Stories-Eulogies
Katie Kuiper
March 1, 1988
Who Was She...
A CHILD…
"AMAZING
GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME? I ONCE WAS
LOST, BUT NOW AM FOUND, WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE."
Youngest
of 11 children--last to pass away. Lost her mom when she was
11, her dad when she was 13.
Had to
beg quarters from her brothers and sisters to be able to eat
until she obtained a domestic position.
Lived at
YWCA--the girls from the YWCA remained in touch with her until
their deaths. I think 4 are still alive.
Belonged
to First Christian Reformed Church in New Jersey and sang in
choir as early as 1919. Never questioned her circumstances--just
lived them. Wasn't angry about it or bitter.
A WIFE
AND MOTHER
"’TWAS
GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FEAR AND GRACE MY FEARS RELIEVED;
HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE APPEAR THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED."
According
to her she was lucky enough to have loved Arnold Kuiper and
marry him; buy a "mom and pop" grocery store to earn a living.
Carried out most of her husband's wishes without question. Kept
the store running.
Managed
the children. Stood by them in troubled times. Encouraged them.
Brought them up during the depression.
Lived through
two world wars.
She always
said she was luckiest, just so lucky to have such good kids
who loved her for just being mom as she loved them for just
being them.
MATRIARCH AND CHRISTIAN
"THROUGH
MANY DANGERS, TOILS AND SNARES, I HAVE ALREADY COME; 'TIS GRACE
THAT BROUGHT ME SAFE THUS FAR AND GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME."
-
13 grandchildren
-
14 great-grandchildren
-
1 great-great grandchild
She was the
one person who held it all together for everyone and put meaning
to the point of our helter-skelter lives. I don't think any of her
family will ever be able to eat a chocolate chip cookie again for
the rest of their lives and not think of her. Even her cookies were
that special.
"It was when
you were almost too big to sit in her lap that you began to learn
that she was a very special person to talk to. Sometimes, she would
give you the right answers without ever saying a word. She had a
way of JUST listening...How did that little girl grow up to be so
smart? Having gray hairs? Being a mother? Being a grandmother?"
A CHRISTIAN
When she was
hospitalized for hypothermia as a resulting from 17 hours of exposure
trapped in the bathtub [she was 87 and couldn't get back out], the
doctor remarked that she was a strong woman. I said, "No, she just
had a lot of faith and trust"
After all, she
trusted the Lord and if physically possible attended worship services
faithfully. She also trusted the Lord to let her family come to
Him without her verbal influence. One of her greatest wishes was
that all her children and grandchildren could experience His peace
through acceptance that brought her through her lifetime.
And therefore,
she fulfilled one of her life's ambitions: To be a good example
to her children, grandchildren and their families!!!!
"WHEN WE'VE
BEEN THERE TEN THOUSAND YEARS, BRIGHT SHINING AS THE SUN, WE'VE
NO LESS DAYS TO SING GOD'S PRAISE, THAN WHEN WE'D FIRST BEGUN."
So, it has come
to me [Pastor Newman] that she left a request of her children:
"All I ever
cared about was that my kids love one another after I was gone
and still see each other.
"Do
the best you can--what comes, comes. Live and let live."
She also left
a request of her grandchildren:
"Do what
you think is best and right."
Take care
of yourself. Take care of your health and if you work, do your
best."
Learn so
you can have a good life. Most of all, honor your father and
mother."
In return for
her request, she left a "Next-to-Last" Last Will and Testament which
reads:
"I give LOVE (a full life-time
of it--love that you
give generously and YOU earn
full measure of, in
return)."
"I give HAPPY MEMORIES (I loved
to collect them)."
"I give GOOD LUCK."
"And a LONG LIFE and AN APPRECIATION
for it (even
as I have found it ever so wonderful)--"
"(And may you remember me well...)",
-Katie Kuiper
Looking back:
-
A Child...
-
A Wife...
-
A Mother...
-
A Matriarch...
-
A Christian…
She was more
than any of these things--she was FAITH and LOVE.
The family would
like to express their appreciation to all of those people who exhibited
continual kindnesses to Katie, i.e., the German's for being such
good friends and neighbors these past 30 or 40 years; the Palmers
for their kindness in taking her to church; Robert Shockley, McDonald's...all
of you who helped her in any way, may God Bless you in his infinite
care for your thoughtfulness and caring.
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