I heard about dear Debbie’s passing last night when I ran into Debbie and Paul Simpson in Fredericksburg. Debbie led St. Mary’s of the Annunciation into its new life. We remember when we were in two locations, the Social Hall and the Woodford Chapel. Fr. Kauffmann came in with all his spirited charisma to join us as One as we all worked hard in fundraising and tithing (unheard of with Catholics) to build our beautiful church in Ladysmith. And Debbie was right there beside him to lead us with song, our own St. Cecilia. Remember that pick up truck with Father’s mother seated on a chair right in the cargo bed because all we had is some cleared out dirt path through the woods to get up the hill to where the church was going to be built? Debbie was there, as always, to lead us in singing. That day the children were given small golden trowels to dig into the soil at which the Baptismal font was going to be. The soil was flying everywhere, some whispers from parents of ‘be careful’ and Debbie organized those little Lambs into singing of the Joy we would have in our new church. and the Easter Vigils? The Darkness at the Fire to light the Paschal candle. And Father and Debbie walked with us chanting ‘Lumen Christi’ and ‘Deo gratias’ into the darkened church. .Think of the suspense we had in that Darkness and then again, the Joy when we lit the flame of the other’s candle taper right before the Exsultet. We heard Father Kauffmann intone Gloria in excelsis Deo and joined in, but the return of the Gloria was marked not only by the candles but by sound – music and bells. That’s what we’re recalling when we think of Debbie sharing her gift of music with us. Peace Be With You Bob, Stacy, Robbie and Family, from Sue, Rachel and Bekah

E hui hou ana kāua e ke kaikuahine aloha.