Ruth Schnabel Gedvillas

Ruth Schnabel Gedvillas, 92, of Houghton, MI, passed away Monday,
November 1, 2021, at the home of her daughter in Fairview, NC. A native
of Painesville, MI, she was the daughter of the late Heinrich and
Louisa Schnabel. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph
Gedvillas; son, Dennis; sisters, Charlotte and Dorothy; and brothers,
Walter and Herbert.  Ruth is survived by her son, Jerry (Brigitta) of
Houghton, MI; and daughters, Diane Bell (George) of Scottsdale, AZ, and
Jo Lynn Goffin (James) of Fairview, NC; sister, Marge Kujala (Norman)
of Elma, WA; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and 21 nieces
and nephews.
 

She enjoyed living near Lake Superior, collecting rocks and driftwood,
playing bingo and card games with family and friends, and creating
museum-quality pine needle baskets.  She was a loving wife, mother,
and grandmother. Ruth was a wise counselor.  Faithful, honest,
trustworthy, tenacious, and generous  describe her well. The family
would like to give special thanks to CarePartners of Asheville, NC, and
dear relatives and friends who cared deeply for her. She died in her
sleep at peace with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  In keeping
with the family wishes, there will be no services at this time. Her
family will celebrate her life together at a later date.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,

hull and spar as she was when she left my side.

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"

there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices

ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

- Henry Van Dyke

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