Where The Light Shines

Posted on December 20, 2014 under Storytelling with 2 comments

She fought the good fight

 

 

“I know your life on earth was troubled, and only you could know the pain…”

Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill

There are some people who cannot enter a room without bringing sunshine.  There are some among us who can inspire, guide and teach with irrepressible enthusiasm.  There are individuals whose failings do not stop them from being born optimists.  And, there are those who, in death, leave a legacy that will stand the test of time.

My niece, Audrey Hibbs, was all of these people.

Her light flickered on February 14, 2002 and was extinguished on December 14, 2014.

Life dishes out a quota of time and it’s up to each of us to find our path.  Audrey was given 39 years and she packed a lot into her short existence on this earth.  She spent the better part of the first third of her life living in Fort Vermillion, Alberta.  She was a gifted and engaging child and anyone who knew her realized that she was destined for great things.

She attended university and then started to make her mark in Antigonish with her involvement in many activities.  She taught religion to young people and was a regular reader at Sunday Mass.  She loved politics and worked for our Member of Parliament.  She got involved in martial arts and ended up a world class Tae Kwon Do practitioner.

And she met Melvin Hibbs.

They were married on June 2, 2001, and by all accounts, it was a marriage made in heaven.  They both had an unstoppable zest for life and, under their tutelage, many fledgling athletes developed determination and confidence.  As one of her students said, “She put others first, always ahead of herself.  She was dedicated, loyal and giving.  Perhaps to a fault.”  She helped hundreds of young competitors believe in themselves, and what better legacy can there be than that?

Early on the morning of Feb. 14^th in 2002, Valentine Day, Melvin left their home to attend to his work as a pilot flying over the pipelines in Colchester County.  Before departing, he made sure that roses were ordered and delivered on this special day.  The card attached to the flowers said it all. “You complete me.”  Hours later we all learned about his tragic death.  And the scarring of Audrey’s heart began.

Her brother, Dave put it clearly and succinctly in a beautifully written obituary.

“Over the past 12 years since that fateful day, Audrey has had her share of ups and downs, sharing in many good days, laughs and days filled with light … as well as many that didn’t pass as easily.  This week, the weight of her broken heart finally caught up to her, physically, after years of struggles with illness and addiction.”

None of us are able to feel other people’s pain even as we witness it on an ongoing basis.  Human suffering defies belief by times, and Audrey’s resilience in the face of so many challenges took our breath away.  She was blessed with a worldwide community of friends and strangers alike who reached out to her.  But what always sustained her was the unconditional love and support of her immediate family, who never gave up and always had faith in her.  Brosha’s Believers indeed.

On the day of Melvin’s funeral, we had a party at my mother’s house on Hillcrest Street.  Over my lifetime I have witnessed many gatherings at my old home, but never did I experience the kitchen floor heave under the weight of 75 people singing their hearts out.  And sitting there, cross legged on the floor, was Audrey.  Above all else, Audrey loved music.  I don’t usually have the stamina to play guitar non-stop for four hours.  During all that time, Audrey didn’t leave the room.  We dragged out every song imaginable and even did a duet of one of her absolute favorites: “Grandma’s Feather Bed”.   Music fed her soul that night and many times afterward.

In her honor we will gather once again, to raise our voices together, on the day of her funeral.  As we mourn, let us also rejoice in our daughter, sister, cousin and friend who saw light on even the darkest day.

“I wish I could see the angels faces When they hear your sweet voice sing.”