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Last Tuesday we celebrated the life of a precious person, Helane Fittell. At the memorial service in our church I remembered her with these words:
Although she was never really aware of it, Helane had an unusual ability to extend friendship. I’ve seen this in this place as well as the other spheres of her life. Helane cultivated friendships. She would sensitively approach people, taking an interest in them and hearing their story. She didn’t do this with an agenda, quite the opposite, she was just interested in people and wanted to be friendly.
In 2007 Helane and I had the privilege of going to Cambodia to visit an education project and to Thailand to run a children’s program for those who work in Asia with the organisation TEAR. In Phnom Penh I watched her approach this group of new and inexperienced teachers, first observing them and then affirming and giving gentle advice, support and encouragement. In Chiang Mai she quickly built relationships with the children and their parents, taking an interest in their lives.
When Helane chose the hymn “Be thou my vision” to be sung today, it was a reflection of the importance of prayer to Helane. In situations that affected those around her she would quietly bring them to God. Her prayers revealed a sense of gratitude, of appreciation for the person. She would begin by expressing thanks for the person, for her relationship with them and for the things she had shared with or learned through them. This often moved on to a request for a change in attitude, not demanding that a situation change but that she and those affected by it learn in the midst of these circumstances. There were times when she would admit that her own problems were a result of a wrong on her part, and seek to put it right as best she could. Even when it was difficult or challenging, she would nevertheless act on the ideas that came to her in that place of listening.
She once told me that she didn’t think her life made much difference to people. Although I didn’t say it at the time, I can say now, “Helane, your life has made a difference to mine.”

Helane made names from coral on South Molle Is

Bushwalking, Mt Coochin

Working with children in Chiang Mai

Getting to know teachers in Phnom Penh

David, Helane and Linda on the Noosa River