On this page we remember members of the Sword of the Spirit (primarily from communities in the North American Region) who have recently passed away. To include a community member on this page, please send a photograph and a memorial of 200 words or fewer to: jerry.munk@yahoo.com.
Servants of the Lamb Community, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mary A. Pierzchala went to be with her Lord Jesus Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. She was 89 years old, and missed her 90th birthday by just 2 months. Mary was single in life, yet embraced our community with her faithfulness, generosity and love. For Mary, putting Christ first in her life was primary. She faithfully interceded for others came regularly to community activities and participated fully to the very end even though it was difficult physically. One example of her love for each of us was sending regular birthday cards. Mary lived in the same house since birth and was a member of her parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, her whole life. She volunteered there in many ways including being a lector. Attending her funeral were many members of various Christian groups she belonged to throughout the years.
Carole Stoll
Word of Life Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Carole A. Stoll ran to heaven on May 6, 2010, after a courageous battle
with
ovarian cancer.
Carole joined the Word of God Community in 1969. Her husband, Richard,
joined the following year. They made their public commitment around
1974. She was buried with her veil, an outward sign of that
covenant. Carole was an active member of the Word of Life, serving in
many ways and joyfully sharing her life over the years. She is survived
by her husband of 45 years, Richard F. Stoll Jr., and their three
children: Mark (and his wife, Elise, with their children, Sawyer and
Taine, members of
Spring Lake Wesleyan Church
in Spring Lake, Michigan); Matt (and his wife, Heidi, with their
children, Nathan, Jacob, Andrew, Grace, Rachel, Philip, Sophie, and
Charity, members of
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
and The
Work of Christ Community
in Lansing, Michigan); and Diane (and her husband, Mariano, with their
children Mariano, Rebeca, Javier, and Luis, members of Christ the King
Catholic Church and The Word of Life Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan).
Carole was a channel of God’s love to all, she valued relationships and
worked hard to sustain them, always keeping Jesus Christ at the center.
Kim Smith
Work of Christ Community, Lansing, Michigan
Our dear sister, Kimberly Anne Smith, passed into the arms of the Lord on Monday, March 8, 2010. Kim was a faithful sister and a wonderful servant of Jesus Christ. As a senior women’s leader, Kim served the sisters of the Grand River District. She was also a women’s group leader in the district. She was invaluable to the women’s council in taking care of the many details related to the women’s conference and the annual women’s prayer meeting. Kim was a “prayer warrior” who never ceased to take her requests to the Lord. Kim, along with Mark, her husband of 34 years, was one of the early members of the Work of Christ. Together they reared five children—Scott, Stacey, Shannon, Matt, and Andy—for whom she also constantly made intercession. Kim loved the Work of Christ and the Sword of the Spirit; she embraced our call to simplicity of life and made significant lifestyle sacrifices in order to stay home with her children and serve the community. She gave us an example of a life well lived: “well done, good and faithful servant.”
04/2010