From Carl and Cathy
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:40 am
To our dear Cub family,
Cathy and I don't know how to thank everyone for the kind words and prayers. It's been a great comfort to receive such an outpouring of support for my family as we deal with our loss. We are fortunate to be blessed with a loving family, wonderful friends and neighbors and co-workers, and the testimony of strangers whose lives were touched by our daughter.
Krystal helped so many people and changed their lives for the better. She was forever giving and always resourceful. They shared stories of how she found them jobs, cared for their sick children, made Christmas for the impoverished. As their own children grew, Krystal and her family took in two more that needed a family to call their own. Krystal was an EMT, she and her husband volunteered to serve the local fire department. She volunteered in their schools and was active in their church. As life supplied lemons, she taught those around her to make lemonade. Forever giving.
My brother's wife wrote the following note to Cathy to express words that could not be easily spoken:
I felt so numb at the news of Krystal’s untimely death. When I was
with you and you were so brave Tuesday I just couldn’t get a grip
on what had happened. I am still bewildered by this and have
difficulty grasping the full impact of this so tragic and so
unexpected an event.
I was alone doing my laundry Wednesday and thought about her
continuously. Memories flooded into my brain and I have come to
conclusions that actually surprised me. I feel I must make these
revelations to you.
Remember when we all were so proud of Krystal graduating from
High School and winning that MOST HOURS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE AWARD. She loved what she was doing and did far more
than the basic requirement for Community Service to get her
diploma. We all thought that she would go on to become a Nurse
and that she would continue her life of service to others while
attaining a measure of respect and income security. But Krystal
chose another way. Not the way that you or I would have gone.
She did not choose the path to financial security. And though she
was not wealthy she willingly shared her services to her church,
Fire Department, schools and to her neighbors and their children.
She loved the fellowship of others and seemed always to be in the
center of activity. She not only shared her services to her
community but so many times opened her home to those in need
and shared everything she had with them. She moved to many
communities in her 29 years. Each time she joined the church
immediately. She became an instant force wherever she landed.
She was not a person who sought power, but she was always a
positive influence. Her feet were not very big but the footprint she
left on this earth was enormous.
Jesus said “Let the little children come unto me.†In this she
followed his example. She had 7 children in her home when she left
this world. She wasn’t easy on them, that would have created
chaos. She gave them love as their security. She gave them
discipline to let them know that there were expectations of them.
In turn they each and every one loved her more than words can
say. Hers was an unconventional family, but it worked!
Jesus did not ride in a chariot, but was welcomed by many
wherever he went. So also was Krystal.
Jesus did not seek financial security but gave his love to the world
in a way that we will never forget. This too is true of Krystal.
Jesus did not seek power, but has continued to be a powerful
influence on the world for over 2000 years. I dare say that not
many of us will be remembered in even 100 years. Most of our
influence on the community will be too insignificant to be even
noticed in 100 years. But if anyone I know of has a chance of
making a difference that significant it would have to be Krystal.
The communities she has served and the neighbors and friends
she has helped have to be better people because of their association
with her. The selfless example she has set for the children in her
care has got to have a ripple effect that will be felt for many years.
This will be her legacy to generations to come.
I share these thoughts with you with love and offer my deepest
sympathy on your enormous loss. This too is our loss.
This is the loss we grieve.
Cathy and I don't know how to thank everyone for the kind words and prayers. It's been a great comfort to receive such an outpouring of support for my family as we deal with our loss. We are fortunate to be blessed with a loving family, wonderful friends and neighbors and co-workers, and the testimony of strangers whose lives were touched by our daughter.
Krystal helped so many people and changed their lives for the better. She was forever giving and always resourceful. They shared stories of how she found them jobs, cared for their sick children, made Christmas for the impoverished. As their own children grew, Krystal and her family took in two more that needed a family to call their own. Krystal was an EMT, she and her husband volunteered to serve the local fire department. She volunteered in their schools and was active in their church. As life supplied lemons, she taught those around her to make lemonade. Forever giving.
My brother's wife wrote the following note to Cathy to express words that could not be easily spoken:
I felt so numb at the news of Krystal’s untimely death. When I was
with you and you were so brave Tuesday I just couldn’t get a grip
on what had happened. I am still bewildered by this and have
difficulty grasping the full impact of this so tragic and so
unexpected an event.
I was alone doing my laundry Wednesday and thought about her
continuously. Memories flooded into my brain and I have come to
conclusions that actually surprised me. I feel I must make these
revelations to you.
Remember when we all were so proud of Krystal graduating from
High School and winning that MOST HOURS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE AWARD. She loved what she was doing and did far more
than the basic requirement for Community Service to get her
diploma. We all thought that she would go on to become a Nurse
and that she would continue her life of service to others while
attaining a measure of respect and income security. But Krystal
chose another way. Not the way that you or I would have gone.
She did not choose the path to financial security. And though she
was not wealthy she willingly shared her services to her church,
Fire Department, schools and to her neighbors and their children.
She loved the fellowship of others and seemed always to be in the
center of activity. She not only shared her services to her
community but so many times opened her home to those in need
and shared everything she had with them. She moved to many
communities in her 29 years. Each time she joined the church
immediately. She became an instant force wherever she landed.
She was not a person who sought power, but she was always a
positive influence. Her feet were not very big but the footprint she
left on this earth was enormous.
Jesus said “Let the little children come unto me.†In this she
followed his example. She had 7 children in her home when she left
this world. She wasn’t easy on them, that would have created
chaos. She gave them love as their security. She gave them
discipline to let them know that there were expectations of them.
In turn they each and every one loved her more than words can
say. Hers was an unconventional family, but it worked!
Jesus did not ride in a chariot, but was welcomed by many
wherever he went. So also was Krystal.
Jesus did not seek financial security but gave his love to the world
in a way that we will never forget. This too is true of Krystal.
Jesus did not seek power, but has continued to be a powerful
influence on the world for over 2000 years. I dare say that not
many of us will be remembered in even 100 years. Most of our
influence on the community will be too insignificant to be even
noticed in 100 years. But if anyone I know of has a chance of
making a difference that significant it would have to be Krystal.
The communities she has served and the neighbors and friends
she has helped have to be better people because of their association
with her. The selfless example she has set for the children in her
care has got to have a ripple effect that will be felt for many years.
This will be her legacy to generations to come.
I share these thoughts with you with love and offer my deepest
sympathy on your enormous loss. This too is our loss.
This is the loss we grieve.