An Amazing Friend

Mary-Ann Hummel (Thies)
Smithville, Ontario
Life long friend

When I heard the news about Ted’s accident, I couldn’t believe it, how could someone that was so close to me be gone. Since then Ted has been on my mind, I have been remembering all the times we have spent together. Being friends since elementary school sure adds up; tackle football in elementary school, camping with young peoples, hanging out on the weekends, our phone conversations, emails, the times he would come down for the holidays from Alberta, Grand Rapids or wherever he was at the time. We would get together for lunch or dinner and get caught up on what we have been doing since the last time we have talked or seen each other. Ted was the type of person to ask the questions, finding out what was new, old or bothering me and he would listen and give advice. He was very good at turning my questions around so that we would end up talking about me. After a while I would do the same to him and he would just laugh his unique laugh.

There are so many memories of Ted that I do not know where to begin or what to write. He was an amazing friend with a kind, gentle heart and a love for anyone and anything that crossed his path. He always made sure he had time for his friends and families. Even though some of them may have been brief reunions, he still made sure they happened. The times that we got together, we would talk about our families, the nieces and nephews and how he loved spending time with them.

The last few times we have tried to get together when he was down, never seemed to work. Either I was gone on holidays, or the days that he was available just didn’t seem to work for me, or his time here was just too jammed packed with visiting. That was okay; we made sure we kept in touch with email. The last time he did come down to our place was two summers ago. I remembering sitting out on our deck and talking about everything and anything. Yes, he did most of the listening but I knew how to get him talking. I showed him my vegetable garden. Right away, he started telling me how to take care of this and that, and how I can eventually have an organic garden. He seemed excited for me and gave me lots of pointers. He sure loved anything to do with gardening.

Mr. and Mrs. Vellenga, Heidi, Chris, Tim and Natalie, I just want you to know that I am thinking and praying for you guys. Ted was an amazing person who will always be close to my heart; I will never forget him or any of the times we have spent together, he has definitely made me a better person. I don’t understand why his time here on earth was so short, but I do know that he has touched many lives and those lives he touched will never forget him.