A Step Into Heaven
(In Memory of Gwenda May Knappstein)
A breath away from freedom,
without an eye opened,
the soul stepped into heaven.
Peace and tranquillity
now sit within a hollow body
with a face of holiness.
A great life of achievement,
left in one moment,
is now a treasured memory
of golden accomplishments
forever written on her path.
Where the magpies sing
in the gardens and trees,
there is her music.
Heard in the voices of children,
the sounds still resonate,
a timeless joy.
How great she was to those
blessed by her love.
Her song would rise above the hymn
like her star above
gently shining,
her love continuously flowing
brighter than ever.
© Kelvin S Brown 13/02/2025
A WOMAN OF PEACE AND MUSIC MAKING
In memory of Gwenda Mary Knappstein
The Uniting Temple Church at Henley Beach, Adelaide was Gwenda’s loving spiritual home, a home celebrated by her faith.
Gwenda, as a name, represents the words white and blessed. All those who knew her were blessed. She was an individual who significantly influenced lives over many decades.
I first met Gwenda in her green Morris Minor on a cold, rainy wintry morning, caught out waiting for Heather at the bus stop to go to school together. From then I was part of her life for the next 56 years and it was a privilege and honour to be with her when she quietly passed at the age of 98.
A few months into my relationship with Heather, I was knocking on her front door saying I had written a song about Heather and would she like to hear it. Could she record it on her portable tape recorder? Unbeknown to me, Gwenda was a composer herself, a professional soloist singer, pianist, and conductor of choirs. Imagine what she thought about Heather’s boyfriend, who had composed a song. Our relationship after that morning was cemented in music and we were forever confidants to each other.
We both had in common strong faiths and used music to bring God to people.
We both accompanied hymn singing throughout our lives.
We also had successful teaching careers: Gwenda led and conducted choirs, while I worked with young people in various music education activities.
With my music school of students learning piano, voice and theory, Gwen was the honorary patron, handing out annual awards and prizes.
Gwenda was indeed my oak tree. Together, we would look after Heather’s interest.
On the day we returned from our honeymoon to our cottage, Gwenda had cleaned and prepared the entire place, including filling the fridge and pantry with necessary food plus providing her own cookbook written in her hand in a large Collin’s diary which we followed to the letter for at least seven years. Because it said mince patties with no mention of cooking, we had them raw, such was our faith in her cookbook.
Gwenda was our number 1 horticulturist for gardening. She had green fingers and could always turn dying plants into green living beauties. Her pruning was masterful and timely. She was, after all, a Clare country girl. Can this plant grow here or there? We would always ask and there was always a definite answer.
Gardens featured in the land of Gwenda and fern houses, cups of tea, salad lunches, dress making, barbeques, elephant paw buns, family gatherings, take away chickens on Christmas day, Tuesday evening family teas, Festival of Music concerts and a general can do for requests.
An organizer, meticulous planner, a numbers person, Gwenda applied those skills to all she did. The family gift shop business, Heather and Ashley’s early singing careers for TV and recordings, Church musicals, dress making, singing rehearsals for her choirs. She was a doer constantly doing and enjoying her activities, with no boring moments in her life.
Gwenda always knew her time and place in life. During her nursing home time, I asked her at Christmas how she was, and she replied, ‘I’m halfway here and halfway there.’
Now we celebrate her not halfway but her full place in heaven.
Kelvin Brown
