September 6th, 2006

-- Nathan's Words of Lynette's Passing --

Dear friends,

It is with deep sorrow and great joy that I write to you regarding the falling asleep of my beloved wife Lynette Katherine.  She passed quietly and peacefully from my arms to the arms of our Lord Jesus at 5:14 p.m. August 27.

Saturday and Sunday were beautiful days.  On Saturday she had increasing difficulty speaking and at times struggled to find a comfortable position to rest in.  We moved her frequently from side to side and from bed to recliner.  For much of the time she was only semi conscious.  Throughout the day people came to bid her farewell, some staying only a few minutes others sitting by the bed longer.  For each one she had a bright smile of recognition and often a few words though at times it was difficult to understand what she was trying to say.  The Archbishop came and sat with us for almost an hour as we sang hymns and shared remembrances about Lynette's life.  His visit was a true blessing to us.  Though we could rarely understand her sentences, we all had the sense that she was filled with peace and joy at her eminent home going.  At one point she said "death....... is so beautiful".  The words "wonderful", "beautiful" and "joy" often stood out from her garbled sentences.

Lynette settled down quietly to sleep on Saturday evening.  We passed a quiet night with me snuggled close beside her enjoying the beauty of her presence.  On Sunday morning she woke up, set herself up in bed and said she wanted to move to her recliner.  I settled her comfortably there and spent a blessed morning with her while others went to liturgy.  I read many e-mails of encouragement, that you had sent, aloud to her.  I also sat holding her hand and spoke quietly to her, telling her how much I loved her, what a joy she has been to me and how wonderfully she has enriched my life.  I asked her again to forgive me for all the ways in which I have failed her.  I ask her if she had heard our singing around her the night before.  She said yes and that she liked it very much.  I asked her if she could open her eyes and tell me that she loved me.  She said "no but I feel it".  Those were truly blessed hours with her, of tears, but also of great joy.

Just after noon three priests came to give her Holy Communion for the last time.  The afternoon was spent quietly with different friends and family members surrounding her, holding her hand and talking quietly to her.  About three o'clock we noticed that her breathing was becoming more labored and her pulse faint.  We realized that the end may be coming soon.  We called Fr. Pat, who had gone to rest for a few minutes, and other friends and family members.  We sat around Lynette's chair and sang and prayed and cried.  The atmosphere in the room was a strange mixture of great joy and deep sadness.  We were witnessing a home going, a birthday of the fulfillment of a life in Christ but we were also experiencing the pain of separation and loss.  Each of us kissed her and said goodbye, telling her how much we loved her.  Tristan and Katherine also came in to say goodbye to their mother.  When Katherine kissed her Lynette, she said some words which we could not understand but they were filled with recognition and love.

At about 4:30 p.m. her breathing became much more difficult, she was struggling for each breath.  Then gradually her breathing smoothed out and became slow and easy.  For about 15 minutes she lingered with us quietly and peacefully and then slipped away.  It was one of the most beautiful things I will ever see.  Father Pat started the Trisagion service for the departed with her last breath.