Letters to the editor
Thanks for Deirdre
Marnie Butler, Victoria
Volume 32 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: June 9, 2018
The Editor:
Thank you so much for your coverage of Deirdre Kelly’s passing in the Spring 2018 issue of ICN. I am very grateful that I, too, called her a friend. I believe that as we moved in and out of one another’s lives for over three decades, our understanding and appreciation, each to the other, grew over the years.
I first met Deirdre through her work with the Central American Support Committee. Then while volunteering with the Tools for Peace (for Nicaragua) Project (which used her co-op’s office), I became more acquainted with her as she popped in every once in a while to see how I was doing and offered me the use of her washroom—now that was Deirdre—never standing on formality.
The Editor:
Thank you so much for your coverage of Deirdre Kelly’s passing in the Spring 2018 issue of ICN. I am very grateful that I, too, called her a friend. I believe that as we moved in and out of one another’s lives for over three decades, our understanding and appreciation, each to the other, grew over the years.
I first met Deirdre through her work with the Central American Support Committee. Then while volunteering with the Tools for Peace (for Nicaragua) Project (which used her co-op’s office), I became more acquainted with her as she popped in every once in a while to see how I was doing and offered me the use of her washroom—now that was Deirdre—never standing on formality.
For a while I served on the Social Justice Commission for the Diocese of Victoria and she worked in the office for Social Justice. Ironically, while she gave us many hours, days and years of dedication as an activist and organizer, we were never really able to give her a “just” salary that was in line with her contribution of time and gifts. So it goes for women in the work force…
I think maybe Deirdre and I both did best in an informal setting. We certainly laughed a lot when we worked on projects here in my little home/office. For example, when I was editing ICN and she was on the board of directors in the 1990s, we decided she needed “official looking” press credentials in order to acquire easier access to the base, while protesting at Fort Benning, Georgia’s “School of the Americas”, where they were training right-wing Central American dictators and their ilk. She knew she was risking arrest in this matter. The protest went well and there were no arrests for Deirdre that day until she poured some holy water on some official sign leading to the school. I had acquired this water at St. Brigid’s Well in Ireland, and I’m not sure the arresting officer thought Dierdre was doing such a “holy” thing. So it goes…
Deirdre’s life was full of love, laughter and dedication. She was devoted to her husband John, children Matthew and Emma and her love will sustain them just as her faith fuelled her activism. The beauty she found in this world is also still here in her paintings. She will abide.
I once had a dream about Deirdre. It was one of those super colourful dreams one has, much like her vibrant paintings. She was walking along a country road away from us as I stood on a porch with her children. We were waving. Deirdre was off on a new adventure. As she was almost out of sight I yelled the name I called her in the dream. GOODBYE AMETHYST. You are a precious jewel.
Marnie Butler, Victoria