Talk
given at funeral of Kathy Bradley Offret
May 8, 1987 in Federal Heights Ward by Hazel S. Cannon
A number of years ago she entered the
Relief Society room just a few minutes before time for the meeting to convene
with two lovely little children in tow.
Her pretty face was radiant with smiles.
Immediately that room came alive.
There were handshakes and hugs and heartwarming comments: “We are so happy you’re back.” “We have really missed you.” “You are just what our ward needs.”
I said to myself, “Who is this young
who is so readily accepted and apparently so loved?” As I sat there, she was in my line of vision
– and then I knew. Yes, it was; it was
Kathy Bradley Offret who had come back from Anchorage,
Alaska to make her home in Salt Lake. I hadn’t seen her for some time.
It seemed that the Church brought us
together immediately, and for me what a joyous relationship it was and one I
shall always cherish. She taught me so
much. Far younger than I, at times it
appeared that she needed to counsel me rather than I her. She was a young woman of presence and
insight, and was a tireless energizer.
I should like to discuss very
informally today the roles in which I knew her best – first, her role in
strengthening the family, and secondly, her role in rendering service. Humbly, I solicit an interest in your faith
and prayers that I might be able to express the things which are in my mind and
heart.
Robert Frost, the great American poet,
said, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take
you in. I should have called it
something you haven’t to deserve.”
The Offret children were taught to
deserve home by learning early to work and to help care for that home. Their friends benefited from this learning
experience, also. I was at the Offret
house one day when a mother stopped by to pick up her little daughter who had
been playing with the Offret children.
The child ran for her coat when Kathy intervened. “Wait a minute,” she said, flashing a big
smile, “You must put the toys away that you used this morning. Come; I will help you.” And they disappeared in the play room. The visiting mother turned to me in wide-eyed
wonderment and said, “Well, I’ve certainly learned a valuable lesson today.”
It was my observation that in this
well-organized household, there were not too many rules, but once a rule was
established, it became a way of life.
Kathy showed the deep love she had for
her family by teaching them to be independent and to make wise choices, and to
pray to their Heavenly Father.
Of course, much of this valuable
training came from Kathy’s own remarkable and ingenious parents, President
Ralph and Sister Mildred Bradley who have always been an inspiration to their
fourteen children and, I dare say, to everyone present here today.
At
one time Kathy was our Mother Education leader and how we enjoyed her
exuberant, helpful, and down-to-earth lessons.
One lesson, I recall, dealt with teaching children in the early teen
years responsibility in solving their own problems. Kathy related that one of her sisters had had
a problem and felt that she had been grossly discriminated against. Crying bitterly she went to Mildred and
protested, “Mother, it just isn’t fair; it isn’t fair!” Her mother responded in a calm but firm
voice, “Of course, it isn’t fair, but are you just going to lie down and cry,
or get up, dust yourself off, and do something about it?”
Kathy
was a great support to Ron. When he
called me on the telephone the other evening and I commented how courageous he
was, his response was something like this: “Kathy has always been the
courageous one and has tried to teach all of us to be so.”
I
like to remind myself often of the great humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, and
his contribution to the world. Dr. Sweitzer
was a medical doctor, scientist, philosopher, theologian, professor, and
skilled organist. But with his many
achievements and abilities, he chose to devote most of his days ministering to
the needs of the common people in what was then called French
Equatorial Africa. One of
his statements rings in my ears! He said
with great conviction, “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are
those who have sought and found how to serve.”
I have always been impressed with the phrase, “those who have sought.”
It
was Kathy’s nature to often seek out those to serve. Two or three extra children added to her
household did not seem to matter.
One
time her neighbors and good friends needed desperately to have a few days
respite from their rigorous schedules and pressures but abandoned the idea
because they could find no one to care for their children. Kathy dictated what had to be done, almost
literally kidnapped the three children, and sent her friends on their happy
way.
The
genuine service Kathy rendered in our ward in a few short years was almost
unbelievable. In addition to being
Mother Education leader n Relief Society, she was for a time Primary president,
and later served in the capacity of what was termed Teacher Trainer or Education
Leader in Relief Society. As Relief
Society president, I depended heavily on her.
I always said that she made me look good. She brought to our board meetings innovative
and exciting methods to update our teaching.
She headed special committees and lent her talents to ward banquets; she
made unappealing assignments seem easy; her keen sense of humor often saved
difficult situations.
Although
she felt confident in her various church positions, she often laughed at
herself and minimized her abilities.
Soon after she was sustained as Primary president, she was to give a
talk in sacrament meeting. The bishop
introduced her in a very complimentary way, and as she began her talk, she
turned to the bishop and quipped, “Well, I don’t know whether this calling is a
matter of inspiration or desperation.”
The
Savior said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will
give you rest; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Kathy
loved the Lord and took her problems to a power higher than herself. She often said, “Let’s pray about it.”
At
Christmas time she wrote how much she was enjoying teaching early morning
seminary and what a challenge it was to teach the Book of Mormon.
One
of my favorite bits of poetry comes from the pen of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. In her sensitive way she says:
For the test of the heart is trouble
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth the praise
of the earth
Is the smile that shines through the
tears.
Each
of you who loved Kathy so well will learn to smile again. She blessed and lifted all our lives. I extend my love and prayers to Ron (and Ron,
we won’t forget what an able member of our bishopric you were.) and Rebecca,
and Craig, and Elizabeth, and Amy, and Nicole; to President and Sister Bradley
and their choice children and grandchildren, to the Offret families, and to
President Bradley’s mother, Sister Nida Donaldson. May the sweet spirit of our Heavenly Father
abide with you, and may all of us so live that we will be worthy to one day be
re-united with Kathy Bradley Offret.
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