Susan Diane Elizabeth Trollope July 5, 1943 to July 5, 2023
A Blessing in Midst of Wildfires:
Let there be gentle rain, off and on,
and cooling temperatures until all fires are out,
and all people and flocks are safely housed and cared for.
May caregivers care well for those fighting fires:
nourish, shelter, and love them into healing.
May goodly rest fortify the strength and will to persist
for all who are affected by these fires from coast to coast.
May God be with all who face fear and heat and smoke.
May God bless those who work to stop the fires.
May some balance come for those displaced, lost, or hurt.
They are not alone. We are not alone.
May God send peace into all the upset, frustration, and fright.
Thank you, God, for what you are doing in and through us. Amen.
The editor of our United Church region included this blessing in the weekly online newsletter which was posted yesterday. It's unlikely that Karen was aware that the author, Diane Trollope, died last month at the age of 80. Diane was a diaconal minister in our denomination until health issues affected her ministry relatively early in life. She was a member of the St. Andrew's congregation I served in Sudbury, Ontario, for eleven years and I realize now that she was in her mid-forties when I first met her. She had already stepped away from paid accountable ministry by that time and we had conversations through the years about whether she could return, only to realize that wasn't likely to happen.
Just the same, Diane was active in congregational life through visitation and while she couldn't be a paid member of our staff, so lived modestly on her small pension, we covered expenses as she made her way around town to see folk and she was included in staff functions.
Diane often responded to the various social issues near and dear to her heart with poetry and thoughtfully written prayers. She was a caring person with a sense of humour and a desire to contribute where she could. Her obituary offered an impressive list of those interests and contributions:
Justice, learning and education were her passions and that is what drew her to participate in church committees like the Sudbury Presbytery Mission in Canada Committee, St. Andrew’s Mission and Worship Committees, book study groups and Out of the Cold, and to accept the role of Team Lead of the Canadian Shield Regional Council Mission Grants Resource Team. She supported justice initiatives like Make Poverty History, affordable housing and indigenous rights and helped set up the Ministry to Long Term Care Programme.
We were saddened to hear of Diane's death in July, after the fact. I'm reminded again that many people live out their Christian vocations in ways that may not have much of a public profile yet build up the body of Christ in meaningful ways, and with a lasting impact.
The obituary also provided a tender description of Diane's departure from this life
Susan Diane Elizabeth Trollope died peacefully at Maison McCulloch Hospice on July 5, her 80th birthday, with loving friends by her side, singing her on her way.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
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