In the early hours of Sunday August 27 of the year 2000, a very special woman left our world for the next one.  There is honestly no telling how many lives this woman touched, but those of us that knew her and loved her will never forget her.  When many of us first met her she was just learning how to use a computer.  Her son thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to the internet, as she was afflicted with MS and it was often difficult for her to get out and meet people.  The internet became one of her social worlds, where doors to the whole world were opened for her.  She came to #hiddenroom on IRC and we became fast friends.  We all helped to teach her as much as we could about the computer and the internet and she was a fast learner.  Always learning and eventually helping others the way she was helped. But she helped us so much more than she was ever aware.  
      She taught us the joy of living, how to have fun with our imaginations.  She taught us how to gracefully accept those things we could not change and to never give up striving to change the things we could.   She showed us that it was not impossible to achieve your goals no matter how late in life you started them.  Most of all, she was there to listen when you needed someone to lean on.
        There are things about Katje that her friends were unaware of, but I myself had the privilege of sharing with her.  She was so much more than she appeared to be.   Because she was who she was, and still is, in her new found home, she passed precious gifts on to me that I will cherish throughout the rest of my lifetime.  I hope to share the gifts with those of you who understand, this is what Katje wanted from me.
      In the meantime, I have other gifts that she shared with many of us that I would like to share with you all.  She wrote a great deal of poetry, which you can find by clicking links on the next page.

      Along with all my IRC friends and a couple of people I personally introduced her to outside of IRC, I wish to express my sincerest, heartfelt condolences to Katje's family: John (husband), Johan, Robbie, Adrian, Derek, Carine, and their spouses, as well as her grandchildren.  May peace be with you in your time of sorrow.  Blessed be.

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