Sending my love and condolences to the Hertzsprung family in the passing of Lois. She leaves a strong legacy from a faithful journey.

We never would have felt ready to say good-bye to someone as special as Lois. Wishing your family comfort and strength for the days and weeks ahead. We are deeply missed by her sunshine smiles and her warm greetings. The love between Ralph and Lois reflects so much of caring and support. Their actions quietly show us God's characters in them. My husband and I have meet Ralph and Lois in their later years at CCEFC. We will continue our prayers with her families.

Simon and Wendy

Mrs Lois Hertzsprung was methodical and well-organised in everything she did for the church. She and Rev Ralph Hertzsprung are the only mentors I had in my life. God bless you both.

Mrs Lois Hertzsprung was a dedicated and selfless deaconess of churches Rev Ralph Hertzsprung ministered in Maharashtra, India and in Canada over 35 years. Her life was an embodiment of serving, helping, caring and encouraging people dealing with myriad problems. Whether serving simple and uneducated villagers in Dhulia, and other hinterlands of Maharashtra, or urban believers in Bandra and Andheri in Bombay, Lois patiently heard problems of those in distress.

She started her missionary journey in 1960 with Rev Hertzsprung from the undeveloped and backward village of Dhulia. They started their work in an era when there were no appliances like air-conditioners, coolers, blenders, cooking gas, oven among others that made living comfortable as it is today in India.

Whether it was dealing with mosquitoes, serpents, unsafe drinking water or facing other hardships in villages, small towns like Nasik or a bustling metropolis like Bombay, Lois was always ready to adjust, manage and extend hospitality to all. She was an ideal wife of a pastor.

I have endearing memories of interacting and learning with the Hertzsprungs. Attending their worship services, Bible studies and Cottage prayer meetings in Bandra and in Andheri at the Open Bible Fellowship Church in 4 Bungalows from 1979 up to 1990 were a blessing to me.

The Hertzprungs left India with a rich legacy of discipleship, training, building countless number of men and women, besides their most significant work of building the OBF church building in 4 Bungalows, Andheri, under the matching grant model.

I extend my deepest condolences to the Rev and to Hertzsprung family.

RIP Lois Hertzsprung. May our Lord bless her soul.

Sudeep R P Sonawane.

My dearest Aunty Lois was instrumental in nurturing my young spirit in the Lord. I will always be indebted to her and uncle Ralph. I remember her steak and mash as if it were yesterday and her wonderful icecream (was so fascinated by the icecream maker she had in her freezer) back in the early 80s.

Our prayers are with uncle Ralph and hold the whole family in love.

Her life was a blessing to so many ... And imagine how many more they've touched through us.

This is indeed sad and shocking news for us as a family. We are deeply grieved to hear about it and our hearts reach out to Uncle Ralph and family. Our prayers and thoughts are wt you even as you grieve. May our good Lord comfort you and give you Shalom.

I personally, have wonderful and fond memories of Aunty Lois Hertzsprung- as far back as I can remember. I was only 7 years old then when Aunty Lois told us the story of the Caterpillar turning into a beautiful butterfly. She compared Caterpillar stage to me/I/myself stage, the cocoon stage to the transformation stage and the beautiful butterfly to a new person in Yeshua stage. At the end of the class, she asked - who wd liked to be a butterfly and I was the 1st to jump up and put my hand up! That day, Aunty Lois helped me accept Yeshua in my heart. There has been no turning back after this. Aunty Lois had guided me in my spiritual walk in my teenage years and early young adulthood. Not just me but many youth from OBF church also came to accept Yeshua as their Saviour through Aunty Lois. Some of my non Christian friends from surrounding locality who attended the Sunday school / Bible club at my place every Sunday at 4 pm are still Christian till date. Aunty Lois has a great many souls won to her name and great many rewards stacked up in heaven.

Other cherished and treasured memories are of the lovely memory verses she used to type carefully on her typewriter and the lovely stickers tat she wd bring to put on them from her trips to Canada. We were always encouraged to learn our memory verses. Many of which I still remember. Sword drill - a game for finding Bible verses- we played wt Aunty Lois regularly - this helped us to know the books of the Bible. Her felt back Bible story cutouts were always looked forward to.

Aunty Lois also encouraged me to start coin collection and stamp collection which I still have continued to do.

She was our gentle but firm, ever smiling, willing, spiritual Sunday School teacher. She was our gift from above - especially sent for us by God. Her contribution in our spiritual life is priceless. We are ever so grateful to God for this special life. We celebrate her beautiful life. I look forward to meet her - one day. Big hugs and enormous loves.

Dolly (Yangad) Salins

A lovely caring and cheerful Mrs. Hertzsprung, you were never too busy for me. Always encouraging you lived what you talked about.

My husband John and Lydia and Tina have vivid memories of your last visit to Bangalore.

We thank God for you and your love and what you taught us.

SO SORRY for your loss. Our TEAM prayer mtgs. will never be the same without dear Lois. She was the epitome of grace and kindness.

with love and sadness,

Kathy K

Lovingly caring for each and every one

Overseeing us as if , we, your own son!

Insightful and leading to deeper commitments

Sharing all you had, as one truly sent!

Thank you dear dear Sister Lois, for 'being there' for me each time I came to Mumbai as the first novice missionary of OBF. You lovingly cared for me and shared insights that encouraged me to press on. You prayed with me. You taught many of those in OBF then, through your example, more than anything else, what it is to be fully involved in missions.

We enjoyed the fruit of your labour of love - they prayed fervently, gave generously, and visited the field, and I think, you were behind the scenes, planting missions in many hearts! You lived 'grace' and you left us with grace, we long to meet again soon! But until then, my heart will go on singing, until then, with joy I'll carry on, until the day the day, my eyes behold our Saviour, until the day God calls me home (too)!

Hugs and lots of love,

Dinesh and Vickie Patel (nee williams)

My association with Hertzsprungs was toward the end of their ministry in Mumbai when I had joined Open Bible Fellowship as an assistant pastor in 1989. Rev. Hertzsprung was then the senior pastor. Sister Lois served alongside her husband. People were drawn to her because of her friendly and loving nature. She loved people and interacted with them in church, homes, functions etc. Her beautiful Christlike spirit came through wherever she was present. Hertzsprungs gave the best years of their life to India. Pray that God would give His strength and comfort to bro.Ralf.

Rev. Vidyasagar Gaikwad

I am the youngest of the 3 Vargheses siblings. The Hertzsprungs have deeply influenced our family's spiritual journey. They invested in many lives in Open Bible Fellowship by sowing seeds of God's Word. I speak on behalf of my father V. G. Varghese and his wife Elizabeth Varghese who are eternally grateful.

Aunty Lois, I remember the impact you made in children's lives through the Sunday School sessions which were so rich in quality and commitment. Especially remember the different innovative methods you used with simple materials that were at hand to ingrain eternal truths in our hearts. What came to my mind is how you taught us the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31.

Aunty, you encouraged us to nurture our talents and strengths and showed us how to handle our weaknesses.

Aunty Lois, as you have been promoted to His Glory, we look forward to see you soon in Heaven.

We wish to express our Sympathy to Ralph and the family. - Lois and Ralph were our neighbours when they lived in Calvanna Village in Arbour Lake - Lois was on the quiet side, so she left most of the talking to Ralph who got involved by joining the Condo Board .

Kind Regards, Edna & Gary Lowry

Calvanna Village

It is with sadness yet rejoicing that as Pastoral Staff and congregation of Calgary Chinese Evangelical Church that we recently learned of Lois's home going to be with her Lord.

It was my personal privilege as Pastor of the English Ministry to have dear Lois and her husband Reverend Ralph attend our Sunday Morning Worship Service the past couple of years. I found them always a source of great encouragement, blessing and support to the ministry and so enjoyed my visits with them.

I will remember Lois as the Proverbs 31 type of a Christian wife, mother and life-long companion of her husband and consistently modeling the virtue of "a quiet and meek spirit which is of great value in the eyes of the Lord" (1 Peter 3:4).

I rejoice Lois is finally with her Lord in heaven having heard His words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" and enjoying her eternal reward. She will be missed but we look forward renewed fellowship one future day.

Dearest Aunty, you will be so missed by Vijay and me. You were more than a mother to me. You loved me, taught me, encouraged me and helped along the way. You and uncle were our source of inspiration and strength. Tears well up even as write this. I am so glad I called uncle the night before and asked him to show you to me. I am glad that day I could say my last I LOVE YOU to you. You replied to every mail I wrote you,you remembered our wedding anniversary each year sending us greetings. Oh Aunty dear, you taught me how to be hospitable like you were, to be kind and generous, loving and caring and yes you taught me so many beautiful recipes. How can I forget that. I sure am going to miss you a great deal especially when I call Uncle. Thank you God for bringing such a beautiful lady into my life!!

In Memory of Auntie Lois

Eyes alit with joy and laughter,

Ever pointing me to Christ our Saviour,

Teacher, encourager, mentor, mother,

So much more than words can tell Auntie Lois you are to me

As a ten year old when sick and unwell

A letter Auntie wrote I remember so well,

The LORD loves you and you'll soon be well,

Praise the LORD! Psalm 103:1 was the words on a bookmark Auntie Lois gifted me then.

Auntie taught me to love GOD's Word,

Led me to write on my first Bible what she shared that D.L Moody had said

"This Book will keep you away from sin or sin will keep you away from this book".

Auntie Lois taught me to be a lover of the LORD and eager to read His Word.

Songs of the Saviour you loved to sing

And you taught me many a hymn

Your beautiful voice I will remember always,

Now singing praises in the presence of our Beloved King.

When my parents couldn't be there for my sister's wedding

Auntie Lois and Uncle Ralph were the ones who were there,

You lovingly hosted us in your home,

Made the wedding beautiful and memorable.

Thank you Auntie for the books and GOD's people you've taught me to love,

Thank you for investing in my life and being an example of Christ Jesus

You will ever be remembered dear auntie,

Looking forward to the day I will see you dear Auntie on that beautiful shore

- Accamma Varghese (OBF Church, Bombay India)

We as Anchan family had an opportunity to have a close fellowship with Hurtzsprungs. We have been greatly blessed by their life and ministry of the Word. We enjoyed the fellowship and the loving hospitality of Ralph and Lois. We are thankful to the Lord for Lois for her examplary life.

I remember Aunty Lois patiently teaching us in Sunday School. Her teaching and lovely smile and action pointed me to the Lord. I remember her teaching us the song Why worry when you can pray. Thank you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Uncle and the rest of the family - Susen (Varghese) and Tomcy Thomas