Although I have virtually known Antoinette La Guerre, affectionately known as Nettie all my life through her daughter Dawn, my closest school-mate, we only met in real terms in 2007 when Dawn arranged for her to vacation at our home for 2 weeks. By this time, Nettie was in her declining years, and had already had a few episodes signalling heart failure. We were not sure she could tolerate the constant activity of my three young nephews, the oldest of whom was only 8 years old.
Well, as it turned out, Nettie was the perfect house guest! She was a great tease – and that was applied with relish to the boys who revelled in this rough sport that they not getting enough of from the regular house holders. On the more sober site, she kept us abreast…show more content… The rich, poor, deserving, undeserving, vagabond, saint – she had space for all characters- without compromising what was good and true.
Although she was not bible-beating, Nettie’s life was chapters and verses of faith grounded in God. It could be God that was the source of such strength, in the face of the many jabs and shocks that life dealt her.
And yet, although she suffered deprivations and many betrayals, Nettie was neither depraved nor bitter. Instead she showed a down-to-earth sensitivity that was part of the care and genuine friendship she gave. She never lost sight of the funny side of life’s joys.
I especially admired the exceptional care meted out in her devotion to Claire, her youngest child with Down’s Syndrome. That was expert care that left nothing to chance.
St. Pauls tells us that ‘ love never gives up.’
Nettie appeared to have given up some years ago when faced with the prospect of having her right leg amputated. We worried that the end was near. I helped to encourage her to see life without kicking at her friends ). Sure enough Nettie was very much alive, ramping and kicking it for nearly four more years. She won again – courage in life’s battles.
Nettie will be fondly remembered by my Mon and me as a dear friend who gave much
