A Special Gift from the Estate Of Diane Fairclough
We celebrate the life of Diane Fairclough, who visited Koloa Union Church regularly on her annual visits to Kauai. We are also grateful for her generosity to our church during her lifetime and after her passing last year. We recently received a gift of $400,000 from her estate. Her sister, Susanne, who joined Diane on her trips to Kauai, recently visited us and delivered the check. She spent some time with Kahu, explaining how much our church meant to Diane. Kahu asked her to put some of her words in writing so that he could share them with the congregation.
A Tribute from Diane’s Sister, Susanne
It is my joy to honor my sister Diane’s generosity of spirit and clear intention for benefit to continue in the wake of her life. Since her sudden passing a year ago, on March 2, 2024, I’ve reflected often on many of the gifts that I and others have received from her. I’ll mention a few of her passions, and perhaps you can understand why Koloa Union Church held a special place in her heart, and in her will.
As a leader and mentor in Quality of Life Studies for cancer research, she broke through the glass ceiling for women in the field of public health and made it a priority to give support to others.
Music greatly enriched her life. While early on she played flute, bassoon, guitar, and dulcimer, ukulele became her favored instrument late in life. She founded an ukulele outreach group, spreading aloha, playing at retirement homes and memory care units in the Denver area, while many joined in hula from their seats. Diane had also been choir director at two congregations, one at Chapel Hill while pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Health and later in Memphis, when she worked at St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.
Kauai has been a home for us to return to over 25 years. It was a beloved place Diane conjured in her mind when she went through surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.
Koloa Union Church resonated with Diane—its friendliness, its strong connection with the Hawaiian culture through ceremony, music and Rose’s hula, Kahu Alan’s vision of Christianity that holds all beings in its embrace of loving kindness, and the ways the church members actively engage in community. We were especially grateful when a church member delivered produce from farmer’s markets when we were unable to leave our rooms during 10 days of Covid quarantine after our arrival.
I can feel Diane continuing to rejoice in the activities of the church, knowing that her contribution is helping it uplift our world at this critical time. I’m grateful that she put in writing how her wishes could be fulfilled.
If anyone is thinking in a similar way to make a bequest to the church, don’t delay; it will benefit the church and those who survive you in ways you can’t imagine.
With Aloha, Susanne Fairclough
Our Church Council decided to use some of the funds from this gift to repair the roof on the Smith Memorial Parsonage, which has had major leaks for several months, and to place the bulk of the gift into our reserve funds for the time being.
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