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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tribute To A Great Wife

It is becoming more common, when a loved one dies, for a member of the family to write something to be read at a memorial service. Recently, Andy Kelly, a loyal reader of the newspaper and loyal writer to the newspaper sent along a beautiful tribute he wrote about his wife Dorothy, who died in late August at age 75. Here’s an excerpt from his tribute:

“She never sought to be a leader, yet by example she was one; she was a great organizer. I imagine to today’s generation she would seem strange as she had a firm belief in modesty, chastity and faithfulness. She wouldn’t tolerate cursing, suggestive movies or infidelity. No, she didn’t wear her moral code on her sleeve; she quietly practiced it 24 hours of each day.

“She never complained when there were things we couldn’t afford. Though, at times, I felt like a failure, she always said it was no big deal and we’d get around to it later. She was a great mother, adored by her seven children, 12 grandchildren and her six great-grandchildren (and her husband) as she made every one feel special.

“No one is perfect and one of her few flaws was smoking, a habit begun as a teenager and continued for more than 30 years, that developed into a severe case of emphysema. When the doctor gave her two choices - smoking or breathing - she quit cold turkey.

“In the final years of her life she paid a high penalty for that smoking: Oxygen 24 hours a day, constant use of nebulizers, breathalyzers and 14 different types of medication several times a day.

“If anyone had the right to complain it was she, though she never did, even at the very end. Realizing she was dying, she did not want it to happen with any of her family present. She slept a lot and I knew she secretly wanted it to happen in her sleep and it almost did.

“She was a very devout Catholic who practiced her faith quietly, never using her illness….She was a lady and I thank the good Lord for sending her my way. The world is a better place because of her and so were we, her family.”

Cool picture: WSU’s women’s volleyball team posed for a great picture that adorns the team’s program and also is a poster. It shows the women, with looks of attitude, staring into the camera. The caption on the picture reads: “Hit Like A Girl…If You Can.”

Quote Time: “What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it. What another would have written as well as you do, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself - and thus make yourself indispensable.” Andre Gide.

, DataTimes