Sunday, October 12, 2008
Jennie was a wonderful, eccentric and devout lady, who I was happy to call a mentor and friend. When I was 13 or so I had her as a CCD teacher at St. Thomas and, sorry to say, I gave her a very hard time. I remember her exploding and sending me out of the class. But she didnâ??t give up on me. Throughout my teen years she would occasionally run up to me after mass and give me something: books, a horn ornament, a metal, etc. I kindly accepted the gifts, but didnâ??t think much of them, but wondered why this lady was so kind to somebody who was so awful to her. Years later I went through a deep conversion to the Catholic faith, and was heavily involved in ministry and missionary work. I looked one day in the books that she had given meâ??I had never done so before. Inside of each of them were prayer cards for missionaries, evangelists, etc. Somehow, years before, when I was steeped in the troubles of my teen years, Jenny saw something in me, and she prayed for me. She had hope for me. This last Christmas I had the opportunity to thank her, for the first time, for the profound affect she had on my conversion. I was giving my conversion story at the Parish during the Advent Mission and I asked her to come. She did. She wasnâ??t a person seemed to like flattery or being fussed over, but I know that she appreciated it. When I found out that she was in a nursing home, I went to visit her a couple times in the last 6-8 weeks. We had good long conversations. I found out today at Mass, when I was the Lector, that she had passed away. I thought it was a very interesting way for me to find outâ?¦ when reading the prayers of the faithful, I was suddenly praying for the soul of somebody who I didnâ??t know had died, and yet somebody who had such a profound affect on my life. I went straight to the nursing home to find out when she died and when the funeral was, but they didnâ??t know. Then I looked it up on the computer and found out that it was a private service. I would have loved to say goodbye to her at the funeral, and I would have loved to convey to her family and friends what a wonderful example she was in my life. Since I wasnâ??t able to go to the funeral, I would love to say goodbye to her at her burial site. If somebody would call me and let me know, that would be great. Thank you, and God bless you. â?? Justin Nickelsen, 360.907.9648
