Memories Of Audrey

Good morning…

This week, I have communicated with so many of you about Audrey and the DeShelter family, through text, email, zoom, and face to face. Your messages of love have been so precious. I find it an honor to collect our written words in a single post. May you enjoy reading about the strong web of love enveloping this inspiring child of God.

• Just saw the FB post about Audrey. So many prayers for the DeShetler family 🙏😢💕 (Brooke)
• I’m so sorry to hear about Audrey – I saw on one of my cancer fb groups. (Trisha)
• I’m so sorry to hear about Audrey. (Laura)
• I am certain a choir of angels came for Audrey and brought her home for eternal life with God. (Joan Marie)
• I saw that Audrey passed at 2:47 pm. There are no words. I kept thinking she would pull through as she always has. Our miracle girl is in heaven now, at peace and healed. (Christa)
• Bless her🙏. I have never known of anyone who wanted to live as abundantly as she did. Now, her truly glorious life begins. I shall pray for her devoted family. You are an amazing support. (Martha)
• I am so heartbroken. But when God told her she was fully healed, I had to wonder if this is what he meant. She is no longer in pain. Please add me to a list if you have prayer requests or information to help the family in this time. I will continue to check Facebook, but I know you are close. I am praying for them. (Ella)
• I am happy to help in any way needed. (Claudia)
• I woke up at 2:00 & never went back to sleep praying for Audrey’s family & friends. Bless her. Bless them, Lord. (Martha)
• Sue!! I am in disbelief that Audrey is now in heaven. My children and I have been praying for her daily, by name, for the last year and a half or longer. Your blog post was beautiful in every way. Remembering the blessing for her that she is now in heaven and not getting lost in our despair here on earth. And I confess, this is the hard part for me…. Helping my children understand why this happened if we prayed and asked for a miracle of health in her body. Thank you for sharing with us and walking with us through all of this. And your parents performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow was just beautiful… brought me to tears. (Katharine)
• When I am ready to give up, he knows what I should do (Psalm 142:3, GNT). This verse really spoke to me… He knows… I just have to be willing to let go. (Suzanne)
• Audrey is free🙏🏻and will be missed by many. (Debi)
• Dear sweet friend, thank you so, so much for your posts about Audrey. We’ve been praying for her, her family and all close to her. You’ve been an angel to keep us posted on her for so long now. It was just stunning to think of her radiant and whole in heaven….our prayers are now for her precious, precious parents and brother, and all of you so close to her. Sue, I know you’re very, very close to this family. You’ve been such an ardent supporter to build her prayer team. I just wanted to thank you. I’ll keep up the prayers. So much love and gratitude for you! (Cathy)
• Hi Sue – I am sorry to hear about Audrey. My heart is heavy and, at that same time, I understand that there is some grace to her being with God away from the pain. Death hurts so much, especially with children. (Sharon)
• Heartbreaking indeed. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone with such strength 😇🙏 (Helen)
• I can’t understand their pain. Grief is so huge. And so difficult. And so different for everyone. And so present. And so f—ing forever. (Susan)
• The time will pass & there will be no woulda/shoulda/coulda conversations. It is now how to support them as they grieve & move forward. As you minister to people, there is something about dying well…preparing yourself for a loved one’s death. It is never easy & never what you expect…especially the finality of it all. Love you my dear friend! (Cathy)
• “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4 NIV (Kimberly)
• Dear Sue, though I’ve never met your mom or Audrey in person, I feel as though I know them through your writing and by praying for them. Until I read your post this morning, I never really considered how intimacy develops when one prays for another. Thank you for introducing me to these two women of faith. Happy Belated Birthday to both! (Nancy)
• After all these years of friendship, this must be hard for you to grieve and still guide everyone all at the same time. I’m sorry for the loss of Audrey and am lifting you and all her loved ones up. Thank you for sharing her with us over the years. (Dee)
• Thank you, Sue. The DeShetler’s are a wonderful family. I had the privilege of teaching Audrey in the third grade. She was and always will be a Blessing. (Millie)
• Thank you, Sue, for sharing this love story with all of us. The DeShetler family is so blessed to have you always in their corner. They are in my prayers. With so much love. (Mary)
• I realize this has been a season of loss. I pray for healing as so many grieve Audrey’s death. I know you have journeyed faithful with her family for over 14 years. (Catherine)
• We are all heartbroken. Thank you for being there for the DeShetlers. Please let me know if there is anything you think we could do. We love them so much and we just want to do anything we can. (Laura)
• Hi Sue. You’ve been a wonderful support for the DeShetlers for many years. This most recent post is lovely and I’m sure they appreciate your continued love and support! (Betsy)
• We all love the DeShetlers. Everyone is worried about showing up and invading their privacy and time as a family, but we also don’t want them to be alone and feel like their army of supporters is frozen in grief. We are content to lift them in prayer, but any other guidance in how we can help is much appreciated. (Lisa)
• God is helping me with my struggling week. I’ve been praying for you too, dear friend, with the loss of Audrey, as I can imagine you are feeling pretty heavy as well. All these things that just pile on. I feel defeated and depressed which is why these song lyrics speak to me …when will I ever learn …to live in God… you are such a great teacher of this. My life is dramatically enhanced bc of your companionship since 2021. Thank you! (Melinda)
• Sue, it was very nice to meet you the other day. Bless Audrey‘s heart – I’m pleased she is in God’s arms now. Her testimony is beautiful. (Jan)
• Dear Sue, I am so sorry to read about Audrey’s passing. I have never met Audrey, but she taught me so much over these years that she has been bravely and faithfully living through her challenging days. She has left a powerful legacy on so many people. Thank you for sharing her story. (Joan)
• Good Morning Sue – Our entire family is just heartbroken for the DeShetlers. Sending up prayers. (Cathy)
• Sue, we’ve been praying for Audrey at Northside for most of our time there. My heart is heavy and my eyes are leaking sadness for her Mama. Thank you for the video of the seniors singing Over the Rainbow. Thank you for the updates these past days. Continuing to pray for Audrey’s family. (Laurie)
• God Bless Audrey and her family!!! I know the angels met her at heaven’s gate were singing. She’s healthy and whole and in the loving arms of Jesus watching over us. She certainly fought the good fight. What an inspiration she was and will continue to be. Continued prayers for her family and all those who loved her!! (Cathy)
• Good morning Sue! I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and praying the Lord can fill your heart with peace and love today. I’ve been reading your blogs and my heart is hurting for Audrey’s family. You are an incredible prayer warrior and it sounds like you’ve had a lot going on personally as well. I will lift you up in my prayers today. I just wanted to send a big hug through the phone and let you know you are loved. (Kelley)
• Good Afternoon, I am so sorry to hear the news of Audrey’s passing. My name is Ash Brown and I lived in Room 104 in Welsh Family Hall at Notre Dame. Audrey was one of the sweetest human beings I have ever had the chance to meet. I got to know Audrey over the course of the 24’ Fall Semester. One of my favorite interactions with her was being able to give her a hug after a really long day and I watched her brighten. Audrey was a phenomenal woman that I am honored to have gotten to be around. I loved the time she shared with me at Notre Dame and the kindness she possessed will stay with me long after her passing. (Ash)
• Good morning! Katherine Wolfe shared this at a speaking engagement… perhaps good wisdom for the DeShetlers’ friends in these early days of grief. (Elizabeth)