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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dear Helen,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I am go glad to sing your praises, maybe
the Queen of the cemetery house in DC. I remember you as a leader in corporateness,
in playing the necessary role, in living your life. When we were all dragging,
you and Bill were cheering us on. What a couple.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>We love you. Journey on in gracious peace.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>John<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>And your “kids” are chips off
the off block of what you (and Bill) are made of, and I’m sure the
grandkids are too.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:dialogue-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Carol Crow<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, February 03, 2013
10:43 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Colleague Dialogue; Order
Ecumenical Community<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Dialogue] Helen Newkirk</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I have been asked by Patricia to forward this letter from her sister,
Linda Knutsen. Helen lives with Linda and Lester in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State>, (DC area) and is nearing the end
of her life. They would love to hear stories from any of you who have
lived with Helen and Bill - please send them to <a
href="mailto:ljknutsen@gmail.com">ljknutsen@gmail.com</a>. The family
will read them to Helen and share with each other. Patricia leaves this
afternoon to share these last days with the family. By evening Lisa will
also have arrived. Dave and girls are already there and Jim will not be
able to come from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Serbia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
but was here last summer. Other extended family are there and arriving.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Attached is a letter Linda sent out earlier this week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt' type=cite>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Subject: </span></font></b><b><font
size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
font-weight:bold'>Update on Mom/Helen - Feb 1, 2013</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Reply-To: </span></font></b><font
size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica'><a
href="mailto:ljknutsen@gmail.com">ljknutsen@gmail.com</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hello everyone,<br>
<br>
I am sorry that I haven't kept you all in the loop more frequently on how Mom
is doing...it has been a good, but challenging month.<br>
<br>
As anticipated, Hospice has been just simply wonderful, and has made this last
few weeks so much more manageable than I could have imagined. While Mom
continued for most of January to make her way, usually on her own, out into the
living room into her recliner to watch her favorite shows, record her life
stories, read, or just hang out, her strength steadily declined. Thankfully, we
have gotten her pain well under control, and she claims to have little to none.
Starting last Saturday for 4 nights she 'traveled' all night long, talking
constantly for most of 7 hours (!) with family members and some strangers in
all corners of the globe. These episodes were mostly typical, illogical dreams
with memories woven in, and were often quite funny! I have many quotes from
those nights that I have shared with my siblings, and we have laughed and
laughed! My favorites are:<br>
<br>
<span class=apple-tab-span> </span>"Oh,
this is just terrible...my tacos are FREEZING!" ...and...<br>
<span class=apple-tab-span> </span>"LINDA,
JUST TELL ME WHAT THE PLAN IS!" (yes, very loudly!)<br>
<br>
We have lots of family help here now to be with her. She has slept well for the
past two nights with little dream-talking, and her spirits are excellent. Her
humor and her intellect are most definitely intact! But she can no longer bear
any weight, and sleeps most of the time. She slept nearly 15 hours yesterday
after her 4 days of 'traveling' and even then was still quite tired. But today
she was quite responsive and interactive, though for very short periods between
naps.<br>
<br>
She is ready to 'go home' and quite at peace with the most **amazing** life she
has had, and she has SO enjoyed hearing from all of you, her ***MOST*** amazing
hoard of much-loved, far-flung, wild and wonderful friends and family.<br>
<br>
Many of these I mention are gathering here as I type to wish her yet another
blessed journey, and she will definitely be thinking of all of you, near and
far. (As I write this I realize that neither she nor I have checked her email
for maybe a week or more, so I will do that now and share with her all your
loving communications.)<br>
<br>
Love and peace,<br>
Linda<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Thank you for sharing in this special time in the Newkirk family.In
caring community,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Carol Crow<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Patricia's Housemate in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bothell</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">WA</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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