Kaye Ogden made her entrance into the world on 7 March 1940 at Bundi Kudja Nursing Home in Fremantle. With her father being a policeman, the family moved around and much of Kaye’s early life was spent in the country, which she loved.
She married Peter at age 22 in 1963, 54 years ago, but was just 15 when they first met. After marriage, the couple moved to Carnarvon for a year where Peter was teaching, and then back to Perth, where they built what would become their family home in Nollamara for over three decades. Their son Andrew was born in 1964, followed by Susan, Naomi and Michael.
On reflection of how Kaye spent her days on Earth it’s clear that it was her motivation to honour and serve her Lord. She was a committed member of her church community, involved in hosting Bible studies and women’s fellowship, teaching and co-ordinating Sunday School, being an elder as well as serving the church in numerous ways. But she also loved to reach out into the community.
In the late 90s, with the adventure of retirement beginning, Peter and Kaye headed off to remote stations to volunteer with Revise, helping families with the schooling of their children during pressured work times. Later she was a board member of St David’s Aged Care, was involved in the Order of St Luke – a healing ministry – scripture teaching in schools, and with the Rockingham YouthCare District Council as Secretary.
She was nominated and chosen to run with the Olympic flame in 2000, and was both humbled and chuffed with this honour.
Kaye was adventurous and she loved the beauty of creation. She was a thinker and loved to learn and explore new ideas.
Her wish to further help in the community, combined with her lifelong love of learning led her to return to university at the age of 60 where she studied for and completed a Bachelor of Counselling at Notre Dame. Kaye went on to use these skills in a voluntary capacity for over six years, based out of Rockingham Uniting Church.
Becoming ill in her 70s, Peter lovingly and with incredible patience, cared for her at home until she moved to Regents Garden Aged Care where she lived for the past year.
She would always respond to ‘God bless you Kaye’ with ‘and he does’. These were her last legible words; a true testament that God sheds light in difficult places. Kaye passed away on 1 April this year.
Her desire would be that God would shine light and love into our lives.
Sue Jeyaraj