Charlotte Thomeczek

Did it occur to you that Charlotte was devoted to the seen as well as the unseen? I know each of us has our own set of stories and memories concerning Charlotte and they're all different yet they are all the same because they are about her. She was an activist and thinker - in her was a true melding of the Martha and the Mary personalities.

One of Charlotte's passions was the Ministries Outreach - Partners In Ministry (PIM). For many, Charlotte's was the face that would come to mind if someone mentioned PIM.

The Tuesday Morning Group at the Catholic Renewal Center (which I call the theological think tank of the metroplex,) was an activity she would not miss if at all possible. Charlotte could always be found sitting at the Sisters right hand. I can see Charlotte pulling up a chair to the right of the Lord, because God knew that Charlotte would need to be closer to “hear better.”

I remember the first time I met Charlotte. It was at the 1999-2000 PIM. Somehow during that opening day, she found out I was born in Kansas and the friendship was on. When that PIM session started, I was taking the RCIA program at my parish. I didn't have the foggiest idea who Sisters Pat and Kay were or what I was getting myself into, but Charlotte made me feel like I was adopted into the family right away.

Concerning her joy for PIM, especially the yearly Glen Rose retreat, those late Friday night 'gatherings' will have to be chaired by someone else now. For Charlotte's sake, the party (I mean tradition) must go on. Charlotte loved gathering with friends because she loved life and all that it encompassed. I remember us attending the 2005 Open Windows gathering in Dallas when they had invited Michael Morwood to speak. Charlotte was on cloud nine getting to meet Michael since the Tuesday Morning Group had been studying his book for almost a year. But what really made her day was afterwards, when Fr. Charlie led the Mass and Charlotte was one of the day's participants invited to "sit at his right hand." Her face beamed.

Charlotte Thomeczek was and still is admired for her life of active participation, activism on essential causes, her work with the Red Cross and continuing to attempt to figure out God's ways. Charlotte knew that God was up to something, which was another thing I loved about Charlotte. And her political e-mails were always a joy to receive as well – she never pulled any punches and yet still had a sense of humor that was golden. We all have our thoughts and recollections of this beloved lady whom we miss, which if they were all written down would probably fill books without end. (kind of like what was said about someone else we know). Charlotte had 17 or 18 boxes of spirituality- related books which her family donated to us all, so Charlotte must have read a LOT on the topic of Spirituality. I believe she now knows what's beyond a sunrise, the personality of each snowflake or the meaning within a bird's song. I know there is nothing I could say that might explain the gift that she was to us who are left behind. She's certainly irreplaceable.

God has blessed us with your presence, Charlotte.