2008 was a hard time for my mother. Her Angina that she has had for more then 15 years, started to act up, and at times, even a walk to the bathroom would bring on an attack.
About April she had gotten to the point were she didn't want to sleep upstairs alone, so I came to sleep in the room across the hall from her. At that time she was still going to the bathroom on her own during the night. but about the beginning of June I needed to be there to help her, as those walks would cause her pain after she got back to bed.
June 11 she had a particularly bad night, before midnight she needed to go to the bathroom, and called me for help because she said she couldn't reach the floor to get out of bed. Then we put her in her recliner, and by 2 am I hearing something, and she had gone to the bathroom and then she fell there, so I had to get Hector to help me get her up. Nothing seemed to be hurt, but after that she was having a lot of angina pain, and just wouldn't go back to sleep. Then she kept talking to me from in her chair, and once I heard her up again, and went to see where she was going, and she said she wanted to go down where the boys were, (I think she was thinking about her childhood home, because when I got her settled and I got back to bed she asked if I had water up here, and the farm house has no bathroom or water upstairs). Finally after all that fussing around, at 3 am I told her it was only 3am, and that there was no one doing anything anywhere everyone was still asleep and she needed to sleep till about 6 am, but I don't think she did, she just didn't want to settle down in that room. (When Hector got up at 4am to get ready to leave for Vancouver to pick up Mai), I gave up on sleeping and came to the kitchen, when he left I went back and checked on her and there she was getting herself dressed, so I helped her get dressed and brought her out to the living room, I figured if she sat there, maybe she would be content. So then I may have slept for 2 hrs after that.
The next few nights were better, but still many times up during the night. Then I took her to the DR, and he put in a request for home support. On June 17 a nurse came, to bandage a sore we couldn't get healed up, and the 18th, a therapist came, and I also took mom to the Dr, at which time he prescribed an anti-biotic for the cold she had, as well as another sleeping pill, to hopefully keep her in bed more during the night. We gave her the new sleeping pill, but within an hour she was up again, and and I helped her back into bed, and she just wasn't settling down, and the cough, that she had, turned into something more like trying to clear her throat, or a gurgle, instead of a cough that would loosen and bring up mucus from the cold. Just listening to all of that, I couldn't sleep, I was up every few minutes, every time she started the cough.
About Midnight I called Hector to come listen to this, and then we tried to determine if we should call 911, or not, as the Dr, just had her sign a form saying she didn't want to be hooked up life prolonging machines, so we read the fine print, and decided that this was a breathing problem, not a heart problem, and so we called. They had her on the way by 1 am, and Mai and I followed in the car, we told them we had come because of Delphi, and they told us to sit in the waiting room, we sat there about 45 min waiting finally I went again, and they let me go where she was. She was sleeping, they had her on oxygen, and her breathing was much better, and the cough seemed to be under control. So I talked to a nurse, who said they were going to give her a chest x-ray, and do some lab work, and that would take more then an hour, and seeing I hadn't slept properly for at least 2 weeks, I decided she was being taken care of, and I had to go home and sleep.
Thursday morning, I talked to a nurse, and the heart specialist, and he said she had had a slight heart attack in the last little while, and that she had pneumonia and was having congenital heart failure when she arrived. He said they would do what they could with medication, and see if they can keep her comfortable until the boys could get home, but there was no promise that she would make it through Thursday. I was with her most of Thursday, she was sleeping, until late afternoon when they took her to a room, at that time she woke, up and was confused, and wanted to remove the oxygen mask, until finally they had to sedate her to keep the mask on.
Royce left Vancouver after a meeting that evening, and got here by 4am Friday June 20. In the morning when we went to see her we were surprised how well she was doing. Royce stayed with her a good share of Friday, and then about 4 he and Mai left for Spokane to pick up Ron and Tiffany, as they arrived there at 10 pm. They all got back here 4 am Sabbath morning, (and Mai had the SS to do for me, we had pre-arranged that several months before.)
Sabbath was a nice day, I, Ron, Tiffany, Hector's brother Soljer and wife Nadira, and daughter Elisa, spent the morning with mom/grandma, and then after lunch mom's brother and wife went to be with her, and later about 7 of us went, and the nurse had her in a chair, and took all the equipment with her into the sun room, and we spent a couple hours with her, she was doing pretty good and truly enjoyed her visitors. The boys had their computers with them, and showed her pictures, and when we asked her if she was tired and wanted to go to her room, she said "No".
Sunday June 22, I went to visit her in the morning, and then had a 95th birthday to present myself at, and then went back to the Hospital in the evening, the boys had stayed with her all day. they said she was having some pain, and was confused, and trying to get out of bed, so the nurses had sedated her again. After the boys left, my aunt and I stayed until visiting hours were over, she did wake up just before we left, and we believe she recognized us.
About 11pm, there was a message from a Dr, and in the morning when I called, they said she had passed away peacefully. A loss like this is always sad, but we are thankful that she got to see all 3 of the kids, as that was the most important thing in her life. And how could we wish that she hang on any longer with her heart slowly failing to work for her. We have the assurance that we will meet again when Jesus comes.
About April she had gotten to the point were she didn't want to sleep upstairs alone, so I came to sleep in the room across the hall from her. At that time she was still going to the bathroom on her own during the night. but about the beginning of June I needed to be there to help her, as those walks would cause her pain after she got back to bed.
June 11 she had a particularly bad night, before midnight she needed to go to the bathroom, and called me for help because she said she couldn't reach the floor to get out of bed. Then we put her in her recliner, and by 2 am I hearing something, and she had gone to the bathroom and then she fell there, so I had to get Hector to help me get her up. Nothing seemed to be hurt, but after that she was having a lot of angina pain, and just wouldn't go back to sleep. Then she kept talking to me from in her chair, and once I heard her up again, and went to see where she was going, and she said she wanted to go down where the boys were, (I think she was thinking about her childhood home, because when I got her settled and I got back to bed she asked if I had water up here, and the farm house has no bathroom or water upstairs). Finally after all that fussing around, at 3 am I told her it was only 3am, and that there was no one doing anything anywhere everyone was still asleep and she needed to sleep till about 6 am, but I don't think she did, she just didn't want to settle down in that room. (When Hector got up at 4am to get ready to leave for Vancouver to pick up Mai), I gave up on sleeping and came to the kitchen, when he left I went back and checked on her and there she was getting herself dressed, so I helped her get dressed and brought her out to the living room, I figured if she sat there, maybe she would be content. So then I may have slept for 2 hrs after that.
The next few nights were better, but still many times up during the night. Then I took her to the DR, and he put in a request for home support. On June 17 a nurse came, to bandage a sore we couldn't get healed up, and the 18th, a therapist came, and I also took mom to the Dr, at which time he prescribed an anti-biotic for the cold she had, as well as another sleeping pill, to hopefully keep her in bed more during the night. We gave her the new sleeping pill, but within an hour she was up again, and and I helped her back into bed, and she just wasn't settling down, and the cough, that she had, turned into something more like trying to clear her throat, or a gurgle, instead of a cough that would loosen and bring up mucus from the cold. Just listening to all of that, I couldn't sleep, I was up every few minutes, every time she started the cough.
About Midnight I called Hector to come listen to this, and then we tried to determine if we should call 911, or not, as the Dr, just had her sign a form saying she didn't want to be hooked up life prolonging machines, so we read the fine print, and decided that this was a breathing problem, not a heart problem, and so we called. They had her on the way by 1 am, and Mai and I followed in the car, we told them we had come because of Delphi, and they told us to sit in the waiting room, we sat there about 45 min waiting finally I went again, and they let me go where she was. She was sleeping, they had her on oxygen, and her breathing was much better, and the cough seemed to be under control. So I talked to a nurse, who said they were going to give her a chest x-ray, and do some lab work, and that would take more then an hour, and seeing I hadn't slept properly for at least 2 weeks, I decided she was being taken care of, and I had to go home and sleep.
Thursday morning, I talked to a nurse, and the heart specialist, and he said she had had a slight heart attack in the last little while, and that she had pneumonia and was having congenital heart failure when she arrived. He said they would do what they could with medication, and see if they can keep her comfortable until the boys could get home, but there was no promise that she would make it through Thursday. I was with her most of Thursday, she was sleeping, until late afternoon when they took her to a room, at that time she woke, up and was confused, and wanted to remove the oxygen mask, until finally they had to sedate her to keep the mask on.
Royce left Vancouver after a meeting that evening, and got here by 4am Friday June 20. In the morning when we went to see her we were surprised how well she was doing. Royce stayed with her a good share of Friday, and then about 4 he and Mai left for Spokane to pick up Ron and Tiffany, as they arrived there at 10 pm. They all got back here 4 am Sabbath morning, (and Mai had the SS to do for me, we had pre-arranged that several months before.)
Sabbath was a nice day, I, Ron, Tiffany, Hector's brother Soljer and wife Nadira, and daughter Elisa, spent the morning with mom/grandma, and then after lunch mom's brother and wife went to be with her, and later about 7 of us went, and the nurse had her in a chair, and took all the equipment with her into the sun room, and we spent a couple hours with her, she was doing pretty good and truly enjoyed her visitors. The boys had their computers with them, and showed her pictures, and when we asked her if she was tired and wanted to go to her room, she said "No".
Sunday June 22, I went to visit her in the morning, and then had a 95th birthday to present myself at, and then went back to the Hospital in the evening, the boys had stayed with her all day. they said she was having some pain, and was confused, and trying to get out of bed, so the nurses had sedated her again. After the boys left, my aunt and I stayed until visiting hours were over, she did wake up just before we left, and we believe she recognized us.
About 11pm, there was a message from a Dr, and in the morning when I called, they said she had passed away peacefully. A loss like this is always sad, but we are thankful that she got to see all 3 of the kids, as that was the most important thing in her life. And how could we wish that she hang on any longer with her heart slowly failing to work for her. We have the assurance that we will meet again when Jesus comes.
Life Sketch
Delphi (Steinke) Versteegh was born July 11 1919 in Beiseker Alberta. She was the 3rd of 12 children (4 died as babies) born to Gustav & Martha Steinke. Delphi, decided that if she couldn’t be a twin, she could at least make her debut on her brother August’s second birthday. When Delphi was 11 years old the family moved to a farm west of Millet and south of Edmonton. On the new farm Delphi remembers picking rocks, and pulling tree roots as the family cleared the land for farming. Delphi and her siblings had a one mile walk to school, and often times in the winter the snow was so deep, and crisp that they could walk above the fence posts, and not have to worry about staying on the road. The last of the siblings “Little Melvin” arrived when Delphi was 22 years, and all the big sisters adored him.
The summer 1945 both August and Delphi got married, and their baby brother got to be the Bible boy. Delphi married Henry Versteegh who had emigrated from Holland with his parents at the early age of 2 years. Henry grew up in Revelstoke BC. He and his mother became Adventists during Evangelistic Meetings after which Henry went to CJC (now CUC) to take his grade 10, at CJC he made friends that later introduced him to Delphi. They honeymooned from Alberta to BC where they settled in the Silver Creek area. Times were tough after the War, Henry and Delphi lived in a number of places in the North Okanagan.
A son Ronald Vernon was born to them in 1947 while they lived in Lumby BC. Ronald was born with spina bifida and was not strong enough to make it through surgery at 3 months of age. Shortly thereafter Delphi convinced Henry that perhaps Alberta had more opportunities. Again they tried a number of things, in several locations. Daughter Elizabeth was born while they lived in Lacombe AB. Henry then took an auto mechanic repair course and became a licensed mechanic.
In 1956 they moved back to Vernon BC where they lived for 3 years. In BC it was not important to be a “licensed” mechanic, so again finding a job was difficult. In 1959 Henry bought “Five Bridges Auto Wrecking” (on Sutherland Avenue) and renamed it “Henry’s Cars & Parts”. At that time the family became members of the Kelowna church. Henry willingly volunteered his labour in the building of the “New” Kelowna church, as well as: Silver Hills Guest House, the new Camp Hope, and a number of other churches around BC.
In 1964 Henry sold the business and moved to Taylor Rd to be closer to the Academy. From that time to retirement he tried a number of jobs, but his pride and joy was his ½ acre of weed-less garden, grapes and fruit trees.
During all of this time Delphi worked at “House Cleaning” jobs, and for a long time was the janitor of the “old” Kelowna Church (on Lawson Ave). She has never had a driver’s license so she has walked many miles around this city. The forerunner to the BC Transit was the “Silver Green Bus Lines” which made the loop from Kelowna, to Reids Corner, to Rutland and back to town several times a day. Delphi would take that bus and link up with the OK Mission Bus and go to do her jobs for the “rich” folks that lived out by the lake. Later she spent many years as a maid at the Mountain Shadows Motel (now Best Western). After retirement, Delphi rode her three-wheeled bicycle around the Rutland area, and ended up on Tuesday mornings at the Rutland Church to help with the quilting. She also used that bike as a grand child taxi, (see pictures on magnet board). In 1996 she acquired a scooter which give her a freedom she enjoyed.
In 1998 Delphi moved out of her house to live next door with her daughter and family, making it possible for her sister Leatha Ritchey to move from Williams Lake and rent her house. Delphi had hip replacements in 1983, 1996, and 2002. She kept herself busy knitting toques for the Kelowna Community Services, doing word find and jigsaw puzzles. She loved baking more then cooking, and her deserts and dinner rolls will be missed at potlucks. Until 2007 she helped around the kitchen and did the family laundry weekly. Her greatest joy was her three grandchildren, and she deeply missed them when they were spread off around the world. She was happy when Mai-Rhea arrived home on June 12th, and was looking forward to the wedding that was bringing the boys home for this weekend.
When her condition worsened and she was rushed to the hospital on June 18, Ronald and Royce both made decisions to come home as promptly as possible. Royce arrived by 4 am Friday the 20th, and Ronald and Tiffany were able to get here by 4 am on the 21st. They all had some quality time with gramma, on Sabbath and Sunday, before she quietly slipped to her rest Sunday evening after visiting hours. God was so good to all of us.
The summer 1945 both August and Delphi got married, and their baby brother got to be the Bible boy. Delphi married Henry Versteegh who had emigrated from Holland with his parents at the early age of 2 years. Henry grew up in Revelstoke BC. He and his mother became Adventists during Evangelistic Meetings after which Henry went to CJC (now CUC) to take his grade 10, at CJC he made friends that later introduced him to Delphi. They honeymooned from Alberta to BC where they settled in the Silver Creek area. Times were tough after the War, Henry and Delphi lived in a number of places in the North Okanagan.
A son Ronald Vernon was born to them in 1947 while they lived in Lumby BC. Ronald was born with spina bifida and was not strong enough to make it through surgery at 3 months of age. Shortly thereafter Delphi convinced Henry that perhaps Alberta had more opportunities. Again they tried a number of things, in several locations. Daughter Elizabeth was born while they lived in Lacombe AB. Henry then took an auto mechanic repair course and became a licensed mechanic.
In 1956 they moved back to Vernon BC where they lived for 3 years. In BC it was not important to be a “licensed” mechanic, so again finding a job was difficult. In 1959 Henry bought “Five Bridges Auto Wrecking” (on Sutherland Avenue) and renamed it “Henry’s Cars & Parts”. At that time the family became members of the Kelowna church. Henry willingly volunteered his labour in the building of the “New” Kelowna church, as well as: Silver Hills Guest House, the new Camp Hope, and a number of other churches around BC.
In 1964 Henry sold the business and moved to Taylor Rd to be closer to the Academy. From that time to retirement he tried a number of jobs, but his pride and joy was his ½ acre of weed-less garden, grapes and fruit trees.
During all of this time Delphi worked at “House Cleaning” jobs, and for a long time was the janitor of the “old” Kelowna Church (on Lawson Ave). She has never had a driver’s license so she has walked many miles around this city. The forerunner to the BC Transit was the “Silver Green Bus Lines” which made the loop from Kelowna, to Reids Corner, to Rutland and back to town several times a day. Delphi would take that bus and link up with the OK Mission Bus and go to do her jobs for the “rich” folks that lived out by the lake. Later she spent many years as a maid at the Mountain Shadows Motel (now Best Western). After retirement, Delphi rode her three-wheeled bicycle around the Rutland area, and ended up on Tuesday mornings at the Rutland Church to help with the quilting. She also used that bike as a grand child taxi, (see pictures on magnet board). In 1996 she acquired a scooter which give her a freedom she enjoyed.
In 1998 Delphi moved out of her house to live next door with her daughter and family, making it possible for her sister Leatha Ritchey to move from Williams Lake and rent her house. Delphi had hip replacements in 1983, 1996, and 2002. She kept herself busy knitting toques for the Kelowna Community Services, doing word find and jigsaw puzzles. She loved baking more then cooking, and her deserts and dinner rolls will be missed at potlucks. Until 2007 she helped around the kitchen and did the family laundry weekly. Her greatest joy was her three grandchildren, and she deeply missed them when they were spread off around the world. She was happy when Mai-Rhea arrived home on June 12th, and was looking forward to the wedding that was bringing the boys home for this weekend.
When her condition worsened and she was rushed to the hospital on June 18, Ronald and Royce both made decisions to come home as promptly as possible. Royce arrived by 4 am Friday the 20th, and Ronald and Tiffany were able to get here by 4 am on the 21st. They all had some quality time with gramma, on Sabbath and Sunday, before she quietly slipped to her rest Sunday evening after visiting hours. God was so good to all of us.
Tributes
My Mother (by daughter Elizabeth)
I always longed for my big brother that my mother told me about, but mom would bravely say, “God knows best, Ronnie might have been paralyzed or worse yet had brain damage.” But that never stopped me from wanting my brother to be here with me.
Mom worked very hard, at minimum paying jobs, to help with the family budget, and to give me (and many others) the things she thought we needed or just should have to make us happy. When I was little, she often bought material and had her sister Rubena sew mother-daughter dresses for herself and me, and for Rubena and Karen. I remember the pink and blue sets, with white peter-pan collars, and also yellow and green sets. She made sure that I & my kids would get a Church School & College education. Every Mission trip we went on, Gramma was a faithful sponsor. Up until her last pay cheque, she gave gave each of the kids 50.00 a month for spending.
Uncle Melvin and Auntie Leatha may also remember the time coming home from a “family” beach party in Grandpa’s ’57 Chev, that I didn’t get to sit beside “my mom”, (there was only 1 or 2 cousins between us) but I cried all the way home, I guess it was separation anxiety!
I was always aware of how much my mom was loved by all of my cousins. She has treasures to this day that some of them made for her, I specifically know of a bowl for nuts made in wood working shop by Lloyd Steinke, and the leather laced wallet that is still in her purse was made Ken Steinke in school or 4-H. She was so pleased when Doug Schafer gave her the “Deluxe Scrabble Game” that she whipped her sisters with until last week. She has many other thoughtful reminders of their love.
My mother always accepted and loved the friends that came into my life. All of Hector’s brothers and sisters were special to her, (she was especially bugged by Soljer about “where’s the Kuchen Gramma?”) She has been “grandma” to many members of our church family, and many who stayed in our home, -- Sandra, Leonie, Cheryl, Edgar, and Will.
From Sister Leatha,
Our next scrabble game will be in heaven where our intelligence will be equal and I will be able to win some times too.
Hector Odiyar (son-in-law)
I know that gramma loved me very much, and one of her biggest concerns was “What is Hector going to eat when he gets home?” or “where is Hector, isn’t he coming to eat?” She delighted in baking things that we loved to eat, in earlier years she would make soup and cinnamon rolls and send them over for supper every Friday night.
From Brother Melvin.
Thanks Delphi for all the good cheese rolls and kuchen, but I can hardly wait until we get over to the other side and you get settled, I'll be right over for more, then they will be heavenly good.
Ronald Odiyar (Grandson)
Some of my earliest memories of Grandma were Sabbath lunch. Our family would join Grandma and Grandpa at their place after church, where we would enjoy a wonderful meal that she prepared. Afterwards we would help clean the dishes and then played in her yard.
Always a full cookie jar was another trademark of Grandma. And many times it was the scene of a cookie robbery.
But one thing I always remember was the way Grandma prayed. She never used regular conversational words, it was more formal, yet simple and expressive of her trust in Jesus. Many of you may have seen the prayer quilt that Tiffany and I brought from the "Prayers & Squares" ministry from our church in Florida. It symbolizes prayer for each other and our loved ones who are sometimes healed from pain and disease or others who are laid to rest in Jesus.
Nevertheless, just as I heard Grandma pray growing up we must fully trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who can comfort us and encourage us along life's journey. Then together with Grandma we will meet Jesus.
From Tuxie (the family cat)
I also felt Gramma’s love, she made sure that I could come in and out every time I asked, and that my water and food dish was always full, as a result I am suffer a slight overweight problem. I will miss her love for me.
Mai-Rhea Odiyar (grand-daughter)
I remember spending a lot of time at my grandma's house when I was young. She always had toys to play with or books to read while she worked on word search puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, or various knitting projects. She also always had a bottle of Tums on hand and, wanting to be like my grandma and liking the taste of the Tums, I would always go in search of her bottle of Tums and I would eat them like candy - often 3 or 4 at a time. But one day, I ate one too many and I have never, to this day, been able to eat another Tum.
I will always remember my grandma for her love and care for us. She always made sure we had whatever we needed whether it was food, spending money, or just a cookie - there was never a shortage of cookies when she was around. I know that her cookies, as well as many other things about her, will be greatly missed by all.
Darla Ritchey McCarty (niece)
Auntie Delphi your incredible ability to remember everyone of your nieces and nephews birthdays will always astound us. Sometimes we would get a card in the mail before we even remembered it was birthday time
Then there was your guidance on the bus through Kelowna with a whole gang of us rug rats on our way to the beach. We were always left with strict instructions on how to behave and what time we were to met the bus again.
And of course the Easter egg hunts!! Millions of eggs, or so it seemed, that were hiding for us and then the huge potato salad feed at the end of the hunt. There were large chocolate eggs for each of us with our names written on them! Your presents will always be felt with warmth and love. Love your niece, Darla
To my grandma, (by Royce)
What I remember most about Grandma during my life-time, was that she was always reading something: either a book, an article, and not only reading but sometimes she would find and listen to a CD sermon or an album. When she was done with the material, her next move would be to wait until I was home, back from college, or visiting at Christmas time, and then she would highly recommend that I read, listen, or watch what she had discovered--and of course she would add, "you can have it, because I am done with it." Because I was the pastor, she was always keeping her eye out for resources that would benefit me.
Many memories could be celebrated today, but the greatest memory that I will always have of Grandma was her faith. I am thankful that I was with Grandma on her last day of life because I got to see her faith in action. Sunday mid-afternoon her condition got worse again as she began to have pressure on her chest and pain in her arms. Throughout the rest of that day her condition deteriorated, this concerned her greatly. While this was occurring she referenced the Devil about half-a-dozen times, she would say thing like, "the Devils on me, or he was causing her pain, or he was in her hair. But every time she mentioned the Devil she either said, "Royce pray for me", or she cried out, "Jesus help me!" Grandma was fighting the fight of faith until her very last day. You see, the Devil did not stop attacking Grandma when she became a senior citizen, but neither did Grandma stop growing spiritually, she courageously put on the spiritual weapons of warfare until her very last breath and she fought the good fight! Let us daily follow her example so that we can all see Jesus when He comes!
Judy Steinke Demitor (niece) Family was most important to Auntie Delphi, she lived for Family reunions and wanted them every year. We look forward to the family reunion in heave. Auntie Delphi will be there and I won’t have to cook.
Carmela Steinke Theroux (niece)
I'm so sorry about your loss of mother and grandmother! I know she will be greatly missed, you guys were all so close for so long. It's hard to imagine a world without Auntie Delphi. Who is going to keep track of us all, and who will remember all our birthdays? I was hoping to see her when I get out there. I am thankful that I got to see her for a few minutes when I was out there last Oct.
I will always remember Auntie Delphi for her Kuchen! My favourite is rhubarb & cottage cheese and the apricot. Also when we were kids when we went to Auntie Delphi's we would give the hugs and kisses and then run for the cookie jar! She made the best ever Chocolate chip cookies!
I always looked forward to campmeeting too, because Auntie Delphi never forgot my birthday and she always had something special for me. Also my feet will miss the slippers she always made for us. She always thought of others and was very giving.
Although she will be missed, we know that she is now resting peacefully in Jesus. You almost have to envy her because the very next thing she will see is Jesus face. How much better could it be? I just want to make sure that I am there to see His face with her.
I pray that God will comfort you all, and give you the strength you need.
Love always Carmela
I always longed for my big brother that my mother told me about, but mom would bravely say, “God knows best, Ronnie might have been paralyzed or worse yet had brain damage.” But that never stopped me from wanting my brother to be here with me.
Mom worked very hard, at minimum paying jobs, to help with the family budget, and to give me (and many others) the things she thought we needed or just should have to make us happy. When I was little, she often bought material and had her sister Rubena sew mother-daughter dresses for herself and me, and for Rubena and Karen. I remember the pink and blue sets, with white peter-pan collars, and also yellow and green sets. She made sure that I & my kids would get a Church School & College education. Every Mission trip we went on, Gramma was a faithful sponsor. Up until her last pay cheque, she gave gave each of the kids 50.00 a month for spending.
Uncle Melvin and Auntie Leatha may also remember the time coming home from a “family” beach party in Grandpa’s ’57 Chev, that I didn’t get to sit beside “my mom”, (there was only 1 or 2 cousins between us) but I cried all the way home, I guess it was separation anxiety!
I was always aware of how much my mom was loved by all of my cousins. She has treasures to this day that some of them made for her, I specifically know of a bowl for nuts made in wood working shop by Lloyd Steinke, and the leather laced wallet that is still in her purse was made Ken Steinke in school or 4-H. She was so pleased when Doug Schafer gave her the “Deluxe Scrabble Game” that she whipped her sisters with until last week. She has many other thoughtful reminders of their love.
My mother always accepted and loved the friends that came into my life. All of Hector’s brothers and sisters were special to her, (she was especially bugged by Soljer about “where’s the Kuchen Gramma?”) She has been “grandma” to many members of our church family, and many who stayed in our home, -- Sandra, Leonie, Cheryl, Edgar, and Will.
From Sister Leatha,
Our next scrabble game will be in heaven where our intelligence will be equal and I will be able to win some times too.
Hector Odiyar (son-in-law)
I know that gramma loved me very much, and one of her biggest concerns was “What is Hector going to eat when he gets home?” or “where is Hector, isn’t he coming to eat?” She delighted in baking things that we loved to eat, in earlier years she would make soup and cinnamon rolls and send them over for supper every Friday night.
From Brother Melvin.
Thanks Delphi for all the good cheese rolls and kuchen, but I can hardly wait until we get over to the other side and you get settled, I'll be right over for more, then they will be heavenly good.
Ronald Odiyar (Grandson)
Some of my earliest memories of Grandma were Sabbath lunch. Our family would join Grandma and Grandpa at their place after church, where we would enjoy a wonderful meal that she prepared. Afterwards we would help clean the dishes and then played in her yard.
Always a full cookie jar was another trademark of Grandma. And many times it was the scene of a cookie robbery.
But one thing I always remember was the way Grandma prayed. She never used regular conversational words, it was more formal, yet simple and expressive of her trust in Jesus. Many of you may have seen the prayer quilt that Tiffany and I brought from the "Prayers & Squares" ministry from our church in Florida. It symbolizes prayer for each other and our loved ones who are sometimes healed from pain and disease or others who are laid to rest in Jesus.
Nevertheless, just as I heard Grandma pray growing up we must fully trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who can comfort us and encourage us along life's journey. Then together with Grandma we will meet Jesus.
From Tuxie (the family cat)
I also felt Gramma’s love, she made sure that I could come in and out every time I asked, and that my water and food dish was always full, as a result I am suffer a slight overweight problem. I will miss her love for me.
Mai-Rhea Odiyar (grand-daughter)
I remember spending a lot of time at my grandma's house when I was young. She always had toys to play with or books to read while she worked on word search puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, or various knitting projects. She also always had a bottle of Tums on hand and, wanting to be like my grandma and liking the taste of the Tums, I would always go in search of her bottle of Tums and I would eat them like candy - often 3 or 4 at a time. But one day, I ate one too many and I have never, to this day, been able to eat another Tum.
I will always remember my grandma for her love and care for us. She always made sure we had whatever we needed whether it was food, spending money, or just a cookie - there was never a shortage of cookies when she was around. I know that her cookies, as well as many other things about her, will be greatly missed by all.
Darla Ritchey McCarty (niece)
Auntie Delphi your incredible ability to remember everyone of your nieces and nephews birthdays will always astound us. Sometimes we would get a card in the mail before we even remembered it was birthday time
Then there was your guidance on the bus through Kelowna with a whole gang of us rug rats on our way to the beach. We were always left with strict instructions on how to behave and what time we were to met the bus again.
And of course the Easter egg hunts!! Millions of eggs, or so it seemed, that were hiding for us and then the huge potato salad feed at the end of the hunt. There were large chocolate eggs for each of us with our names written on them! Your presents will always be felt with warmth and love. Love your niece, Darla
To my grandma, (by Royce)
What I remember most about Grandma during my life-time, was that she was always reading something: either a book, an article, and not only reading but sometimes she would find and listen to a CD sermon or an album. When she was done with the material, her next move would be to wait until I was home, back from college, or visiting at Christmas time, and then she would highly recommend that I read, listen, or watch what she had discovered--and of course she would add, "you can have it, because I am done with it." Because I was the pastor, she was always keeping her eye out for resources that would benefit me.
Many memories could be celebrated today, but the greatest memory that I will always have of Grandma was her faith. I am thankful that I was with Grandma on her last day of life because I got to see her faith in action. Sunday mid-afternoon her condition got worse again as she began to have pressure on her chest and pain in her arms. Throughout the rest of that day her condition deteriorated, this concerned her greatly. While this was occurring she referenced the Devil about half-a-dozen times, she would say thing like, "the Devils on me, or he was causing her pain, or he was in her hair. But every time she mentioned the Devil she either said, "Royce pray for me", or she cried out, "Jesus help me!" Grandma was fighting the fight of faith until her very last day. You see, the Devil did not stop attacking Grandma when she became a senior citizen, but neither did Grandma stop growing spiritually, she courageously put on the spiritual weapons of warfare until her very last breath and she fought the good fight! Let us daily follow her example so that we can all see Jesus when He comes!
Judy Steinke Demitor (niece) Family was most important to Auntie Delphi, she lived for Family reunions and wanted them every year. We look forward to the family reunion in heave. Auntie Delphi will be there and I won’t have to cook.
Carmela Steinke Theroux (niece)
I'm so sorry about your loss of mother and grandmother! I know she will be greatly missed, you guys were all so close for so long. It's hard to imagine a world without Auntie Delphi. Who is going to keep track of us all, and who will remember all our birthdays? I was hoping to see her when I get out there. I am thankful that I got to see her for a few minutes when I was out there last Oct.
I will always remember Auntie Delphi for her Kuchen! My favourite is rhubarb & cottage cheese and the apricot. Also when we were kids when we went to Auntie Delphi's we would give the hugs and kisses and then run for the cookie jar! She made the best ever Chocolate chip cookies!
I always looked forward to campmeeting too, because Auntie Delphi never forgot my birthday and she always had something special for me. Also my feet will miss the slippers she always made for us. She always thought of others and was very giving.
Although she will be missed, we know that she is now resting peacefully in Jesus. You almost have to envy her because the very next thing she will see is Jesus face. How much better could it be? I just want to make sure that I am there to see His face with her.
I pray that God will comfort you all, and give you the strength you need.
Love always Carmela
Pallbearers
Ronald Odiyar Grandson
Royce Odiyar Grandson
Lloyd Steinke Nephew
Rod Schafer Nephew
Soljer Odiyar Son-in-law’s Brother
Edgar Wolford Adopted Grandson
Ronald Odiyar Grandson
Royce Odiyar Grandson
Lloyd Steinke Nephew
Rod Schafer Nephew
Soljer Odiyar Son-in-law’s Brother
Edgar Wolford Adopted Grandson
Meet me in Heaven
We’ll join hands together
Meet me at the Saviors side
I’ll meet you in heaven
We’ll sing songs together
Pray that we all will be there.
We’ll join hands together
Meet me at the Saviors side
I’ll meet you in heaven
We’ll sing songs together
Pray that we all will be there.
