Remembering my Friend Pam

I have a friend, and her name is Pamela Fike (Pam) who used to volunteer with me at Uphold, a special needs ministry of Cherry Hills Community Church, and who passed away on May 21, 2021. In this post, I would like to write my memory of serving Uphold with Pam and to attach what her daughter posted on FB to honor her.

I had the privilege to serve Uphold with Pam. She volunteered and served the ministry at least for three years from 2014 to 2017 and loved her students very much. She was able to bring Home Depot Kids Workshop Kits to the ministry on Sundays. At first, it was a wild idea, not knowing how our students would handle the nails, hammers, wood glue, and other items that were in the kits. There was a possibility of flying nails and building blocks. Thankfully, many of our students had a wonderful time building them under the care of many faithful volunteers including Pam.

One of Pam’s students, Miss J, found a special connection with her. None of us was able to build that relationship with her who often expressed her frustration and anger by grasping the hair of students and volunteers and throwing things in the air without any intention to harm others. However, Miss J felt comfortable and safe under Pam’s gentle and patient care. I remember that there were few incidents when Miss J grasped and pulled Pam’s hair. However, she gently let her hand go, hugged her, and was able to calm her. Unfortunately, Pam was not able to serve Uphold regularly because she had to work at Home Depot on Sundays.

She was respectful to her Uphold volunteers and took care of her students with patience and compassion. She also prayed for Uphold volunteers and students. Only few family members of Uphold could remember her, because she was often behind the scenes loving her students quietly. I regret not reaching out to her more often but am grateful that she is in a blessed place with our Lord.

We miss you and love you!

Following is what her daughter wrote on FB:

Pamela Fike, Mother and Grandmother and long-time resident of Denver, CO passed on away on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the age of 73.  Pamela is survived by her brother Jerry Fike, her 3 kids (Brandon, Brenda, Clint), and 3 grandchildren (Blake, Hailey, Malika). She was preceded in death by her Father Gene Fike, Mother Letha Michael, Stepfather John Michael, and sister Gloria Willis. Pamela Gay Fike was born in Chula Vista, CA on March 7, 1948, to Gene and Letha Fike. She graduated from Chula Vista High School.

During her time on this earth, it would be wrong to say she raised three kids, in reality, she had a hand in raising hundreds of kids while we're in the schools in Blaine County Idaho, and a variety of kids while serving in the ministry, and the monthly workshops at Home Depot, not to mention friends of Brandon, Clint, and Brenda automatically became her kids and were treated as such.

Pamela was able to live her life “Blissfully Unaware” allowing her to take all kinds of punches and never change. She could shrug anything off and continue to give and never losing her smile. As Clint, Brenda, and Brandon began to process this together we briefly laughed that for the first time in her life she was in a hurry to get somewhere and we were like, “why now?” With some of the issues, we were going to be dealing with she found a way to take care of her kids with her last breath. Mom with all the love from the hearts of your three kids, we love you and miss you, and you take care of you.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking donations be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Cure Alzheimer's Fund or Veterans Charity - Non Profit Organization for Veterans | WWP woundedwarriorproject.org