| Notes |
- Obit: Gospel Herald, May 24,1983, page 355.
"A tribute to Anna Kay Massanari" by Edna Springer
A worship celebration in memory of the faith and service of Anna Katherine Massanari was held January 26, 1983, at East Bend Church, Fisher, Illinois. Pastor Paul O. King was in charge of the services and gave a meditation from Psalm 34. This passage was a favorite of Anna Kay's.
"O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together. . . .
The angel of the Lord encamps around
those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good. . . . "
We knew Anna Kay as a sister in Christ, a friend and a laborer in the gospel. Hers was a steadfast faith and a life of devotion to our Lord. Our lives have been enriched by her love, compassion, and the joy in her heart. She was a missionary in Puerto Rico for 32 years. The past number of years she spent several months each summer in the U.S. visiting her brothers Karl, Bob, Joe, Russell, and Walter and their families. Much of this time was spent in Fisher. It blessed us and challenged us to hear her testimonies by word and song in our worship services. She gave her beautiful soprano voice to sing praises to our God. She loved Bible study and we felt it a privilege to have her in our Sunday school classes or in Bible study and prayer groups. As a friend we knew she enjoyed life itself. She enjoyed Christian fellowship and it was fun to play word games with her. When at Fisher she was one of our avid church library readers.
In her youth, Anna Kay felt a call to missionary work and decided to go to Goshen College for preparation. It was there that she was advised to study for a profession along with her Bible training. She chose teaching, which proved to be a good choice because of the love, kindness, and concern she had for children. Anna Kay went to Puerto Rico in 1950 and began teaching in the first and second grades in Betania Mennonite School. At the time they were adding third and fourth grades. Carol Glick told of some of their difficult experiences which included driving 3/4-ton truck to school-an hour's drive each way. They would gather up the children to and fro. Anna Kay was deeply involved not only in the school and its formation but in the production of music for Luz y Verdad, the Spanish broadcast. She was always active in the Sunday services through music, teaching, and through other means.
In 1960 Anna Kay injured her back while on playground duty and was advised to make every effort to avoid further injuries. She then took a job in the offices of Luz y Verdad, correcting correspondence lessons and counseling through letters for listeners. She had the opportunity to touch many persons in this way.
Another interesting epoch in Anna Kay's life was the development of her care and education for Maria Rosado, who became a foster daughter to her. Later Maria married, and Anna Kay claimed three foster grandchildren. She loved them very much. During Anna Kay's illness, Maria came and cared for her two weeks. She came again with two of her children shortly before Anna Kay passed away and then remained for the funeral.
It was in the year 1977 that Betania School needed a kindergarten teacher, and at this time, having recovered from her back injury, Anna Kay resumed teaching. Later she taught English classes at the school. In August 1982 Anna Kay was to begin an extensive Bible teaching program for kindergarten through grade four. After all, teaching the Bible was her first love.
She returned to Puerto Rico from vacation in the States on July 24, 1982. At this time she knew there was something wrong with her body but she helped get the school started and had taught only one week when Dr. Graber, after examination, made immediate arrangements for her to come back to the States. On the following Sunday in our sharing time, she told us about the growth in her abdomen, that the prognosis was not good and that she would be entering the hospital for tests. Then she expressed her faith and trust in word and song. The congregation was deeply moved. The hymn she sang was from Psalms 34-one they often sang in Spanish and that translated easily into English. Her testimony was that the Lord had delivered her from all her fears. Her desire was that the Lord would be magnified, whatever the outcome.
The diagnosis was malignant lymphoma. Even though the following months of treatments were difficult for her, we noted on various occasions during this time that she continued in her love and concern for others. She witnessed to many during these days of affliction. She deeply appreciated the care given to her by her family.
It seemed to us that her life was cut short on January 24, when she departed just before her 57th birthday. One of the verses of Scripture she had shared was "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." One of her friends remarked, "She showed us how to face death with faith and courage."
Following is a poem she wrote on August 18, 1982:
The day is beautiful, Lord,
As is every day we live with you.
The sun rises, the sun sets,
Moon and stars come out.
Day after day, night after night,
Season after season, your world is ordered,
Nature follows a divine plan.
We trust that plan, for we see it has never failed.
Seedtime and harvest, you have said, year after year.
Shall our lives, then, be any less ordered?
One experience follows another in perfect sequence.
Even in seedtime and harvest, rain and clouds
Sometimes obscure the view ahead.
Clouds obscure the sun too,
But makes your plan no less orderly.
So what if clouds have now obscured
The sunshine of my Betania day?
I do not see the smiling children who wait
To hear about the "letter" you have written them.
But beyond those clouds the sun still shines, I know.
And night and day continue in succession.
So shall my faith cause me to rise
Above the clouds that hide Betania from my sight
And know that order still exists
In this life, because forever and eternally
I am yours.
Edna Springer is a member of East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, Ill.
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1926 - 1983 (56 years)
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