She sacrificed so much for our women
MS MIRIAM GRUBER:
Adviser, mentor and "mother"
to many. -- Picture taken by
Mrs Laureen Ong at her meeting
with Miss Gruber.
MISS Miriam Gruber, who passed
away on July 23 in Ashville, North Carolina, the US, had often
referred to death as a celebration and coronation, and a beautiful
sunset the evening she died was a reflection of her life as a
person and as a missionary.
Born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, she was a graduate of Penn
State College and took graduate work at George Washington University
and Scarrit College, as well as a year of intensive Mandarin at
Yale University, preparatory to her first appointment as a "China
missionary" in 1948. Her ministry as a staff member of the
Hwa Nan High School in Foochow was cut short in 1951 by the change
of government.
Invited to Singapore, her ministry included appointments to Methodist
Girls' School (MGS), Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, Shellabear
Hall in Malacca (from 1954 to 1962), and Tamil Methodist Church
Singapore (1963-64). From 1966 until she retired in 1974, she
was the local Field Treasurer of the World Division of the US
Methodist Board of Missions, and the Missionary Matters Committee.
She was also Chaplain of MGS for several years and managed the
Missionary Guest House in Singapore, while serving as Chaplain
of the Singapore Girls' Brigade (GB) and being actively connected
with the Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS).
Miriam met Laureen Ong
five days before she died
Mrs Laureen Ong, President of the General Conference WSCS, met
Miss Gruber at an entirely unplanned lunch fellowship just five
days before she died. She re-lived her experience in Malaysia
and Singapore, sharing with Mrs Ong pictures of many girls whom
she had taken care of in Shellabear Hall and nurtured in the Lord.
She had so many stories to tell and asked after everyone she could
remember in Singapore.
At their parting, she stood at the door, reluctantly waving goodbye
to someone who reminded her of the great part of her life she
had so graciously sacrificed for the women in China, Malaysia
and Singapore as adviser, mentor and "mother". She left
behind no family but gave to all who knew her a legacy of a family
in Christ.
Those with whom she came into contact remember the inimitable
cheerfulness and enthusiasm with which she performed her many
and varied duties. It spoke of her unfailing faith in the goodness
and mercy of the Lord whom she served and which she willingly
and generously shared.
A Memorial Service will be held at MGS Chapel in Blackmore
Drive on Sept 9 at 8 pm.