Mothers favorite hymns by Raymond Kraftson

From: Raymond Kraftson [mailto:rhk@arianepartners.com]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 1:00 PM

You may remember that two years ago Mother and I had a long project involving finding and recording our favorite hymns. They include (really special ones are bolded):

How Firm a Foundation
Eternal Father Strong to Save
Immortal, Invisible
Once to Every Man and Nation
Lead On, O King EternalI Vow to Thee My Country (Gustav Holst – Britain’s Patriotic Hymn of the First World War - Mother LOVED the music - would be good for pre-service music)
Amazing Grace
O God Our Help in Ages Past
The Church’s One Foundation
God of Our Fathers
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Come Thou Almighty King
O for a Thousand Tongues
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
O Thank Thee Lord our God
O for the Beauty of the Earth
Lord and Father of Mankind
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
I Need Thee Every Hour
Battle Hymn of the Republic
This Is My Father’s World
The Doxology
Savior Like a Shepherd, Lead Us
Abide with Me
Fairest Lord Jesus (Mother and Grandmother Hallstrom)May Jesus Christ be Praised
O Worship the King
A Mighty Fortress is our God
It is Well with My SoulNow Thank We All our God

Not sure I got all the titles right. Also, she grew up with the Lutheran hymns and her love for them never waned.

This is one of the most important things I ever did with her. My tears listening to these while writing this would fill a bucket. Some of you have the CD I made of these.
Love,
Randy

if you had to summarize Elisabeth in a few words...

• Inquiring mind
• Interested in people
• Diligent Bible student
• Loving mother and grandmother
• Active

Add your own summary or examples of these using comments!

Mother doing bike maintenance at the age of 86...The can is chain lube!

email from grandson Josh Stone 8/15/09

From: Joshua Stone
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:01 PM

Hi Aunt Connie,

...the more I think about Grandmother the more I am aware of her legacy, that is, her husband and her children and her faith in the Lord and the faith of hers passed on to her children, passed on to me, which I hope to pass on to mine by way of the same means, that is, the grace of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. I can't escape how all of this culminates for Grandmother in her present peace. She ran the race and fought the fight, and is reaping only the beginning of her reward even as I type.

I often tell my son that he will get to see Uncle Tim when Jesus comes back. So now grandmother is added to the saints. Moreover, this is an opportunity to tell my son about Granddad, who he never knew. There is no flawless lineage, but I am so pleased and so grateful to God for letting me be in this very one.

In college I had a powerful flashback while listening to a Michael Card song about his grandfather--I've told Mom this story once or twice. The memory was of Granddad reading Psalm 121 to me in the basement of the house on Malin Road before I went to sleep that night (I recall him kneeling next to me, but who knows). "I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth..." The Michael Card lyric went, "Granddad I wish you could be here, to tell me what to do/'cause I first saw the light of Christ in you." I recall experiencing some sort of thought along the lines of "He really believes this." And this was no small thing.

Its that sort of memory that I think of--where the light of Christ comes from--when I talk about Grandmother's legacy, and my extreme gratitude for being in it. The active grace of God is part of her legacy--no, it IS the legacy!

Much love,
Josh

note from her oldest grandson

From: Donald Kraftson
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:38 AM

Dear Aunt Connie

I am thankful that Grandmother is with the Lord and thankful for the wonderful life she led filling us with her beauty and strength.

Grandmother and Grandfather are the salt of the earth to me and a to live by.

Love,
Donald

Elisabeth's Family

Harry Aaron Kraftson (born July 7, 1917 – died December 24, 1994)
married Elisabeth Jane Hallstrom (born November 20, 1915 - died August 15, 2009)

Elisabeth Jane Hallstrom was born in Lakewood Ohio on November 20, 1915, to Raymond Lester Hallstrom and Elsie Gertrude Breytspraak Hallstrom. She had one older brother, John Raymond Hallstrom, who was a rocket scientist on the Titan missile project.

Elisabeth, also known as 'Betsey' and later 'Betty', graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1934. She graduated from Rosemont College in 1938 with a degree in Biology. She married Harry on April 15, 1939. They lived in a variety of homes. As their family grew, they moved to 314 Cynwyd Rd. in Bala Cynwyd. In 1960 they moved to a house that Harry built, 357 Malin Rd. in Newtown Square, to be close to the Delaware County Christian School. They downsized to 5 Hunters Run in Newtown Square in the early '80's. They moved to Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community in 1992.

Key churches they attended include:
Church of the Covenant (Presbyterian) - Bala Cynwyd
Springton Lake Presbyterian Church - Newtown Square
Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church - Quarryville

Their children are:

Raymond (Randy) Harry Kraftson (Margo Knewstub) of Villanova. They have 4 children:
• Donald Kraftson (Ann) of NYC. They have 2 children, Brooke and Charlie. Donald works with his father in their own business.
• Meg Kelley (James), Baltimore works in public relations
• Beth Sikdar (Ian), Rose Tree, Delaware County teaches kindergarten
• Michele Griffen (Brian), Villanova

Judith Ann Kraftson, stillborn on March 19, 1942

Timothy Alan Kraftson (Nguyen Thi Sát, called Sát), Troy, Michigan
They have 3 children:
• Anna Elisabeth Kraftson, Chicago has a son, Kincade Kraftson-Hogue and teaches high school science in Naperville.
• Andrew Timothy Kraftson (Sonia Klauder) has a son, David and live in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Andrew is a fellow in endocrinology.
• Stephanie Kraftson - pre-med at U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Meredith Jane Stone (Ralph)- They live in Houston and have 4 children:
• Timothy Edward Stone – died in 2007. His widow is Kristen Murphy Stone who lives in Dearborn, MI and teaches first grade.
• Laurel Elisabeth Stevens (John) lives in Houston and has 2 children, Elisabeth and Henry.
• Joshua Stone (Sarah) lives in Houston and has 2 children, Timothy and Charlotte.
• Nathaniel Stone lives in Austin, Texas.

Constance (Connie) Elisabeth McDowell (Glenn) live in Conshohocken, PA and has 4 children:
• David Alastair Whitefield McDowell, living at home
• Shelby Victoria Faith McDowell, attending Philadelphia University.
• Anna Elisabeth McDowell, attending Philadelphia Biblical University.
• Andrei Benjamin McDowell, in high school

Claudia Damaris Brice (Dennis) lives in Harleysville, PA and has 4 children:
• Dennis Nathanael Aaron Brice (Ana Batista) live in Union, NJ and have a daughter, Ariana Evangeline.
• Mark Ashley Kraftson Brice (Sandy Smit) is attending U. of Delaware for graduate work in psychology.
• Abigail Joanna Rae Green (Mark) lives in Virginia Beach.
• Peter Ian Michael Aiden Brice is studying geology at Wheaton College

Mother's last week by Connie McDowell

On Saturday night, August 8th, 2009, around 10:30pm, my mother, Elisabeth Kraftson, fell in her room in the Assisted Living section of Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community. Her leg gave out. She had been so frail, and growing weaker steadily over the past months. Thankfully she was wearing a call button around her neck so was able to alert the nearby nurse. The nurses called an ambulance which took her to Lancaster General Hospital. They discovered she’d had a hip fracture which could only be repaired by surgery, so she was admitted.

I drove to the hospital after being notified by Quarryville of ths situation, arriving about 2am. I was able to stay with Mom in her private hospital room. Mom looked so frail but she smiled so sweetly at me and was glad I was there.

An orthopedic surgeon arrived around 7am to see Mom to explain the surgery required to repair the fracture – 2 permanent screws to hold the bone together.

I stayed with her until around 3pm Sunday. We had a very sweet time together. Mother was so dear & precious. My brother Randy was able to stop by Quarryville in the morning and bring a few necessities for Mom. Claudia arrived home from a week in Orlando Sunday morning. She arrived at the hospital around 5pm and stayed with Mom round the clock until late Tuesday evening.

Sunday came and went, we kept waiting for Mom to be taken to surgery but it didn’t happen. All this time, our poor Mother, who weighs in the low 80’s, couldn’t eat or drink, and had to lie in one position, on her back. We could swab her mouth with water which we did often. Monday morning they didn’t call her to surgery and couldn’t provide an O.R. time. Around 1pm, Claudia (and Mother) were very concerned that nothing was scheduled. She went to the Hospital Administration office and explained the situation to a Patient Advocate. Thankfully, within about 10 minutes, Mother was taken to the OR.

I was so thankful for Claudia’s teamwork so I could attend an important annual customer meeting. And Claudia was very thankful that Tim and Sat were able to come out to relieve her. We all felt that spending time with Mom was a huge privilege, not a burden, and we were all sorry we couldn't be with her more.

Mom was very aware and ‘with it’ during the entire ordeal. She did say a few funny things while under the influence of strong pain medication. She told Claudia she was going to rob Peter to pay Paul. When Claudia asked, 'What can I do to help you, Mom?', she replied, 'Pay Paul!'

I visited Mom again Wednesday evening. I was able to feed her a little bit. I kissed her and held her hand and she fell asleep; I like to think that it helped her feel better just having my presence nearby.

My brother Tim & his wife Sat arrived around 8pm, so we were there about an hour together. Sat stayed in the room with Mom. Mother was discharged Thursday by ambulance to the convalescent (skilled nursing) unit at Quarryville. She was so frail and pathetic (in a sweet way). She was not strong enough to even ring for the nurse.

Tim and Sat have a particular knack for showing up at the right time and providing incredibly practical and helpful support to Mom which we appreciate so much. It was so wonderful that they supported her through the transition back to Quarryville and then through her transition from this life to the next.

Claudia & I visited her Thursday and Friday after work, and were there with Tim and Sat. Glenn came as well on Friday evening. We sang to Mother and cried and laughed with her. She could not eat or drink, or speak much, only whisper a few words and smile. But she was not in great pain and went in and out of consciousness. When she was awake she comprehended what was going on around her and responded. She would wake up for a couple of minutes then fade out for awhile.

Friday evening, Mother was delighted to see the newlyweds, Mark & Sandy Brice, for a brief visit around 9pm. She brightened up visibly and even managed to say a few words to them. It was especially poignant since she'd been unable to attend their wedding three weeks prior.

Saturday morning, as in the prior few days, Mother continued to fail fast. Her breathing was labored. Tim and Sat were with her during her last hours and cared lovingly for her with the help of the compassionate nurse, as Mother took her last breath around 10am. She died on the birthday of her youngest and beloved daughter Claudia.

Glenn, Shelby and I picked up my sister Meredith Stone and her husband Ralph who had quickly arranged the previous evening, to fly up from Houston. We arrived at Quarryville around 1:30pm. They were able to see Mother's body before it was taken away for burial. We were so comforted by being together with our siblings at this time.

Throughout Mother's last months of steady weakening, she has been sweet and dear, so glad to be with us and speak with us by phone, thankful and loving and brave. She persevered and showed the continued grace and peace of Jesus Christ. Especially in the last week, she was not anxious about her future, but lived ‘in the moment’, one day at a time.

She memorized this passage – Romans 11:33-36 not long ago and appreciated having it read to her a couple of times.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever.
Amen.

We rejoice that Mom’s sufferings have ended and that she is in the presence of her Savior! But oh how we’ll miss her.

My Mother's last days - Son Tim's perspective

We were notified by my sister Connie last Sunday that my mother fell and broke her hip last Saturday (Aug. 8) in her room in Assisted Living at the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community. My sisters Connie & Claudia took turns staying with her in the hospital until surgery was finally scheduled and took place on Monday. Getting the surgery scheduled required intervention by Claudia at the suggestion of Connie.

We left on Wed. morning and Sat stayed overnight with Mother on Wed. night. On Thurs. Mother was transferred back to her retirement home and placed in Skilled Nursing Care. Sat and I were thankful we were there to participate in the care given to our frail mother.

On Friday, Sat tried to feed some lunch to my Mother. She kept losing consciousness and could not swallow the very small amount of applesauce placed in her mouth. I realized that she could no longer eat and asked that hospice care be brought in. The earliest they could begin was Saturday at noon. My two sisters Claudia and Connie, and Connie's husband Glenn came Friday evening. Mark and Sandy Brice stopped in too. Mother recognized Mark (her grandson) and was glad to meet Sandy (who had just married Mark 3 weeks earlier.)

My brother Raymond came to visit Mother at about 11:30pm Friday night. She had no visual or oral expression, but Raymond felt her squeeze his hand. We left Mother sometime after mid-night. Sat and I stayed in her room in the assisted living section, which had only a very narrow single bed. Sat insisted on sleeping on the floor so I could be comfortable.

At 9:30 am on Saturday, Sat and I went down to see Mother. We were stopped at the nurses’ station and told that Mother had just developed an acute breathing difficulty from fluid in her lungs and were asked if we wanted her hospitalized. I said no. We proceeded to her room where she was gasping for breath, even with an oxygen mask and a high level of oxygen flow. This continued for about 45 more minutes (probably about an hour in total) and Sat and I held her hand and stroked her head as she finally took her last breaths and was released from her earthly struggles.

My last words to her were “Your children love you! And this is what you wanted.” Just as I said this, at about 10:20 am August 15, 2009, her fighting for breath ceased and a few gentle breaths later she was gone to the arms of her loving Heavenly Father.

My sister Meredith had decided on Friday to come immediately and was able to get a flight from Houston for herself and her husband Ralph that arrived at 11:30 am. She received a phone call from her daughter as she landed that the end had come. I asked the nursing staff to leave Mother in her room until Meredith and Ralph could arrive. We had a few moments together in her room and then left.

Sat and I met with the funeral home director at 8:00am Sunday morning and arranged for a burial for 1:00pm on Monday afternoon. Ralph led the burial service which included my Uncle Ed and Aunt Bea Kraftson (my father’s brother and his wife). We also had Ariana (daughter of Nathanael and Ana Brice) as a representative of Mother’s 9 great-grand children. All four generations of those living were thus represented. We plan to have a memorial service on September 5th for the much larger group of those who knew my Mother and wish to share in the celebration of her life and legacy.

The Harry Kraftson Clan

The Kraftsons: Harry Aaron Kraftson (born July 7, 1917 – died December 24, 1994)
married Elisabeth Jane Hallstrom (born November 20, 1915)

Elisabeth Jane Hallstrom was born in Lakewood Ohio on November 20, 1915, to Raymond Lester Hallstrom and Elsie Gertrude Breytspraak Hallstrom. She had one older brother, John Raymond Hallstrom.

Elisabeth, also known as 'Betsey' and later 'Betty', graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1934. During her time at Lower Merion, she met Harry Aaron Kraftson in fencing club. They talked for the first time while waiting in the hall for an election between them for French club president. Elisabeth won the election but Harry won a friendship which later blossomed into a 55-year marriage.

Elisabeth attended Rosemont College, a women's college at the time, and graduated in 1938 with a degree in Biology. She married Harry on April 15, 1939 at her home church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ardmore, PA.

Harry’s parents were Aaron Kraftson and Christiana Hartman Kraftson. Aaron was Jewish, and emigrated from Russia (Ukraine today) when a young man, in the early 1900’s (around 1907). He came to the US to escape the persecution of Jews that was occurring in Russia at that time (same era as ‘Fiddler on the Roof’). He was a carpenter. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard and met Christiana in Rhode Island. She was a maid in a wealthy person’s home there. They married and moved to Philadelphia, on Delancey Street, where my Dad was born. He had one younger brother, Edward Pole Kraftson, who married Beatrice Cherry, and a younger sister, Mary Alice Kraftson who married James J. (Jim) Martindale.

Aaron and Christiana became Christian Scientists (a cult which is neither Christian nor scientific). Harry was raised in that religion. He went to Lower Merion High School (about 20 mins from our house) and graduated in 1934, the same class as Elisabeth Hallstrom. He got a scholarship to attend the Towne School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He majored in Chemical Engineering. A friend, Ray Davis, invited Harry to study the Bible with him. After a few months of study, Harry put his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and became a Christian. Within one year, after sharing his new faith with his family, his parents, sister and brother all became Christians.

Harry was very close with his brother and sister. They moved to the same area in the early 1960's, and we grew up together with our Kraftson and Martindale cousins. We all attended the Delaware County Christian School together.

Elisabeth, grew up near Philadelphia and met Harry at Lower Merion High School. Her parents were Raymond and Elsie Breytspraak Hallstrom. Raymond was 100% Swedish and was born and raised in the Chicago area. He worked for Otis Elevator Company for most of his career, starting as an office boy and rising through the company to become the Controller (an executive position). He moved to various cities to work in different offices of Otis, including Ohio, New York City, Philadelphia, and Newark, NJ. After he retired from Otis, my grandparents moved into an apartment Harry and Betty built into their lovely home in Newtown Square, PA (very near to DCCS). It was wonderful having my grandparents live with us during my childhood. They loved Claudia and me so much. They ate their meals in their apartment, mostly, but would join us for dinner after church every Sunday.

Grandmother K. attended Rosemont College. After graduating in 1938, she married my Dad the next year – April 15, 1939. They lived in the Philadelphia area their whole lives.