Katharine Hsu Obituary

Sister Katharine - our departed sister in Christ – was certainly a precious and beloved servant of the Lord, who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was indeed a “light” that shined in the world, as her name in Chinese states. But it shone not only in China, but to countless others throughout the world.

I remember when I first met her. I was in the hospital….and she was, too – as a patient. We visited every day. That was the start of a long and faithful friendship.

Soft-spoken and humble in demeanor and manner, she was the one God chose to shine in and through. She blessed and benefitted many with her consecrated gifts and with her life.

She suffered much in ways known only to the Lord, but she continued to minister and serve quietly and productively without complaint.

As her pastor for some 40 years, I saw her kindness and graciousness as she faithfully taught Bible class to our young people over the years.

I am sure she's been greeted in heaven with the praise, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

We can affirm here, that as with the Apostle Paul, to her to live was Christ, and now to die is gain!

Dr. Katharine Hsu, our friend for more than half a century, wanted to be in heaven, where we know there is a great celebration now.

Her last week on this Earth, she wanted to see us, and I gave my husband the choice. He decided to go. She was very glad to see us, but she couldn’t talk. But we held hands, and she smiled with her eyes. They sparkled.

Dr. Hsu’s great-grandfather was the first missionary in China. When her younger sister died, she was so sad. I said to her, “Why don’t you adopt me? I’ll be your No. 12 sister.”

In Chinese culture, we count all the cousins and siblings…. and that would make me the 12th one. That was decades ago.

Dr. Hsu has been a wonderful example to all of us throughout the years. I will always remember her love and generosity. Whenever we would visit her, she would take us out to eat.

When she went out of town, she would invite us to stay at her place, to give us a break from our routine. For years, she had trouble sleeping.

Once when I spent the night at her home, I made a song for her, putting a Bible verse about sleep to the music of Schubert. After that, she said her sleepless nights stopped as she listened to the music.

She always welcomed us with open arms. She regularly donated funds to our family and to God’s work.

But behind her sweet and gentle demeanor, she endured her private hardships – both spiritually and socially – sorrows she could tell no one.

Still, Dr. Hsu was gracious to everyone, and chose to focus on the positive things in her life.

There is a lot in life we don’t understand. But God expects us to be obedient to His ways, and when we do, He greatly rewards us.

I know Dr. Hsu was a woman of God who honored him in all she did. She always gave God the credit for the professional success she achieved.

I will miss Dr. Hsu. She was a remarkable woman. She was my friend…and she was my sister. She was one of a kind.

Today is but one day removed from when we laid to rest the earthly vessel known to the world as Dr Katharine Hsu. We who knew Dr Hsu as our dearly beloved Sister in Christ, rejoice in the knowledge that she, the person, the soul, the spirit still lives beyond the confines of mere human form.

For her human form and being was granted by God for a stay of a period of 93 years, during which she became the example for all of us to see what the life of a godly woman was truly to be. Dr Hsu's spirit will live with all of us who knew her as the gentle and humble spirit who accomplished far beyond what should be expected of any one person's existence while in earthly form.

But now she has transitioned to the eternity with God, which is her just reward. For God has truly prepared a grand reception for His faithful servant who had devoted her entire life to His glory and for the benefit of fellow mankind. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

In my brief comment during the funeral service yesterday, I pointed out how Dr Hsu truly lived the life of Christ. She helped found the small Chinese-American church, Grace Chapel, here in Houston in the 1950's and supported it faithfully throughout her life. The lessons and the truths I learned at Grace Chapel from her and others as I grew up through the 1960's planted a good seed in my heart. And even though I failed to provide the proper nurturing and care of that seed for many years, it remained always there in my heart.

The seed never died... it never does.

Only in recent years did I truly open my heart to allow the seed to begin to flourish and bear the fruit that is the promise of God. Please, don't ever give up on seed that has been planted. You will never know somehow, perhaps many years later, the truth you share now will finally bear fruit. And it will always be to the glory of God.

God's grace allowed me renew my acquaintance with Dr Hsu over the last year and a half. As a result, I was able to witness the Agape love she shared with Dr Hong and Sister Amy Sit. May we each strive to attain that level of God's love with those we share life with. Savor every moment, each encounter, every day we are blessed to share with our loved ones. This I finally began to learn over this time.

We all love you Dr Hsu and will miss you dearly while we are still bound to our earthly duties. But we know joy does come in the morning, when we shall finally join you in that blissful eternity which is Heaven.

Today is different from before, since there is no grandma Hsu with us in this world. We miss you.

Bless you Dr. Hsu, I believe my sister was one of your first pediatric patients treated for TB in Houston Texas in what was known as Children's TB Clinic and Hospital, the year was 1953. She is well and healthy at age 54, enjoying her children and grandchildren.My sister was an inpatient for several months 1953-1954. My mother always spoke of the wonderful doctor who took the time to explain and address her concerns--from my family, our prayers are with your family in this time of sorrow.

I fondly remember Dr. Hsu as a compassionate and caring woman. Whenever I was in her presence, God's grace exuded from her.

My mother used to tell me that Dr. Hsu was a great influence in her faith. I remember a beautiful lady that had overcome tragedy and had given so much while always praising God.

We will always treasure our memories of Katherine Hsu -- a wonderful friend.

Dr. Hsu became known in our family as Aunt Katharine when she told my mom, "You're #12 - to take the place of my sister."

I remember when I turned 16, Aunt Katharine took me shopping to celebrate, letting me choose any outfit. I selected a fire-engine red pantsuit.

Later in college, I took a photojournalism course. My assignment: Shoot a day in the life of someone. I chose someone whom I admired, and someone whose life was worth photographing: Aunt Katharine.

As I followed her at Baylor Medical School with my lens, I saw more than a brilliant doctor at her job. I saw tenderness, insight, patience, compassion, wisdom - qualities they don't teach you in medical school.

I made an A on the project.

She once mentioned she had two strikes against her - being a woman in her field; and being Chinese - and then told how God helped her overcome obstacles and achieve success.

She lived a life of grace and kindness. She was the ultimate role model for all the young people she taught in Bible class so faithfully each Sunday.

Aunt Katharine, we will miss you. You have left us with a wonderful legacy and special memories. We know you are in a better place, looking down on us from heaven.

Dear Dahlia,

I thank God for your Mother and Father! May the blessings of God remain upon you and may you find comfort in knowing that you Mother was here for such a time as this. She has fought her battle, she has run her race.

Because of the Lord's doing, she has done a great service to mankind. May you reap the rewards that are due to your Mother! May God bless you many times over and again, thank you for lending your parents to a sick and dying world. Because of God's grace, love and mercy, many people have been set free and delivered because of the willingness of your Mother to be His servant and let Him work through her hands of love!