when our oldest daughters started middle school. Shelley and her husband were also active in pre-marital mentoring, and she took her younger daughters to minister at a nursing home each week. Whenever we had a baby, Shelley showed up with a hot meal. I have also really appreciated the little e-mail notes she has sent me every so often just to cheer me on.

A few memories of Shelley are especially vivid:

Many years ago, as I was talking to her on the phone, she sensed from my voice that something wasn't quite right. She showed up on my doorstep within an hour to pray for me personally. This was so typical of her. I can't count how many times Shelley has prayed with me and listened without lecturing. She was so real and authentic. I treasure the times we had talking with one another wherever we happened to be, though this didn't happen nearly as often as I would have liked, especially in more recent years.

Another time was almost exactly a year ago. Last January 4, Shelley and our mutual friend Cheryl and I met at Panera Bread for dinner, which was Shelley's treat to us. We so enjoyed catching up with one another after not seeing each other much for a long time, and our fellowship was both deep and sweet. I remember being so grateful for her then.

I bumped into her while shopping a couple of months ago. I had several of my children with me, but we stopped to chat for a few minutes. As always, she was so sincere in her affirmation of our friendship, and of her love for my family, and even sent me an e-mail a few days later to let me know how much she had enjoyed seeing me. She was a true friend who will be forever remembered by my whole family.

I would like to encourage you to cherish your friendships while you can, and always be ready to minister one-on-one to others who might need a word of hope and prayer, as Shelley did for me.

~~~

I am not only grieving Shelley's death, but also that my 98 year old grandmother, Margaret Driggs, is dying in a hospice in Denver, Colorado. My parents flew out yesterday to be with her, since she probably will not live more than another week. Our family drove up to Maryland two weeks ago to spend Christmas with my family and celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary. (Our adult daughters Mary and Julia flew up.) Most of us left there last Thursday, but Mary postponed her return flight until this coming Saturday so she could stay and care for my other grandparents while my parents are gone. Please pray for our family during this very difficult time.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

-- To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected] Visit my web site at www.VirginiaKnowles.com