I first heard Lois play the organ at St. Andrew's Church in Hamilton in the autumn of 1938. It was the time of morning and evening services in Bermuda.

Her appointment was her first on returning home with her Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada.

It was a lovely evening. The church windows were open. I was chatting outside with some friends prior to the start of the service. Suddenly, the most beautiful organ sounds carried through the windows. It was Lois. She was playing Debussy's "Claire de Lune", her hands gliding gracefully over the keys.

I had never heard it played before on an organ. Nor can I remember hearing it played on the organ by anyone other than Lois. I had a feeling a star had joined us.

Lois followed closely in her mother's footsteps. Mrs. Kempe, in 1906, had been among the first women to graduate from Mount Allison. Thirty-two years later her 22-year-old daughter played "Claire de Lune" on the piano during the recital required for her degree.

Lois had been a prodigy. Her mother taught her to play the piano and organ. Mabel Kempe served as organist for 35 years at Christ Church in Warwick. At age 12, Lois had advanced to be able to take over the church organ when her mother had to be abroad for several weeks.

She mastered the hymns easily, and even performed at a funeral when called upon unexpectedly. She received praise and congratulations from the congregation.

Lois possessed a lovely soprano voice. She had taken leading roles in operettas and other musical productions at Mount Allison conservatory. She took part and organised many musical productions also in Bermuda.

One of her greatest gifts was the ability to compose lovely original melodies and lyrics for ballads. she composed many children's songs and musical plays. there were classical compositions, too.

Most will agree, I think, that the best was her version of the Te Deum. As with all her works, there were beautiful melodic passages.

Lois loved people and enjoyed playing their requests. Her extensive repertoire included hundreds of songs. Again, like her mother, Lois became a music teacher, specialising in piano and voice.

Lois adored children. It was such a happy experience to see and listen to her teaching children's classes.

There was always a full measure of learning, but lots of fun, too. Children loved her.

James W. Kempe, Sr., her father, was the Government Collector of Customs.

She had three brothers and a sister. Eleanor, the eldest, lives in England.

James, Jr. (Jimmy) and his wife Betty are in Bermuda. Wilbur (Winkie) and William (Bill) predeceased Lois. Their widows, Pamela and Sheila, also reside in Bermuda.

Lois delighted in her many nephews and nieces and their families, most of whom have their homes in Bermuda. She loved them all.

Through her m marriage to me, she inherited two stepsons (Christopher and his wife Rosemary, and Bruce). Lois and I had been married for 32 years.

During the Second World War, Lois was extremely well known to all Bermudians serving overseas. She assisted Mrs. Joyce Maxwell and Mrs. Edna Perinchief of the Bermuda Services Overseas Association in sending monthly to each of us a parcel of much needed supplies and news from home.

She brought joy and beauty into the lives of all who heard her play and sing.

It seemed appropriate that Lois should leave us peacefully, after a long illness, on the afternoon of Valentine's Day.

As we sat by her bedside, there was a feeling of victory about her peaceful expression. As though she was telling us her mission among us was now complete.

She was leaving us to take her music and happy personality where Heaven awaited her.

With fondest and eternal love from us all.