REMEMBRANCES OF WALT AND WILMA KURZAWA

Wilma Kuizawa Wilma and I met at a company party. I loved parties, and generally flitted from person to person, table to table talking of nothing and everything. But Wilma was different. I found myself going back to talk to her. Then back again. She read so much and her quick mind knew just what might interest me. Thank you Wilma for being such an interesting friend.  Wilma invited me to a small sewing circle at her home. The Sewing Circle proved to be a group of interesting women with much to say. We discussed  theology, politics, world events, local news, books, etc. How much I learned. How I enjoyed her friends. In fact it was years before I fully appreciated the gift she had given me. Wilma attracted such interesting  friends. Thank you Wilma for sharing your friends.  Wilma was raised in the Catholic Church. I was raised in a town with one Catholic family. It all seemed so exotic to me. And so Wilma talked to me  about the customs and beliefs of the Catholic Church. Surprise! How alike our theories, our concerns, our questions. We attended evening classes with Father Weaver and day classes with Pat and Kay. I cannot find words to tell Wilma what this meant to me. Wilma encouraged me and made me feel a part of these discussions. Always, I felt I belonged.. To share, to belong, what a gift.. What a joy she was to the people she knew.  I believe in Saints and Angels. I believe each of us has a part that is saint. Is that why God sent Jesus to us, to help us find the little bit that is good, the little bit of saint in each of us? Being with Wilma made me a happier person, a kinder person, a better person. She brought out the saint in me as she did in others. She showed me "...the better angels of our nature."  Mary Griffin

Walt Kuizawa Our first memory of Walt was his steady and persistent encouragement that Kay and I attend Montserrat men and women’s retreats in 1981. Kay and I had our hands full with our hyperactive two-year-old son, so spending three nights away from home was a tremendous burden on both of us. But after more persistence from Walt, we both agreed time away from daily routines would be good for each of us. Wow, what could we say! Our spiritual roots grew deeper with the sounds of Montserrat silence. Without question, Montserrat retreats were defining experiences in our spiritual walks on this earth, thanks to Walt and Wilma, his wife. Another important remembrance of Walt was his steady encouragement to attend the Diocesan Lay Ministries Program, now called Partners in Ministry. If we had thought a three day weekend retreat was a sacrifice, one weekend session each month for two years was just too much. But, again Kay and I agreed our Catholic horizons needed to be broadened. So, the adventure began. The Holy Spirit with help from Sisters Pat and Kay opened some doors and fresh air came in. We met some truly spirit-filled souls, learned new songs, and learned so much about our religion and deepened our faith. Truly, participating in Lay Ministry was another defining experience in our faith journeys and we owe so much to Walt and Wilma. A third remembrance of Walt and Wilma was their persistent encouragement to attend Fr. Dick Weaver’s Bible study sessions. This started in 1985 and lasted a good ten years. We can’t tell you how many hours we spent learning from Fr. Weaver’s historical and biblical knowledge and understanding. Those classes were still another defining faith-building experience, all thanks to Walt and Wilma. And that brings us to the present. Our pastor, Father James, expressed his appreciation of Walt and Wilma, when he spoke of their loving families, daily prayer life, sense of humor, and enjoyment of good books. They passed into eternity, she on November 15, 2006 and he on March 31, 2007. Words cannot adequately express our heartfelt gratitude to them for the wonderful ways they helped our faith and knowledge grow.. We know you can hear us. So, thank you Walt and Wilma for touching our lives and the lives of so many others. John and Kay Huggins