Father Kleppner - February 11, 2007
I received the following letter from
Linda Biskup, one of our parishioners, who wrote this letter prior to her death on Saturday, February 3, 2007, in the Medical Center. She
asked that this letter be given to me after her
death. Sometimes we are unaware of how we
affect one another and what good we can do for
one another. Linda lived her life as a grateful,
loving, hopeful, and happy person. She died
after a long battle with cancer. Every time I
brought her communion, I never heard a word of
complaint and when I gave her the Church’s last
rites on Friday, February 2, 2007, at the Medical
Center, she smiled as I commended her soul to
Almighty God. She embraced death with hope
and joy. I thought her letter might make all of us
a little more aware of how important our love,
support, and care for one another is, especially
as we seek renewal of mind and heart this
coming Season of Lent.
To Father Kleppner and My Fellow Parishioners,
Thank you to Father Kleppner and my fellow
parishioners who were so gracious and loving in all
aspects of our faith and for being who you are in
living your beliefs. The beauty of your caring,
sharing, time, efforts of love, and generosity are so
engraved in my heart. I love you all so much. I
have always told everyone I met in my journey that
the only reason for my existence was due to the
devoted prayers and love of so many. Thank you,
thank you. Now I can truly go in peace. My heart
and prayers will be with you always. Please accept
this monetary gift for the Parish Share in memory of
our love for the Lord and His Son, Jesus Christ, and
our most, dear, sweet Mother, Our Lady.
Dear Patti Bedekovich and John Schreiber,
I would have never made it without your weekly
visits, prayer, and communion. It meant so very
much to my peace and focus of love for God, His
Son, our dear Lady, and the Holy Spirit. God bless
you and protect you and yours. I love you.
Dear Care & Concern,
I can’t thank you enough for all of your help, aid, and
the generous people behind the invention of this
group of loving human beings of all ages. How
beautiful you are, and kind. Thank you for all your
help. I love you all.
To the Food Bank, Giving Tree, and the St. Vincent
DePaul Society,
I would have probably not survived so long if you did
not exist. Living expenses were very cumbersome
at times and you surely helped to lighten the load
with your generosity and love. I can’t tell you how
much it means to me - your kindness and caring of
my situation and most of all how you all were so
loving and concerned. Thank you also for the many
deliveries when I couldn’t get out.
To all of my fellow parishioners,
Thank you with all of my heart for those wonderful
prayers! Wow, I can’t even paint a portrait of the
love and healing spirits that I received through all of
you. You are all so very special and more powerful
than any medications or therapy that I had. The
bottom line of my survival is your prayers. Nothing
else mattered. I would eagerly await your prayers.
And, I was just as eager to commit to my daily
prayer for all of you, since we must give to get.
Thank you and I love you all.
Thank you God for blessing my life with these gifts
of love and prayer. Please protect all of my friends
with your shield and love.
The countless prayers and unconditional love is so
powerful it has forced me to be humble and gave me
the courage to fight as long as I could. It was not
just about me. I had to fight and push so hard
sometimes for the beautiful gift of love and support
from all of you. I love you all so very much and will
have my arms, my prayers, and my heart around
you forever. I will never stop praying for you.
I know you had to listen to me and see my pain so
many times and I am sorry for putting you through
this but you were there for me. You listened and
loved me when I found it so hard to love myself.
You are all such precious gifts of love to me. Thank
you.
I, in turn, will be listening to your hearts and troubles
as I always tried to do. I promise that you can still
talk to me. I will do anything I can, from wherever I
go, to help you through your tough times. Just hear
me say “You can do It!” God will help you through
anything and don’t forget to pray every day and
especially at Mass. I will always be by your side, as
close as God lets me get.
Yours truly,
Linda Biskup
We live by hope.
We do not always get what we want,
when we want it,
but we have to believe that
someday, somehow, someway,
it will be better
and we can make it to the place
where there is no more pain,
suffering or sorrow,
only eternal peace and happiness.
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