I’ve taken some time before writing this, to remember and to grieve. I miss my friend Catherine Crout-Habel and this is my tribute. I’m reading other people’s blog tributes and this is proving harder to write than I thought it would be.
I met Catherine through our mutual love of genealogy and blogging. We soon found that we shared a passion for teaching, remembering, recording and saving history also. We commented on each others blog posts but this one I remember especially. Here is the post “Trapped” and then our comments.
I worked with Catherine on Saving Graves South Australia to inform the public of the re-use of graves in South Australia. Here is an early newspaper article Catherine did. The Financial Cost of Resting in Peace
“For a small group of concerned South Australians, the recent creation of South Australia’s Burial and Cremation Act has failed to solve one very important issue – the right for a person to eternally rest in peace.”
We also made this website Saving Graves Australia and we have a Facebook Group. I am continuing the work Catherine began with the able assistance and friendship of Phil Beames.
Catherine and I were both members of Genealogists for Families a group on Kiva which makes loans to borrowers all over the world to expand their small businesses, support their families, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Today I dedicated this loan to Catherine. Fatima is a teacher in Nicaragua.
Here is one of Catherine’s Friday Funny posts from Facebook. I loved her sense of humour.
We both loved the TV show Time Team and when Professor Mick Aston passed away, 24 Jun 2013, we shared our favourite memories of Mick and our favourite episodes. Mick was famous on the show not only for his brilliant archaeology but also his bright stripey jumpers and hats. I made two hats in honour of Professor Mick one for myself and one for Catherine which she loved. When I wear my stripey hat I’ll think of you and Professor Mick.
Catherine’s second to last blog post in April again shows her great sense of humour, being able to make jokes about her illness.
“However I am “on the mend” and just wanted to let my blogging friends and regular readers know that I haven’t “fallen off the twig” yet… Lucky me, eh?… As my energy returns I will catch up on reading your blogs which I’ve missed terribly.”
Now you’ve gone and I still had so much left that I wanted to say. I’ll visit your grave and we can have a chat one day soon. When you “fell” I pray it was a soft landing!!
