A Light in the World

My friend, Kathy Godshalk, died last week. I’ve known Kathy and her husband Ron since when we all worked together at Hughes Aircraft in the early eighties. On September 30^th, 2012, she succumbed to her 17-month battle with cancer. Kathy was an amazing woman who generously shared her talents, her love, and the light of her faith with everyone in the world around her. I feel a profound sense of loss with the news of her passing.  I will miss her smile, her hugs, her laugh, and the depth of her love; a love she shared with everyone… a love you were richer to have experienced.

Pastor Bob Mooney, a man of great faith, and even greater sensitivity, was with Kathy and her family at her last moments here on Earth. He has graciously permitted me to publish his thoughts of those few moments here:

“Yesterday afternoon the family and friends gathered around the bedside of Kathy Godshalk in ICU. Kathy is in her early 50's, married to Ron for 29 years, two great kids and a wonderful daughter in law. Kathy is a college math teacher and perhaps the sweetest kindest person I have ever met. My daughter described her this way, "Dad there is Mother Teresa, and just above her there is Kathy." We listened to the doctor compassionately tell us it was time to take her off the ventilator, stop the dialysis, and prepare to say our final goodbyes. He said he did not know how long she would continue to breathe on her own after that. We joined our hands and through the tears thanked God for Kathy's life, we prayed for her family, and that she would peacefully step into the loving embrace of her Lord, waiting on the other side to make her whole again, waiting to greet her with the words "well done, my good and faithful servant!”  Just As we ended the prayer and said amen, before anything had been disconnected, Kathy peacefully took her last breath and gently slipped into the loving embrace of her Lord. A beautiful life by our understanding taken from us way to soon. A woman of faith whose life we celebrate. In Africa they love to say, "God is good all time, all the time God is good". So today through our pain and sadness, through all the things we don't understand, through our anger and disappointment of a life taken to soon, we lean on and trust in a God of faithfulness, a God bigger than our questions, bigger than our anger, bigger than death, a God who walked with Kathy through all of her joys and sorrows in this life and who is embracing Kathy now in heaven, the God who has made her whole, and who promises to walk through this "valley of the shadow of death" with her husband Ron, her children Ryan and Kara, her parents , her brother, and all her family and her friends. Please continue to hold Ron, Ryan, Kara, and their family in your prayers.”

You can read more of Kathy’s background, and what her colleagues at Cypress College had to say about her at:

http://news.cypresscollege.edu/blog/201210.htm#KathyGodshalk

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR KATHY GODSHALK

 

Saturday, October 13^th, 2012
Messiah Lutheran Church, 4861 Liverpool St, Yorba Linda, CA

 

Viewing: 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Memorial Service: 11:00 am
Reception: Following the service
Interment: 4:00 pm (family and close friends only, please) Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina Hills

 

Kathy is gone, and the world has lost a single light. But Kathy’s light shone so brightly, and with such love, that it has sparked innumerable new lights as she quietly changed the world, the people, and the hearts around her. My sister in Christ has left the world a more caring, a more loving, and a much brighter place. I celebrate your life, Kathy!

Your Brother In Christ,

Dave