Dear Friends and Pet Lovers,

 

Yesterday, December 27 at approximately 12 noon our beloved cat Deli died of heart failure.

 

She blessed our lives with her spirit and her love for 13 years.  Like the baby Jesus, Deli was born in a barn--which is why Christmas was her favorite holiday.  She and Mona picked one another out when she was just six weeks old and they were both living in South Carolina.  Deli became a well travelled cat living not only in South Carolina, but Georgia and Texas as well.  She was also a well educated cat and very spiritual as she helped Mona complete theological curriculum for Samaritan Institute and together they practiced Centering Prayer.

 

For the last six years of her life, Deli picked out Deb to love too.  Deli loved Deb's cat massages and the meals of microwaved Fancy Feast with milk. And of course Deb came with Betty, Bob, and Tui whom Deli also loved in her own way.  For the last three years our family has consisted of Deli, Deb, Mona, Bob, Tui and little (big now) Jessie.  Young Jessie was in awe of Deli and loved the way she smelled.  (Deli wasn't too happy about it.) Deli was our matriarch and wise guide and we give thanks for the many things she taught us and the unique ways she loved us.

 

She was a cat with attitude, (named after Delilah in the Old Testament) not very social, but fiercely attached to those she did love.  She was a contemplative and she became a famous cat when Mona shared her theme song with parishoners in a sermon she preached at the end of August. ("Hootie, Hootie.  Hootie would you be mine.  Hootie, Hootie.)

 

Our most favorite nickname for her was "Hootie" and as her song claims, indeed she was ours.

 

In loving memory:

Deli, Bannana, Hootie West-Elder

November 1990-December 2003