Vanessa Bishop Obituary, Death – On December 2, 2022, at the age of thirty, Vanessa Bishop, who was a member of our office team for the Shining Lights / Hope Project, passed away suddenly. In 2018, Vanessa will be serving as a volunteer in the office. She experienced epileptic seizures on a consistent basis throughout her life. Despite this, she had a strong love for God and a desire to serve others. When I first met her, she was hobbling around on crutches due to weak leg muscles, which I later learned may have been the result of a stroke. Recent fits experienced by her were the root cause of this issue. She had a happy demeanor and a smile.
My first thought was, “This has got to be one of the bravest people I’ve ever met!” She never stopped smiling and being kind, despite the fact that she was confined to a wheelchair for two years. She climbed up a small ‘lip’ that was located on the sliding doors without any fear of falling. Her health problems cast a shadow over both her heart and her abilities. She was known as our “problem solver” when it came to technological issues, especially those pertaining to databases. She possessed a high level of intelligence and continued her education to the tertiary level this year. She inspired us to work harder. Why did she decide to become a member of our group (and, prior to that, of her church)? because she had faith in the God who had chosen Jesus to reveal himself to the world. She felt strongly about supporting this movement, so she made a donation. When others inquired about it, she did not “burden” them with the details of her health problems.
She humbly asked for assistance, such as a ride home, but she had no expectation that she would receive it. She exhibited thoughtfulness and modesty. There was maturity present in spite of the difficulties. Her ordeals helped her develop incredible fortitude. There is no substitute for Vanessa. We are inconsolable, but we have faith that you are resting peacefully in the arms of our Redeemer, and that one day we will be reunited with you. Funeral services for Vanessa will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the C3 Church located at 252 Otumoetai Road in Otumoetai, Tauranga 3110, immediately followed by interment at the Pyes Pa Cemetery.