Thursday, December 31, 2009
Memory Time
We thought it would be a great idea if anyone would like to write a memory of Rhonda and put it here on the blog. Maybe it is something that touched you from the memorial service, maybe a story from years ago to make us remember and laugh. It's good therapy for each of us to write these things out, it also is good for Ron and the rest of us family to enjoy.
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Hello Ron, Ronnie and Becky and all of the rest of the family,
ReplyDeleteThis is Aunt Pam and I am old enough to have many, many memories of Rhonda. We spent all our Christmases together until the last 10 years. I remember her talking to me about this teenage boy who was "head over heels" in love with her (Ron) and what should I do? I remember the "line" down the middle of Rhonda and Brenda's bedroom with Rhonda's side being meticulously organized and Brenda's being full of her "creative" organization which Rhonda and I could not quite get! I remember the first time she had us over for dinner in your first little "home" in Shingle Springs. I remember the last dinner we shared together (tacos) in Kalispell. We love you all and are praying for strength and comfort as you learn to live life here without Rhonda.
Love, Aunt Pam, David and family (Kaylin and Nate)
Dearest Family...
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that the memorial service was a beautiful tribute to Rhonda and her legacy. Thank you for blessing our hurting hearts by reminding us of our confident hope for the future.
Cousin Ron... I wanted to share that I was particulary moved by your personal testimonial of the precious relationship between you, Rhonda and the Lord. It took great courage to stand in front of us and share your heart while still being so tender. Thank you for being transparent. To be perfectly honest, I couldn't help but glance over at you and the kids while worshipping. It was beautiful to witness your love and trust in the Lord at a time when the frailty of our flesh wants to scream out in anguish. You are an example of a true worshipper. We love you dearly and will continue to hold you and the family up in prayer!
Penny... thank you again and again for your sacrifice of time and effort in keeping Rhonda's blog up to date. We were utterly blessed to be a part of this emotional journey. We appreciate you more than words can say.
Hugs, kisses, blessings and continued prayer...
Cousin Karen
Dear Burkey/Catlett Family
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of the pain...to see you worship our God was a true testimony to God and your faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You.
Love & prayers, Lauraine Vannoy
Thanks Penny!
Dearest Burkey & Catlett Family,
ReplyDeleteWow...how often we forget all the people God has purposely put in our life for many reasons. I am so thankful & so grateful for all the memories, all the love and support I have personally been blessed with through your family.... At the memorial I was reminded how important each of us are to each other. We need each other!
Rhonda has been such an example to so many people. Gods grace and mercy and above all how much our Heavenly Daddy cares and loves us soooo very much.
My prayer for your family is that our Heavenly Father would continue to hold and keep you. I pray every moment of everyday in the midst of utter yuck that He would hold you on His lap, like only He can do...
Thank you for always being so real and for just being you.
Forever loving you, praying for you and thankful for everyone of you!
Always, LeAnne Dimmitt Vannoy (ha-ha)
P.S. Ron, My Dad was very much touched by your presence and the presence of our Lord and your beautiful family.
My cousin Betty Suthernland asked me to post this from my blog, http://truth-edited/blogspot.com:
ReplyDeleteI lost a cousin yesterday morning to a rare disease. I never met her, but have heard enough about her to know she was a beautiful person. My heart is grieved for those she left behind. I have had them on my mind constantly the past 5 days and have prayed for them over and over as they step back and allow her to leave them so she can go be with her Lord. I think about her two children and her husband. I think about her parents. I think parents face nothing harder in life than burying their children. My sister had to. And I know it is an ache that can never be quinched. I think about my cousin's husband's parents. They are closer to me in family relationship. They are my dad's cousins. My second cousins. And if we have it straight, Ron and Rhonda are my third cousins. I only hope heaven is what I envision it to be, a place where we will know each other without introductions, and where we can visit as long as we want. I would love to sit with Rhonda and be able to know her as those who have loved her so much.
As Rhonda faded through the day on the 25th she kept singing. Here is a quote from the blog her family kept about her:
"She kept saying the words to the old song we used to sing years ago. She had every word down.
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There's just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jeaus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away,
But there's something about that name."
After that she just kept saying "in Jesus name, Jesus name, Jesus name."
That is a result of having a love in your heart for Jesus. It is not something you work up on your own or as a pretense or a mask. It comes from the reality inside. I would really like to meet her some day.
Tom Townsend here, I am a cousin of Rhonda (son of Jan, Wally's sister who passed in 1993) I was raised in West Virginia, so I unfortunately did not have the pleasure of knowing Rhonda very well. I was the youngest of this generation of the Burkey clan (Nate and Kaylin) came along, and my memories of her and her family were from very long ago, with her brothers Ken and Rob at Uncle Wally and Aunt Betty's house about 28 or so years ago. I am saddened by her passing, but take comfort in the postings and memories that people have shared, of how terrific woman/wife/mother that she was, and how her love and spirit will live on through her family and her children. I have spent time with Grandma B, and Aunt Betty and Uncle Wally some over the past few years, and like Rob and Ken, Rhonda is a beautiful tree in the forest that is the Burkey family (and extended)
ReplyDeleteEveryone in family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Tom Townsend
Even though I've known Rhonda my entire life-
ReplyDeletewe were in each other's weddings, my brother married her sister, and we all hung out at Ralph & Brenda's house as young married's- it's the 'little girl' memories from Pershing Avenue and Orangevale church that my mind keeps going back to. So that's what I'll share.
Rhonda & I discovered the miracles of make-up and hot rollers FOR HOURS in Betty's bathroom.
She wanted my curly hair- I wanted her straight hair.
We practiced our culinary skills in Betty's kitchen mainly baking cakes, and if you know us both you'll believe it, we actually enjoyed the clean-up process!
We were hooked on making prank phone calls and did it so often we were convinced the cops were on to us and would be knocking on the front door any minute.
We learned that when our Moms' said, "Time to go", that really meant they would walk to the car and continue to talk for another 3 hours.
So I'd have Rhonda hide in the back seat trying to sneak her home with me unnoticed. It didn't work.
Rhonda, Brenda & I performed our musical skits for our parents, complete with costumes and props. But the problem was always the same-
we couldn't stop laughing long enough to finsh!
There were slumber parties and youth choir tours that always ended with staying up late talking about boys.
Lastly, we were so surprised and happy that BOTH OF OUR MOMS decided to have Danny and Robby just for us! We were such big shots in the church nursery now!
I will always cherish my times spent with my beautiful friend Rhonda, who especially in those years was more like a sister to me.
I'm so proud that she did finish well, loving Jesus and those around her.
My prayers are for all her family and friends to be comforted as only God can do.
Love,
Tracey
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ReplyDeleteI remember being in the Green Valley musicals, with Ron and Rhonda, and how much fun we had. Thank you for the updates and for allowing us to share in your journey. We are continuing to pray for her family.
ReplyDeleteGreg
Rhonda has been such a true lady. Even when I accidentally splashed water on her hair during one of our song run-throughs before service. She and the other ladies reminded me that I am never to old to learn that "you don't mess with a woman's hair".
ReplyDeleteI am so humbled by having the priviledge of being a part of worship and prayer with you Rhonda. Thank you for being such an amazing example of a Godly woman to me and being so supportive in my life. I will truly miss you.
Brent