'We will miss her greatly'

The following is an open letter from Catherine Wood, the mother of Ardeth Wood, concerning the death of her daughter which first appeared the Ottawa Citizen.

My husband, my sons and I wish to thank our friends, all the different police forces, the Ottawa Citizen, the other media, the military, OC Transpo and all the 800 plus volunteers, the vast majority of whom were totally unkown to us, who spent days walking through the difficult terrain, in scorching heat, without thought of recompense, helping us search for our missing daughter.

We are completely overwhelmed by the charity and selflessness of the people of Ottawa. We also must mention her brothers, who were indefatigble in the search. If you wish to know the definition of brother it is not necessary to consult a dictionary. They are living examples.

Now I would like to read to you a prayer, a favourite of ours. It was written by the great Venerable John Henry Newman and it is called "Lead Kindly Light".

Lead, kindly Light, a mid th'encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path, but now lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. So long Thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone, And with the morn, those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Our Heavenly Father has seen fit to take our daughter from us much sooner than we would have expected or wished. We will miss her greatly.

It was with profound joy that we watched her blossom forth into a philosopher, surpassing her father and me in intellectual ability. However, she was modest as well as curious. She was not averse to acknowledging that many of her professors and fellow PhD students were her intellectual superiors, but she felt she had her own small part to contribute to the study of philosophy.

Over the years she told me many times that she was always conscience that she was fulfilling God's purpose for her life. Gentle by nature, she was, however, independent in her thinking and firmness in her Catholic faith including its teachings on charity. This purity gave her mind clarity which was able to penetrate to the very truth of things. She also told me many times that her faith was part of the very essence of her being and that she could never be truly united with those who did not share it.

As I opened the New Testament today, I found it full of words of consolation, especially in Corinthians II.

And now we, her family, must continue without her physical presence but firm in the conviction that she is still with us. We must live our lives in such a manner as may merit us to be united with her in beholding the Beatific Vision for all eternity, and where "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Apocalypse21:4; Dewey Raines Version.)

May Ardeth's death be an occasion of grace to all of you who embrace the Catholic faith and conversion for those who have not, yet. We are grateful to all those who helped us in our time of trouble, and to God for giving us the daughter He has now taken home.

Catherine Wood,
Orl�ans

Ardeth impressive
The Ottawa Citizen
Monday, August 18, 2003

I shall always remember Ardeth Wood, whom I met in my capacity as administrator for the department of philosophy at Carleton University.
I became aware of this exceptional woman while processing final grades. Occasionally we spoke on the phone. I began to form an image of her in my mind.
One day she came to my office and quietly introduced herself. I cannot recall the reason for her visit -- perhaps she was looking for a professor or delivering an assignment -- but her unassuming manner and beauty left a lasting impression. I had the subsequent pleasure of meeting her on many occasions. I admired her gentleness, high intelligence and the conscientious way in which she pursued her studies. I observed the high regard that was felt for her throughout the department.
I will never forget Ardeth.
May Hyde,
Ottawa

She's our daughter, our sister, our friend
Jacquie Miller
The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday, August 12, 2003

I didn't know Ardeth Wood, but she's been on my mind for days. Mostly, she was in the background, a slender thread of anxiety, popping up every few hours.
Sunday, I fiddled with the car radio, checking for news: "The search continues for an Ottawa woman who has been missing since Wednesday. Police say they have no clues ... "
It seemed the city was on edge, waiting, ripples of anxiety spreading across an entire community. At the coffee shop, I casually asked the young, blond coffee clerk: "How're you doing?"
"I'm so worried about that woman," she blurted. I didn't have to wait for her to finish the sentence -- "That woman who's missing."
I knew she was talking about Ardeth Wood -- we all spoke of her by her first name. She seemed familiar, even though all we knew about her were the scraps of information released on the news.
She was 27. She jumped on her brother's bike to go for a ride from her parents' home in Orl�ans. She and her mom planned to go shopping later. Ordinary, reassuring events that are repeated hundreds of times on any lazy summer day. A student home visiting from university, a happy family, an afternoon bike ride.
But by yesterday morning, it was hard to fight back the dread.
When I opened the paper to read that police were searching for a young man who had been approaching women bicycling on the Ottawa River parkway where Ms. Wood disappeared, tears streamed down my face. I quickly wiped them away, embarrassed to be sobbing in my neighbourhood coffee shop.
But I think anyone would understand. People across the city are weeping for Ms. Wood. We are strangers, but we feel we knew her. She's our friend, our sister, our daughter.
For everyone, there are just too many reminders.
She could be my own sister at 27, also a slim, studious blond, who was studying for her PhD in philosophy and dreamed of being a professor.
Shortly after Ms. Wood disappeared, I remember the group of chatty women at my rowing club along the Ottawa River going dead quiet when they saw the posters plastered all over the boathouse.
We stared at her picture -- Ms. Wood's head is thrown back, she's laughing. "She's so beautiful," whispered one woman. The black type on the poster seemed horrifyingly harsh: MISSING. Still, we clung to hope.
We repeated the comments I heard so often in the days after Ms. Wood vanished, relayed more to comfort ourselves than out of any conviction: Well, maybe she just fell off her bike and is injured, but will be found soon.
Now, there's only numbness. And her fate is churning up worry, grief and anger in this safe, beautiful city where women didn't think twice about bicycling along the many bike paths, especially in broad daylight. Until now.
Just a couple weeks ago, I was biking alone along the same Ottawa River path, stopping to sit on a rock near the shore and watch a blue heron land, enjoying the quiet and isolation. Now, that path seems ominous. I'm afraid, I'm angry. And I'm grieving for someone I've never met.
I can't imagine what hell Ms. Wood's family is enduring today. But if it's any small comfort to the Woods, please know this: people across the city are weeping for Ms. Wood.
And you are in our prayers.

A deeper cause The Ottawa Citizen
Thursday, August 14, 2003