Comments by JV on the occasion of Eleanor Vandruff’s memorial service.
Let me tell you about Eleanor Vandruff.She was a unique human being, beautiful in every way. Her life was a blessing to everyone who knew her; and as her husband for 57 years, only God knew her better than I did.
“Yes, we sorrow... but not as those who have no hope.” “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (1Thes.4:13 & 2Cor. 5:8) So, we’re sad for ourselves, but overwhelmed with joy and celebration for Eleanor’s great influence for good.
At the age of three, Eleanor was already singing from a church platform about the wondrous love of Jesus, our Savior, and her entire life reflected this love... it filled her soul and spirit.
Some might ask, “Why did she die from Alzheimer’s?” The answer: “Why not?” Everyone is destined to die from something, and in many cases we cannot understand God’s plans and purposes.
Eleanor’s unspoken credo was “Others” and “Giving Is Living” These expressions describe her life.
She never spoke badly about anyone, but loved everyone, and I believe everybody loved her. Her singing was “heart singing” from one heart to another... individual to individual... every person was dear to her.
Unbelievable, but during all these years, she was never angry, nasty, hateful, or difficult. She was ALWAYS pleasant, lovely, and loveable. She never changed! You can’t imagine what a delight it was to live with her. I’ve felt that I was the most blest man on the earth.
She knew more Bible than probably 95% of clergy, memorized the entire book of Philippians, and although Alzheimer’s had destroyed my name and the names of her four sons, she could still remember scriptures. As I read the Bible to her each evening, she would finish scripture verses that I had begun. Amazing! She was literally a walking Bible, and it controlled every aspect of her life.
It seems impossible, but there was not one cross word between us until about 2 years ago... then I accused her of being obstinate and difficult because she wouldn’t open her mouth wide enough for the food I was spoon-feeding her. I wasn’t taking into consideration her Alzheimer’s difficulties. She didn’t bite back. She just tried harder.
I think she was one of the most beautiful women in the world, right up to the moment she departed this life at 89. She went to heaven while I was touching up her right eyebrow with an eyebrow pencil. My face was about 6-8” from hers when, without a gasp or even a tremble, her soft sweet breath simply came to an end, and she was gone. How could it be more beautiful than that? Felicia, her hospice nurse for 6 weeks, commented with tears that she had never seen anyone like Eleanor in her six years of watching people approach death. Taking no medication whatsoever, she endured no pain, no discomfort, no anguish... She had perfect peace and an ethereal beauty. Her cheeks were like silk. What a beautiful picture for me to remember.
Eleanor was incomparable. I’m firmly convinced she was the finest woman God made in the 20th century... impossible to copy, but well worth a great deal of effort for everyone to emulate.
Let us all rejoice that God gave us Eleanor for as long as He did!
Jean Vandruff
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