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It is bitter-sweet. Bitter because we won’t see Wendy again, this side of eternity; sweet, because she is fully healed, dancing, on her own two feet, in the presence of Jesus. Wendy is alive. She is just not here.
Wendy Berry passed into the presence of Jesus at about 3pm yesterday afternoon – Friday 27th April 2012 – Freedom Day. John tells me she had a restless night on Thursday evening. In the morning, he tried to wake her, but she wouldn’t wake up. She remained unconscious and soon her breathing became laboured. In the middle of the afternoon she slipped into the presence of Jesus.
What a huge gap she will leave. 
When John and Wendy lived in Sun Valley, you would regularly see Wendy buzzing between her home and the church and the mall in her electric wheelchair. Of all the people I’ve ever known, Wendy had the best attitude in the most adverse of circumstances. She was plucky and brave and happy and persistent and determined. She could do anything! She shopped and she worked and she travelled and she cooked and she organised and she emailed and facebooked. She was unstoppable. She lived an abundant life, living beyond all the doctor’s expectations – living longer, living fuller, living happier. John and Wendy married on 9th April 1983 and had just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. They have two children – Tammy, by natural birth and Vaughan who they fostered as a young boy. Wendy loved her family, loved missions, loved radio and loved life. She had a great sense of humour. One story that I remember her telling me was this one: I think she was in her late teens when one evening she went out on a date. When the date dropped her home, she wanted to give him her phone number. She asked her carer to ‘please bring a pen.’ The carer didn’t quite pick up what she was asking, and much to Wendy’s embarrassment, bought her a ‘pan’ (bedpan!). Wendy roared with laughter while telling me this story and ended it with ‘he never asked me out again!’
Here she is at a SIM missions camp…
Wendy Berry – Born 9th July 1956. Entered the presence of Jesus on 27th April 2012.
You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now you have received the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, awards to you! (2 Timothy 4:7)
We will never forget you. Love to John, Tammy, Vaughan, Johanna & all the family.
You are In His Grip,
Helga xx
Wendy’s memorial service will be on Friday 4th May at 2pm at King of Kings Baptist Centre, Sun Valley.