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Psalm 23
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Kathryn Louise Smith
July 27, 1932 - August 16, 2004
I'm Pegi, one of Kitty's many siblings. I was asked to share some thoughts about Kitty on behalf of this extended family.
It is so difficult to do this, not because we couldn't think of something to say, but because there is so much to say. How do you encapsulate into a few minutes all there is to say about this person who is so dear?
Kitty's life can be described differently by each of us. Like a finely cut gem, she had many facets. The sparkle each of us saw depended on how the light was being filtered through our own precious relationships with her. She was a daughter, a sister, a sister-in-law, a lover, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a student, a volunteer, a violet grower, a philosopher, a hostess, a singer, a patient, a counselor, an optimist, a hero, a poet, and a blessing.
These are the attributes that consistently surface whenever we talk about Kitty, but especially over the last several weeks.
As I pondered what to share with all of you this evening, one thing kept running through my head - like a broken record. I think perhaps Kitty planted it there. What I cannot stop thinking about is a song from the Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof. The name of the song is To Life. It is a toast really, derived from a single Hebrew word, "L'Chaim", which means "to life".
It is not a prayer, nor is it a wish for a happy life. L'Chaim means that no matter what difficulty life brings, no matter how hard or painful, or unfair life is, life is holy and worthy of celebration. Tonight we are here to remember and celebrate Kitty's life.
The song goes on to say:
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Kathryn Louise Smith
July 27, 1932 - August 16, 2004
Tribute
By Pegi Quinn, her youngest sisterI'm Pegi, one of Kitty's many siblings. I was asked to share some thoughts about Kitty on behalf of this extended family.
It is so difficult to do this, not because we couldn't think of something to say, but because there is so much to say. How do you encapsulate into a few minutes all there is to say about this person who is so dear?
Kitty's life can be described differently by each of us. Like a finely cut gem, she had many facets. The sparkle each of us saw depended on how the light was being filtered through our own precious relationships with her. She was a daughter, a sister, a sister-in-law, a lover, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a student, a volunteer, a violet grower, a philosopher, a hostess, a singer, a patient, a counselor, an optimist, a hero, a poet, and a blessing.
These are the attributes that consistently surface whenever we talk about Kitty, but especially over the last several weeks.
As I pondered what to share with all of you this evening, one thing kept running through my head - like a broken record. I think perhaps Kitty planted it there. What I cannot stop thinking about is a song from the Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof. The name of the song is To Life. It is a toast really, derived from a single Hebrew word, "L'Chaim", which means "to life".
It is not a prayer, nor is it a wish for a happy life. L'Chaim means that no matter what difficulty life brings, no matter how hard or painful, or unfair life is, life is holy and worthy of celebration. Tonight we are here to remember and celebrate Kitty's life.
The song goes on to say:
"Life has a way of confusing us Blessing and bruising us God would like us to be joyful, even when our hearts lie panting on the floor . . ."Who better than Kitty understands how life is a mixture of joy and of pain? Kitty, the eternal optimist, knew about appreciating the joy and lived by believing in the future. Even at a very young age, when she wrote the poem I am about to read, she knew that life is continually renewed, life comes again.
Our TreeKitty graciously received blessings and lovingly gave blessings. Words from the ending verses of the song that keeps rattling around in my head seem to be the blessing that Kitty would give to each of us:
The big old tree
Standing in our yard
Is getting rather old
And, doubtless, rather tired.
For a hundred years or more
She's been standing over there
She's getting grey and wrinkled
And is losing all her hair.
Her hair was sparkling green
Till October turned it gold
Then November took it off
And made her look so old.
November isn't sweet to her
Like July and June and May
No birds light there now
And cuddle all the day.
I really think she's jealous
Of the power of the cold
To drive her friends away
And make her look so old.
But she shouldn't worry so
She'll be green and gay again
She'll wear her bright new leaves
And look to be but ten!
"May you live to see a thousand reasons to rejoice . . .
To us and our good fortune
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if good fortune never comes
Here's to whatever comes
L'Chaim! To life!"
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