Obituary of Esther Kyle

Memorial Tribute OPENING, SCRIPTURE READING, PRAYER Thank you for being here today out of love for Esther Kyle and her family. We want to remember her life; we want to offer hope, comfort, and encouragement to each of you to help you make it through this time of grief and sorrow. We take comfort in the fact that Esther's struggles and sufferings are over. The Scripture says: "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? {2} My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV) I would like to invite you to look unto the Lord with me, in prayer, to find His help in this time of need. SONG I would like to invite you to sing with me, one of Esther's favorite hymns, "Pass Me Not." It's a heart-felt cry for God to come near. Esther is now with the Lord, but we sing this song in her honor, today, and ask God to come near to us. PASS ME NOT Words & Music by Fanny Crosby & William Doane Pass me not, oh gentle Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Savior, Savior Hear my humble cry While on others Thou art calling Do not pass me by Thou, the spring of all my comfort More than life to me Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in heaven but Thee? EULOGY Esther Louise Kyle was born February 15, 1937 in Los Angeles, CA. She was the first of two children born to Elmer & Grace Madison. Throughout her life, she lived in: Los Angeles, Riverside, Indio, Nuevo, Moreno Valley and Beaumont. Esther had a great Christian heritage. She was raised in the church, and had a relationship with the Lord since her childhood. Her grandparents and parents were strict adherents of the Foursquare Church. Esther was dedicated to the Lord as an infant by Aimee Semple McPherson (the founder of the Foursquare Church) in the historic Angeles Temple. Esther met Bill Kyle in church, and they were married for 29 years. Four children were born to this union: Steve Kyle (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin), Sherri Arendell (Las Vegas, Nevada), Kathi Foy (Riverside, California), and Trish White [Mitch] (Beaumont, California). These 4 children gave Esther 10 grandchildren; these 10 grandchildren gave her 9 great grandchildren! Esther loved her kids and grandchildren! She was so proud of them all; in fact, she considered this her greatest accomplishment in life! Esther loved to sew, crochet, and do embroidery (she was very good). She worked for many years as a seamstress. She could make anything: any garment that could be sewn or altered; potholders made out of bottle caps; quilts; dish towels. Esther never missed a birthday. She usually included $1.00 in the cards that she sent out. She commonly gave socks as Christmas gifts. Esther was very thoughtful! Esther loved sun bathing, drinking Iced Tea, and doing yard work. Esther was a very good listener! She actually looked interested, because she was! People would tell her their life story and problems (even strangers). Those who knew her well used to tell her that she should be a Therapist and get paid for listening and caring for others, so well! Esther could also be stubborn and hard-headed. She described herself as a "tough, old broad." Esther was a fighter. She used to say about that future time when death would come near to her (quoting from a poem): "I'm not going quietly into that good night." She fought, even on her death bed. As the end drew nearer, Esther had been spending a lot of time talking to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A Scripture reference came to her, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. When Trish read the words of that verse to her, a smile came to her face as she settled into the calm embrace of her Lord. That verse says, "Pray without ceasing" (that's what she had been doing). Esther finished her race and breathed her last on Saturday, September 11th, 2010. She is survived by her 4 children: Steve, Sherri, Kathi, Trish (Mitch); her 10 grandchildren; her 9 great grandchildren; her sister, Sharon; a host of other relatives and friends. FUNERAL MESSAGE I am so impressed about the fact that Esther was a good listener! Good listeners are in short supply, they are a rare treasure to find. James 1:19 says: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," (NIV). As I think about Esther, I'm also reminded of a story in the Book of Acts in the Bible (Acts 9:36-43). Living in the city of Joppa was a lady named Tabitha (Dorcas). Tabitha is described as being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, a woman full of good works, a woman which did many charitable deeds. But Tabitha became sick and died. Many stood around showing the tunics and garments which Tabitha had made while she was with them. By the way, the apostle Peter raised her from the dead by the power of the Lord! Esther, like Tabitha, was a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. She trusted Jesus Christ for salvation. She loved the Lord. Esther, like Tabitha, was a woman who did many good deeds. She was such a great lady! Like Tabitha, all of the things that Esther's hands touched will continue to remind us of herall of the things that she did for you; all of the things that she made for you will serve as a living reminder of her love and thoughtfulness. There is such comfort in remembering. It's important to keep memories alive. I'm sure that there are many tangible things that you can put your hands upon, that will help you remember Esther. Keep those things near to you, and revisit them often. Talk freely of her life and memories that you have of her. Yes, there will be times that this leads to tears and sadness that she is no longer with you. But it will also lead to times of joy and laughter, as you remember and re-live her life and goodness through these precious memories. POEM When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom filled room Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little - but not too long And not with your head bowed low Remember the love that we once shared Miss me - but let me go For this is a journey that we must all take And each must go alone It's all a part of the Master's plan A step on the road to home When you are lonely, and sick of heart Go to the friends we know And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds Miss me - but let me go SCRIPTURE READING Jesus said: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. {27} Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:1-3, 27 NKJV) STATEMENT OF COMMITTAL Inasmuch as God Almighty has received unto Himself the soul of our departed sister, Esther Louise Kyle, we tenderly and reverently commit this earthly house of her habitation back to the ground from which it came; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In the assurance that "if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Esther's spirit is in the presence of the Lord. For, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." We now commit to the bosom of mother earth the tabernacle in which Esther lived while here on earth; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.