When I was very little – I remember going to your house to stay for “a while”as my siblings were born. I don’t know how much she loved having me, but I remember it fondly. She would always insist on me taking a nap. I was well past the age of taking a nap, or so I thought. But I do remember lying in that bed trying to be as quiet as possible. It was particularly difficult because my sister, Betty, was not helping at all. Auntie Testin came in numerous times and even lost her temper, I think. If that was possible. I also remember either my sister or, I on one occasion, wetting the bed – oh my gosh that was mortifying! I remember coming over to dinner and having the most wonderful cauliflower! It was covered in bread crumbs and absolutely to die for!
Most of all I remember my Godmother as a person of such great faith that even today at 55+ I think of her as a real role model. What a gift I had in my Godmother! She would take me to church on many Saturdays and we got to do something “special”. We would clean the church! We would dip candle holders into boiling water to melt off the wax and get them sparkling new for the next users. We would spend hours there straightening up and doing the work that was needed. We dusted pews, picked up papers, straighten missals and hymnals, and just generally spruced the place up. I felt so honored that I could actually touch something in such a holy place as a church. I looked up to her as though she were an angel right next to God. She was allowed to “touch” and let me help clean the stuff that that I was too young to even think about touching. Everything was “Holy” and I was right there with her. She made the building of the church very accessible to me, and I think that is a big part of who I am today. I love the smell of burning prayer candles! I was reminded of her as I knelt to pray in Medjugorje in fall in front of a thousand prayer candles.
I remember her singing so loudly and jubilantly as she buried her husband, Uncle Testin. I was already a grown woman at this point. I will never forget the power of her presence at that funeral. “That woman believes!” I remember thinking. How can someone be so faith filled? How can someone be so selfless? She was rejoicing at her spouse going to God.
I think that many of us fall prey to self pity at the loss of a loved one – and that is justified. But to rejoice in the passing of a loved one is a true sign of belief in Heaven! Mary Testin died at the same time as my father-in-law Lou Kihneman. I hope she introduces herself to him, Lou Kihneman, and to my daughter, Cherie Kihneman Jones, and to my mother-in-law, Bea Kihneman.
I could say so much more, but I will leave it at this. I just want you and your family to know what a true gift she was to me, and how happy I am that I have another “angel” in heaven to look after me.
Best wishes to all of you! Hilda Grill Kihneman
