Saturday 14 February 2009

SOCIAL: In Memoriam - A Favourite Aunt Says Goodbye

Audrey Joan Fouché
(04-02-1928 to 14-02-2009)

Some things are always constant. The sun rises in the morning. Spring follows winter. And, every year of my life, I received a birthday card from my favourite aunt.

This morning, just before eight o’clock, my Mom’s elder sister, my Aunty Joanie, passed away after a short illness bravely borne. She died as she lived, worrying about other people and not thinking of herself.

I could remember her for many things: her kindness, her dedication to her family and her faith, and her years of uncomplaining service to her Church's Women’s League. But it’s her laugh that I’ll never forget. Deep, rich and loud, you couldn’t help laughing along when Aunty Joan started roaring with laughter.

She is now with a host of angels and the God she worshipped her whole life. Her pain and suffering is over; she is healed and loved. How can we be sad for her? It’s our loss I mourn, because the world has suddenly shifted on its axis and everything that was constant is now out of joint.

Hamba kahle, Aunty Joan, go well with God. We love you.

"Death is not the extinguishing of the light...it is the putting out of the lamp because a new dawn has come." Rabindranath Tagore

11 comments:

Marty said...

Ann, this is a beautiful memorial to a loved child of God.

Nancy J. Parra said...

Ann, my condolences on your loss. Thank you for the beautiful words and sharing your aunt with us.

Ann Victor said...

Marty & Nancy, thanks for your kind words.

Annie Wicking said...

God bless her and you too.

Best wishes to you and your family.

septembermom said...

A beautiful post. What comforting memories your family will have of your aunt. I like your description of her wonderful laugh.

Lady Glamis said...

What lovely words for her! I feel your pain and wish you the best for you and your family.

Ann Victor said...

Annie, SeptemberMom and Lady Glamis - thanks for your kind words, they're much appreciated!

GutsyWriter said...

She has such an uplifting look on her face. You can tell she was a happy woman. Was she French? Sorry you lost such a sweet Aunt.

Ann Victor said...

Thanks Gusty Writer - she was a lovely lovely person. There was no close French blood that I know of -Irish Catholic, yes, but French no. :)

The Fouche was her married name, husband descended from the French Huguenots who came to South Africa in the late 1600's (and started our great Cape wine industry!)

Leonie said...

Here's a poem by Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918) that my Sis sent when D's Pop passed: hope you find it as comforting as we did:

"Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, were no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner,
ALL IS WELL."

Sending you and your family lots of hugs across the Atlantic...

Leonie

Ann Victor said...

Leonie, whew! That's a great poem. Will pass it on to my Mom & my uncle and cousins. Really beautiful - just loved this line :

"I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner..."

Brrr. Thanks for sharing!